April 2015
Sunday Psalm #138
April 26, 2015
I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly
Fifth Sunday of Easter (B)
May 3, 2015
Our Sunday Psalm composition in English for next week is by Tinnah M. dela Rosa.
On Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion you sang parts of Psalm 22. On this, the fifth Sunday of Easter, you sing verses from the second half of this psalm where cries of intense suffering and abandonment are transformed into words of praise for the God who saves. What "pruning" has God done to move you from one way of singing this psalm to another? What fruit is being born within you because of this pruning? (Cf. Living Liturgy 2012, page. 121)
Please click on the picture or the highlighted link to download the high resolution PDF file of our composers. Click the highlighted link to view the readings in English for next Sunday (May 3, 2015) via the US Conference for Catholic Bishops.
I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly
Fifth Sunday of Easter (B)
May 3, 2015
Our Sunday Psalm composition in English for next week is by Tinnah M. dela Rosa.
On Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion you sang parts of Psalm 22. On this, the fifth Sunday of Easter, you sing verses from the second half of this psalm where cries of intense suffering and abandonment are transformed into words of praise for the God who saves. What "pruning" has God done to move you from one way of singing this psalm to another? What fruit is being born within you because of this pruning? (Cf. Living Liturgy 2012, page. 121)
Please click on the picture or the highlighted link to download the high resolution PDF file of our composers. Click the highlighted link to view the readings in English for next Sunday (May 3, 2015) via the US Conference for Catholic Bishops.
Thursday Music #129
April 23, 2015
How many times, as ordinary human beings, have we strayed in that path that Jesus lit for us?
The Lenten Season had passed, and once again, we journeyed through that path towards salvation as promised by God our Father, and as fulfilled by His Son, Jesus Christ.
What better way to remember this path is through the Word of the Lord from the Holy Scriptures. The Psalms have sung it (Ps. 119:105, among other verses). The Book of Isaiah assures us that God’s word endures forever (Is. 40:8). The Book of Matthew tells us that we do not live on bread alone, but also on the Word of the Lord (Mt. 4:4).
As we pray with the song, "Thy Word" by Amy Grant, may we be reminded that His words are enough. That His words won’t fade, and so is His promise of salvation.
May we be always filled with the light of Jesus as he leads us on the road to the Father.
Many thanks to MiAmor Channel for the video and to Em Alcantara for the reflection!
How many times, as ordinary human beings, have we strayed in that path that Jesus lit for us?
The Lenten Season had passed, and once again, we journeyed through that path towards salvation as promised by God our Father, and as fulfilled by His Son, Jesus Christ.
What better way to remember this path is through the Word of the Lord from the Holy Scriptures. The Psalms have sung it (Ps. 119:105, among other verses). The Book of Isaiah assures us that God’s word endures forever (Is. 40:8). The Book of Matthew tells us that we do not live on bread alone, but also on the Word of the Lord (Mt. 4:4).
As we pray with the song, "Thy Word" by Amy Grant, may we be reminded that His words are enough. That His words won’t fade, and so is His promise of salvation.
May we be always filled with the light of Jesus as he leads us on the road to the Father.
Many thanks to MiAmor Channel for the video and to Em Alcantara for the reflection!
Sunday Psalm #137
|
|
April 19, 2015
The stone rejected by the builders
Fourth Sunday of Easter (B)
April 26, 2015
Our Sunday Psalm composition in English for next week is by Tinnah M. dela Rosa while the setting in Filipino is by Dennis N. Marasigan.
The readings and responsorial psalm for this Sunday present us with two very different images of Christ: cornerstone and Good Shepherd. As you prepare to sing this Sunday's responsorial psalm, you might reflect on questions such as these: How is Christ the foundation of your life? How does Christ lead and support you? How is Christ faithful to you at all costs? How do you give Christ thanks? (Cf. Living Liturgy 2012, page. 117)
Please click on the picture or the highlighted link to download the high resolution PDF file of our composers. Click the highlighted link to view the readings in English for next Sunday (April 26, 2015) via the US Conference for Catholic Bishops or in Filipino via the Word and Life Publications.
The stone rejected by the builders
Fourth Sunday of Easter (B)
April 26, 2015
Our Sunday Psalm composition in English for next week is by Tinnah M. dela Rosa while the setting in Filipino is by Dennis N. Marasigan.
