SYNTHESIS: A voice of conviction: A post-Sunday retrospect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

First of all, I would like to give my sincere apologies for not posting this reflection insight on time. It has been a fully-loaded weekend since it was my 21st birthday just this Sunday, and as Christmas approaches, it would become more hectic. (But of course, I think we should also slow down things a bit since we should be reflecting about our anticipation and not do last-minute shopping.)

On a lighter note, I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to everyone who greeted me on my birthday! To those who greeted me personally at Holy Family Parish, with special mention to the Rev. Fr. Michell Joe "Fr. Jojo" Zerrudo who is its pastor (parish priest), thank you very much for accommodating me since I really wanted to serve at Mass there on my birthday. Fr. Zerrudo really intended to have a Missa Lecta (Low Mass according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite), but it turned out to be a Missa Cantata (Sung Mass) since the servers and the choir made an effort to squeeze their time and their energies that should be reserved for their Misas de Gallo every night. ("Misas" is plural for "Misa" in Spanish, so I don't have any grammatical error there, okay?)

Back to my thanksgiving, I would also thank my good friends Mr. Anthony James Perez (a staff of Pro-Life Philippines and also the President of Filipinos for Life, in which I am also affiliated) and Mr. Ryan Mariano, O.P. (he's a member of the Dominican Laity, that's why the O.P. after his name) for allotting their free time to be with my family to celebrate my birthday, as well as for the hearty conversation over dinner and a bottle of beer apiece. And finally, I would also like to extend my thanks to the people who greeted me in social media, particularly in my Facebook profile, as well as in 100% KATOLIKONG PINOY! (whoever co-Admin of mine who posted that greeting in our page, thank you very much!)

And of course, I would like to thank the good Lord for letting me celebrate my 21st birthday with a great meaning. We all know that a young man's 21st birthday is an important celebration, just like a young lady's 18th. I really intended to celebrate it with my family, both my real ones and those I consider as my "extended family" in the Church. And, again, I thank Him whose birthday we anticipate in the last three days of the Advent Season.

Now that should be enough thanksgiving already, so let's get back to business here.

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READINGS AND PROPERS

Ordinary Form (Year A)

First Reading: Is. 7:10-14

The Lord spoke to Achaz, saying: Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God, either unto the depth of hell, or unto the height above. And Achaz said: I will not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord. And he said: Hear ye therefore, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to be grievous to men, that you are grievous to my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel.

Responsorial: Ps. 24 (23):1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Let the Lord enter: He is the King of Glory.

The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof:

the world, and all they that dwell therein.

For he hath founded it upon the seas;

and hath prepared it upon the rivers.

Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord:

or who shall stand in his holy place?

The innocent in hands, and clean of heart,

who hath not taken his soul in vain,

nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.

He shall receive a blessing from the Lord,

and mercy from God his Saviour.

This is the generation of them that seek him,

of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Second Reading: Rom. 1:1-7

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. Which he had promised before, by his prophets, in the holy scriptures, Concerning his Son, who was made to him of the seed of David, according to the flesh, Who was predestinated the Son of God in power, according to the spirit of sanctification, by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith, in all nations, for his name: Among whom are you also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that are at Rome, the beloved of God, called to be saints. Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel: Mt. 1:18-24

The generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife.

