Sambuhay: a mother of two teenage boys became pregnant at the age of 47. When she gave birth to a child with Down syndrome, the woman was inconsolable. She kept telling herself, "it's my fault! I didn't want this baby."
Sambuhay: a mother of two teenage boys became pregnant at the age of 47. When she gave birth to a child with Down syndrome, the woman was inconsolable. She kept telling herself, "it's my fault! I didn't want this baby."
Sambuhay: a mother of two teenage boys became pregnant at the age of 47. When she gave birth to a child with Down syndrome, the woman was inconsolable. She kept telling herself, "it's my fault! I didn't want this baby."
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sambuhay a pastoral ministry of the priests and brothers of the society of st. paul
Year 24 No. 53 4th Sunday of Lent (A) — Violet April 3, 2011
How were your eyes opened?
A mother of two teenage boys became pregnant at the age of 47. She did not want another blind?” They assume that the blind man is being punished, either for sins of his own doing or for Whose sin is it? Whose fault? We ask these because we are not comfortable with the alterna- child. Somebody suggested that those of his parents. That sounds tive—that there may be no easy pregnancy was a high risk at her pretty harsh when we hear it. But answers, that sometimes, bad age, so she went to an abortion in Jesus’ time, this is a common things happen to good people. doctor. But right on the doctor’s belief—that misfortune is the re- Perhaps it is hard to believe that table, she felt she could not go sult of sin or wrongdoing, whether God’s glory can shine forth from through with the abortion. it be illness or injury or death, a anything that we find painful or When she gave birth to a child fire, a spilled jug of wine, a famine, horrifying or just plain wrong. with Down syndrome, the woman even being poor. Jesus’ reply challenges us to was inconsolable. She kept tell- How does Jesus answer? see the world in a different way ing herself, “It’s my fault! I didn’t “Neither he nor his parents sinned; and to ask a different question: want this baby. This is God’s it is so that the works of God might “Where is God in this situation?” punishment. God did this to my be made visible through him.” Instead of looking at the appear- child because I wanted to get rid Jesus’ statement can easily be ance, Jesus asks us to look into of him.” misunderstood. We hear people the heart. A younger woman, instead, say, “God gives us suffering to The neighbors who ask, “How did everything right, made intel- teach us a lesson…” or “God were your eyes opened?” some- ligent decisions, and selected the makes us suffer to strengthen our how manage to stumble upon best prenatal care. She exercised, faith…” But what does that say the right question. Jesus invites meditated, and listened to both about God? A God who would send us to ask not, “Who sinned?” but Mozart and Dr. Spock. She strictly suffering on a poor baby at birth to deeper questions like, “How are followed the diet recommended teach the parents something? We your eyes opened?” “How is God by her doctors. She could rattle cannot accept the assumption that made visible?” “What do you have off child care facts with the au- God would use blindness or any to say about him, since he opened thority of a grandma, and she other affliction as a punishment your eyes?” and her husband knew exactly for some ethical infraction or as These are questions with no how many minutes it would take a teaching illustration for right easy answers. They do not remove to get to the hospital—even with behavior in the kingdom. our pain or protect us from tragedy. heavy traffic. Jesus says that we are created They will not dry the tears of a After delivery, she shook her so that the works of God might mother whose dreams have just head in disbelief as she gazed at be made visible in all of us—the died. But they are questions that the fragile life lying before her. blind man, you and me, healthy will point us to the One who leads The child was cradled in a nest and sick, rich and poor. Surely, us from darkness into light, anoints of tubes instead of her arms. His we all fall short of the glor y of us, and spreads a table before us. transparent skin was crisscrossed God, but as the Lord tells Samuel How are your eyes opened? If with wires. This was not supposed (First Reading), God looks into the we continue to ask this question, to happen. She did ever ything heart. God sees us with the heart we may be amazed at what we right. Whose fault was this? and loves us anyway. begin to see. We will realize that We know stories like these— It is human to want a reason all through the mystery we call we may have heard them, and we for everything, to want things to life, where bad things do happen may even have lived through them make sense. We ask questions to good people, God sees us for ourselves. every time we are confronted with who we really are and loves us The first question the disciples a mystery we cannot solve or with anyway—the same way God calls ask when they see the blind man a tragedy we cannot explain. And us to see and love others. is, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man we easily assign blame to others or his parents, that he was born or to ourselves. — Fr Apolinar Castor Jr, SSP
Please read the reflection before or after the Mass.