The readings and responsorial psalm for this Sunday present us with two very different images of Christ: cornerstone and Good Shepherd. As you prepare to sing this Sunday's responsorial psalm, you might reflect on questions such as these: How is Christ the foundation of your life? How does Christ lead and support you? How is Christ faithful to you at all costs? How do you give Christ thanks? (Cf. Living Liturgy 2012, page. 117)
Please click on the picture or the highlighted link to download the high resolution PDF file of our composers. Click the highlighted link to view the readings in English for next Sunday (April 26, 2015) via the US Conference for Catholic Bishops or in Filipino via the Word and Life Publications.
Sunday Psalm #136
April 12, 2015
Lord, let your face shine on us
Third Sunday of Easter (B)
April 19, 2015
Our Sunday Psalm composition in English for next week is by Tinnah M. dela Rosa.
Psalm 4, from which this responsorial psalm is taken, is a song of confidence in which the psalmist's sense of distress is outweighed by his or her absolute trust in God who will save. The plea that God hear the cry for help is followed by a statement of certitude that God will respond. On the one hand, the psalm is sung by Christ, whom God has saved from death. But it is also sung by us, who have been saved through Christ's death. In the Body of the risen Christ God turns on us a face of such radiance that we are freed from fear, from misunderstanding, and from disbelief (gospel). Even more, we are saved from sin, past (first reading) and future (second reading). What deeper security and peace can God grant us? What greater experience of the meaning of the resurrection?
Spend some time this week looking honestly at your own struggles with unbelief and with sin. Look with the eyes of God who, never surprised by human behavior, continually comes with offers of forgiveness and the gift of new life. As you sing this responsorial psalm, then, you will be able to call to God out of real need and speak to the assembly out of real confidence. (Cf. Living Liturgy 2012, page. 113)
Please click on the picture or the highlighted link to download the high resolution PDF file of our composers. Click the highlighted link to view the readings in English for next Sunday (April 19, 2015) via the US Conference for Catholic Bishops.
Lord, let your face shine on us
Third Sunday of Easter (B)
April 19, 2015
Our Sunday Psalm composition in English for next week is by Tinnah M. dela Rosa.
Psalm 4, from which this responsorial psalm is taken, is a song of confidence in which the psalmist's sense of distress is outweighed by his or her absolute trust in God who will save. The plea that God hear the cry for help is followed by a statement of certitude that God will respond. On the one hand, the psalm is sung by Christ, whom God has saved from death. But it is also sung by us, who have been saved through Christ's death. In the Body of the risen Christ God turns on us a face of such radiance that we are freed from fear, from misunderstanding, and from disbelief (gospel). Even more, we are saved from sin, past (first reading) and future (second reading). What deeper security and peace can God grant us? What greater experience of the meaning of the resurrection?
Spend some time this week looking honestly at your own struggles with unbelief and with sin. Look with the eyes of God who, never surprised by human behavior, continually comes with offers of forgiveness and the gift of new life. As you sing this responsorial psalm, then, you will be able to call to God out of real need and speak to the assembly out of real confidence. (Cf. Living Liturgy 2012, page. 113)
Please click on the picture or the highlighted link to download the high resolution PDF file of our composers. Click the highlighted link to view the readings in English for next Sunday (April 19, 2015) via the US Conference for Catholic Bishops.
Thursday Music #128
April 9, 2015
What fears leave you unfree?
We live in a world that is broken and filled with selfishness. As a result, things seem uncertain and people seem untrustworthy. This leads us to fear striving too hard, trusting in others or even being faithful to God.
As life continues to unfold, God continues to be there every step of our way. With every Easter day we celebrate, we are reminded of why Jesus came, suffered and triumphed over death. Jesus has risen so that "from fear we may be free".
It is a story of God's faithfulness to us.
As you listen and pray with this well-loved song, "In My Heart" performed by Bukas Palad Ministry, may you grow in your desire to be free from your fears by placing greater trust in our faithful God. May your prayer help you to look not at how far you might fall. Rather, may it inspire you to remember how much Jesus desires to free you from your fears and grant you faith and courage to keep striving and turning your face towards him.
Many thanks to Elanelle for the video and Friel Canto for the reflection.
What fears leave you unfree?
We live in a world that is broken and filled with selfishness. As a result, things seem uncertain and people seem untrustworthy. This leads us to fear striving too hard, trusting in others or even being faithful to God.
As life continues to unfold, God continues to be there every step of our way. With every Easter day we celebrate, we are reminded of why Jesus came, suffered and triumphed over death. Jesus has risen so that "from fear we may be free".
It is a story of God's faithfulness to us.
As you listen and pray with this well-loved song, "In My Heart" performed by Bukas Palad Ministry, may you grow in your desire to be free from your fears by placing greater trust in our faithful God. May your prayer help you to look not at how far you might fall. Rather, may it inspire you to remember how much Jesus desires to free you from your fears and grant you faith and courage to keep striving and turning your face towards him.
Many thanks to Elanelle for the video and Friel Canto for the reflection.
Sunday Psalm #135
|
|
|
April 5, 2015
Give thanks to the Lord Second Sunday of Easter/Sunday of Divine Mercy (B) April 12, 2015 Our Sunday Psalm composition in English for next week is by Tinnah M. dela Rosa and our new contributor Pfotokho Kayina while the setting in Filipino is by Dennis N. Marasigan. Pftokho is a third year composition student at the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music and hails from Nagaland, India. Following Christian tradition the Lectionary interprets the rejected stone as Christ risen from death to become the foundation of the church. Because of Christ's resurrection, we sing thanks to God for love and mercy, victory and salvation. This is "wonderful in our eyes" and we want the world to know it. But we tell this message through more than just our singing. It is our loving one another, caring for the needy, and keeping the commandments (first and second readings) that proclaim most loudly the wonderful work of God wrought in Christ. Our behavior becomes the cornerstone of faith for others and this is "wonderful in (all) eyes". |
|
In singing these verses from Psalm 118 you invite the assembly to give God thanks for the wonderful gift of the resurrection. In the context of the readings you also invite them to give thanks for the gift of faith and the gift of loving, righteous living borne out of that faith. You might spend some time this week identifying where you encounter the resurrecting work of God in the lives of believers. Where also have you seen a rejected (or impeding) stone become a cornerstone of faith? (Cf. Living Liturgy 2012, p. 109)
Please click the pictures or the highlighted link to download the high resolution PDF files of our composers. Click the highlighted link to view the readings in English for next Sunday (April 12, 2015) via the US Conference for Catholic Bishops website or the readings in Filipino via the Word and Life Publications.
Please click the pictures or the highlighted link to download the high resolution PDF files of our composers. Click the highlighted link to view the readings in English for next Sunday (April 12, 2015) via the US Conference for Catholic Bishops website or the readings in Filipino via the Word and Life Publications.
Thursday Music #127
April 2, 2015
What do you usually do to remember a special person, event, or place in your life? Do you take pictures and frame them or put them in an album? Or do you buy knick knacks from places you visited to put on display around the house? Depending on their culture and traditions, people have different ways of keeping their memories of loved ones alive.
Holy Week is a time for us Christians to remember the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we reflect, pray, and participate in the different traditions in our parish this week, let us be inspired by the song "In Remembrance of Me" by Robert Kochis. In this song, Jesus is asking us to remember Him not simply with our mind but also with our heart. That means nurturing a personal, intimate relationship with Him and committing to a life following his teachings. Remembering Him with our heart also moves us to participate in the sacraments of reconciliation and the eucharist. Rekindling our love for Jesus also inspires us to reach out to the poor and disadvantaged, and to be more Christ-like in our relationships with family, co-workers, and friends.
Mother Mary models to us what it means to remember Jesus with our heart, the kind of remembering that is reflected in our daily actions and not just during this Holy Week. May we, like Mary, remember Jesus, especially as we celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper today.
Many thanks to TheIslandSing for the video and to Dona Flynn for the reflection!
What do you usually do to remember a special person, event, or place in your life? Do you take pictures and frame them or put them in an album? Or do you buy knick knacks from places you visited to put on display around the house? Depending on their culture and traditions, people have different ways of keeping their memories of loved ones alive.
Holy Week is a time for us Christians to remember the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we reflect, pray, and participate in the different traditions in our parish this week, let us be inspired by the song "In Remembrance of Me" by Robert Kochis. In this song, Jesus is asking us to remember Him not simply with our mind but also with our heart. That means nurturing a personal, intimate relationship with Him and committing to a life following his teachings. Remembering Him with our heart also moves us to participate in the sacraments of reconciliation and the eucharist. Rekindling our love for Jesus also inspires us to reach out to the poor and disadvantaged, and to be more Christ-like in our relationships with family, co-workers, and friends.
Mother Mary models to us what it means to remember Jesus with our heart, the kind of remembering that is reflected in our daily actions and not just during this Holy Week. May we, like Mary, remember Jesus, especially as we celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper today.
Many thanks to TheIslandSing for the video and to Dona Flynn for the reflection!