This copy of Sambuhay is made available through generous donations. count as blind those who claim Samuel, but Samuel said to INTRODUCTORY RITES they see: Lord, have mercy. Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen Entrance Antiphon All — Lord, have mercy. any one of these.” Then Samuel (See Is 66:10-11) asked Jesse, “Are these all the P — May almighty God have (Recited when there is no opening song) sons you have?” Jesse replied, mercy on us, forgive us our “There is still the youngest, who Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad sins, and bring us to everlasting is tending the sheep.” Samuel for her, you who love her; life. said to Jesse, “Send for him; rejoice with her, you who All — Amen. we will not begin the sacrificial mourned for her, and you (The Gloria is omitted.) banquet until he arrives here.” will find contentment at her Jesse sent and had the young consoling breasts. Opening Prayer man brought to them. He was P — Let us pray [for a greater ruddy, a youth handsome to Greeting (The sign of the cross is made here) faith and love]. (Pause) behold and making a splendid Father of peace, we are appearance. The L ord said, P — Blessed be God the Father joyful in your Word, your Son “There—anoint him, for this is who sends his Son to be the Jesus Christ, who reconciles the one!” light of the world. May the light us to you. Let us hasten toward Then Samuel, with the horn of salvation be with you. Easter with the eagerness of of oil in hand, anointed David All — And also with you. faith and love. in the presence of his brothers; We ask this through our and from that day on, the spirit Introduction of the Lord rushed upon David. Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, P — Dear sisters and brothers: who lives and reigns with you — The word of the Lord. We claim to be people who and the Holy Spirit, one God, All — Thanks be to God. live in the light of Christ. for ever and ever. But do we always know who All — Amen. Responsorial Psalm (Ps 23) we are and where we are LITURGY OF R — The Lord is my shep- going? Tr ue faith demands THE WORD herd; there is nothing I shall following Jesus who cannot want. be hindered by opposition First Reading (Sit) and misunderstanding in E. C. Marfori coming to the help of those The prophet Samuel anoints the who suffer. True faith means young David who would later G/G C C/E 3 4 being the hear ts and hands of Jesus so that through us he succeed Saul as king over Israel. God does not judge by a person’s The Lord__ is my shep-herd;__ may continue to do good to appearance but looks into the the people of today. May this heart. Dm G C/sus- C Eucharist open our eyes to the h h myster y of Christ who is the _ A reading from the first Book of Samuel (16:1, 6-7, 10-13a) Light of the world. there is no-thing I shall want.__ THE Lord said to Samuel: “Fill Penitential Rite 1. The Lord is my shepherd; your horn with oil, and be on I shall not want./ In verdant your way. I am sending you to P — Let us ask the Lord’s pastures he gives me repose;/ Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have forgiveness for being blind to beside restful waters he leads chosen my king from among his love and for failing to reflect me;/ he refreshes my soul. (R) his sons.” his love to one another. (Pause) As Jesse and his sons came 2. He guides me in right paths/ P — Lord, you are the light. You to the sacrifice, Samuel looked for his name’s sake./ Even see not as man sees because at Eliab and thought, “Surely though I walk in the dark you look into the heart: Lord, the L ord ’s anointed is here valley/ I fear no evil; for you have mercy. before him.” But the Lord said are at my side/ with your rod All — Lord, have mercy. to Samuel: “Do not judge from and your staff/ that give me his appearance or from his lofty courage. (R) P — Lord, you are the light. stature, because I have rejected Anyone who follows you will 3. You spread the table before him. Not as man sees does God have the light of life: Christ, me/ in the sight of my foes;/ see, because man sees the have mercy. you anoint my head with oil;/ appearance but the Lord looks All — Christ, have mercy. my cup overflows. (R) into the heart.” P — Lord, you are the light. In the same way Jesse 4. Only goodness and kindness You give sight to the blind but presented seven sons before follow me/ all the days of my Please visit www.ssp.ph and help us sustain this apostolate. life;/ and I shall dwell in the he went and washed, and came descended to the dead. On the house of the Lord/ for years to back able to see. third day, he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is come. (R) His neighbors and those seated at the right hand of the who had seen him earlier as a Father. He will come again to Second Reading beggar said, “Isn’t this the one judge the living and the dead. By the sacrament of Baptism, who used to sit and beg?” Some I believe in the Holy Spirit, said, “It is,” but others said, the holy catholic Church, the we have risen from the darkness communion of saints, the for- of sin to the light of Christ. The “No, he just looks like him.” He giveness of sins, the resurrec- apostle Paul reminds us to live said, “I am.” tion of the body, and the life according to our calling as They brought the one who everlasting. Amen. children of light. was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and Prayers of the Faithful A reading from the Letter of opened his eyes on a sabbath. P — Let us beseech the Father Saint Paul to the Ephesians So then the Pharisees also for the light of personal and (5:8-14) asked him how he was able to committed faith so that through BROTHERS and sisters: see. He said to them, “He put our good works his name may You were once darkness, but clay on my eyes, and I washed, be glorified. We will pray: now you are light in the Lord. and now I can see.” So some of Live as children of light, for the Pharisees said, “This man R — Lord, let your light light produces ever y kind of is not from God, because he shine on us. goodness and righteousness does not keep the sabbath.” But C — That the Church may and truth. others said, “How can a sinful humbly acknowledge her own Try to learn what is pleasing man do such signs?” And there weakness so that strengthened to the Lord. Take no part in the was a division among them. by Christ she may be faithful to fruitless works of darkness; So they said to the blind man her mission to be the light of rather expose them, for it is again, “What do you have to the world, we pray: (R) shameful even to mention the say about him, since he opened C — That our spiritual and things done by them in secret; your eyes?” He said, “He is a political leaders may see their but ever ything exposed by prophet.” own limitations and sins so that the light becomes visible, for They answered and said to they may prove to be effective everything that becomes visible him, “You were born totally in and compassionate guides to is light. Therefore, it says: sin, and are you trying to teach others, we pray: (R) “Awake, O sleeper, and arise us?” Then they threw him out. from the dead, and Christ will When Jesus hear d that C — That the blind and the give you light.” they had thrown him out, he handicapped may be effectively found him and said, “Do you assisted by both governmental — The word of the Lord. believe in the Son of Man?” and non-governmental agencies All — Thanks be to God. He answered and said, “Who to lead meaningful lives, we Verse before the Gospel is he, sir, that I may believe pray: (R) [Jn 8:12] (Stand) in him?” Jesus said to him, C — That the eyes of those “You have seen him, the one blinded by honor, wealth, and All — I am the light of speaking with you is he.” He sense of superiority may be the world, says the Lord; said, “I do believe, Lord,” and opened by the Lord, and that whoever follows me will have he worshiped him. they may humbly recognize the light of life. — The Gospel of the Lord. their reliance on the Lord and Gospel All — Praise to you, Lord their fellow human beings, we (Jn 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38) Jesus Christ. pray: (R) P — The Lord be with you. C — That we may renew our Homily (Sit) commitment to justice and All — And also with you. P — A reading from the holy peace and raise our voice in Profession of Faith (Stand) Gospel according to John. behalf of the poor and the All — Glor y to you, Lord. All — I believe in God, the downtrodden, we pray: (R) Father Almighty, Creator of C — (The urgent concerns of AS JESUS passed by he saw a heaven and earth. man blind from birth. He spat I believe in Jesus Christ, the community are prayed here.) on the ground and made clay his only Son, our Lord. He P — Father, Jesus our Lord with the saliva, and smeared was conceived by the power of opened the eyes of the blind. the Holy Spirit and born of the the clay on his eyes, and said Virgin Mary. He suffered under Open our eyes to recognize his to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Pontius Pilate, was crucified, presence especially in the least Siloam”—which means Sent. So died, and was buried. He of our brothers and sisters. This copy of Sambuhay is made available through generous donations. This we ask you through Christ your Son and our Lord. All — Amen. The Church at Prayer LITURGY OF A Liturgical Catechesis THE EUCHARIST Sr. Maria Cecilia M. Payawal, PDDM
Presentation of the Gifts
(Stand) P — Pray, brethren… Communion Under Both Kinds All — May the Lord accept It can be more significant if the faithful, not only the presiding the sacrifice at your hands priest, commune under both kinds: bread and wine. for the praise and glor y of The Roman Missal (n. 281) recommends that all faithful can his name, for our good, and receive communion under both kinds for three reasons: the good of all his Church. • to show more that we are in a Eucharistic “feast or banquet,” Prayer over the Gifts wherein there is food and drink; • to remember that we are participating in the sacrifice of Christ P — Lord, we offer you these on the cross (the wine and its relation with the Blood); gifts which bring us peace and • and the wine signifies the foretaste of the joy in the Kingdom joy. Increase our reverence of Heaven. by this Eucharist, and bring salvation to the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Lord Jesus, until you come our hear ts with the light of All — Amen. in glor y. your gospel, that our thoughts may please you, and our love Preface (Four th Sunday of COMMUNION RITE be sincere. Lent—The man born blind) The Lord’s Prayer Grant this through Christ P — The Lord be with you. our Lord. All — Our Father… All — Amen. All — And also with you. P — Deliver us, Lord… P — Lift up your hearts. All — For the kingdom, the All — We lift them up to the CONCLUDING RITE power, and the glor y are Lord. yours, now and for ever. P — The Lord be with you. P — Let us give thanks to the All — And also with you. Lord our God. Invitation to Peace All — It is right to give him Prayer over the People Invitation to Communion thanks and praise. and Blessing (Kneel) P — Father, all-powerful and P — Bow your heads and pray ever-living God, we do well P — Behold Jesus, the Light who enlightens everyone. He for God’s blessing. (Pause) always and everywhere to give Father, look with love upon you thanks, through Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. your people, the love which Christ our Lord. our Lord Jesus Christ showed He came among us as a Happy are those who are invited to his supper. us when he delivered himself man, to lead humankind from to evil men and suffered the darkness into the light of faith. All — Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the agony of the cross, for he is Through Adam’s fall we Lord for ever. were born as slaves of sin, but word and I shall be healed. All — Amen. now through baptism in Christ Communion Antiphon we are reborn as your adopted P — And may the blessing of (See Jn 9:11) children. almighty God, (†) the Father, Earth unites with heaven to The Lord rubbed my eyes; I and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, sing the new song of creation, went away and washed, then come upon you and remain with as we adore and praise you for I could see, and I believed you for ever. ever: in God. All — Amen. All — Holy, holy, holy... (Kneel) Prayer after Communion Dismissal Acclamation (Stand) (Stand) P — The Mass is ended. Go All — When we eat this P — Let us pray. (Pause) and share the light of Christ bread and drink this cup, Father, you enlighten all with others. we proclaim your death, who come into the world. Fill All — Thanks be to God.