Extraordinary Form

INTROIT ¤ Isaias 45. 8
	Rorate, coeli, desuper, et nubes pluant iustum: aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem. -- Coeli enarrant gloriam Dei: et opera manuum eius annuntiat fimamentum. V.: Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Rorate, coeli, desuper, et nubes pluant iustum: aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.	Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior. -- (Ps. 18. 2). The heavens show forth the glory of God: and the firmament declareth the work of His hands. V.: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior.
The Gloria in Excelsis is omitted.
COLLECT
	Excita, quaesumus Domine, potentiam tuam, et veni, et magna nobis virtute succurre; ut per auxilium gratiae tuae, quod nostra peccata praepediunt, indulgentia tuae propitiationibus acceleret: qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	O Lord, we beseech Thee, stir up Thy power, and come, and with great might succor us: that by the help of Thy grace that which is hindered by our sins may be hastened by Thy merciful forgiveness. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost God, world without end.
EPISTLE ¤ I Cor. 4. 1-5 Lesson from the first Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians. Lectio Epistolae beati Pauli Apostoli ad Corinthios. [St. Paul speaks of the ministers of Christ, and addressing those who judge their pastors he reminds them that He alone who shall come one day as Judge has the right to do this.]
	Fratres: Sic nos existimet homo ut ministros Christi, et dispensatores mysteriorum Dei. Hic iam quaeritur inter dispensatores, ut fidelis quis inveniatur. Mihi autem pro minimo est, ut a vobis iudicer, aut ab humano die: sed neque meipsum iudico. Nihil enim mihi conscius sum: sed non in hoc iustificatus sum: qui autem iudicat me, Dominus est. Itaque nolite ante tempus iudicare, quoadusque veniat Dominus: qui et illuminabit abscondita tenebrarum, et manifestabit consilia cordium: et tunc laus erit unicuique a Deo.	Brethren, Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God. Here now it is required among the dispensers that a man be found faithful. But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you or by man's day: but neither do I judge my own self. For I am not conscious to myself of anything: yet am I not hereby justified, by He that judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge not before the time, until the Lord come: Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels fo the hearts: and then shall every man have praise from God.
GRADUAL ¤ Ps. 144. 18, 21
	Prope est Dominus omnibus invocantibus eum: omnibus qui invocant eum in veritate. V.: Laudem Domini loquetur os meum et benedicat omnis caro nomen sanctum eius. Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Veni, Domine, et noli tardare: relaza facinora plebis tuae Israel. Alleluia.	The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him: to all that call upon Him in truth. V.: My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless His Holy Name. Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Come, O Lord, and tarry not: forgive the sins of Thy people Israel. Alleluia.
When on the Ferias of Advent the Mass of the Sunday is used, the Alleluia and its verses are not said, but only the Gradual.
GOSPEL ¤ Luke 3. 1-6 † Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke. †Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam. [The day of mercy is coming proclaimed by John the Baptist.]
	Anno quintodecimo imperii Tiberii Caesaris, procurante Pontio Pilato Iudaeam, tetrarcha autem Galilaeae Herode, Philippo autem fratre eius tetrarcha Ituraeae, et Trachonitidis regionis, et Lysania Abilinae tetrarcha, sub principibus sacerdotum Anna et Caipha: factum est verbum Domini super Ioannem, Zachariae filium, in deserto. Et venit in omnem regionem Iordanis, praedicans baptismum paenitentiae in remissionem peccatorum, sicut scriptum est in libro sermonum Isaiae Prophetae: Vox clamantis in deserto: Parate viam Domini: rectas facite semitas eius: omnis vallis implebitur: et omnis mons et collis humiliabitur: et erunt prava in directa, et aspera in vias planas: et videbit omnis caro salutare Dei.	Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina, under the high priests Annas and Caiphas: the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins, as it was written in the book of the sayings of the Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight His paths: every valley shall be filled: and every mountain shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain: and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
OFFERTORY ¤ Luke 1. 28, 42
	Ave Maria, gratia plena: Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui.	Hail Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
SECRET
	Sacrificiis praesentibus, quaesumus Domine, placatus intende; ut et devotioni nostrae proficiant, et saluti. Per Dominum nostrum, Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	O Lord, we beseech Thee, look down favorably upon these present Sacrifices: that they may profit us both unto devotion and salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
PREFACE Preface of Advent
	Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus, per Christum Dominum nostrum; quem, perdito humanum generi, Salvatorem misericors et fidelis promisisti, cuius veritas instrueret inscios, sanctitas iustificaret impios, virtus adiuvaret infirmos. Dum ergo prope est ut veniat quem missurus es, et dies affulget liberationis nostrae, in hac promissionum tuarum fide piis gaudiis exsultamus. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni militiae caelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes:	It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should in all times, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God, through Christ our Lord. Whom Thou, clement and faithful, promised as a Savior to the lost race of men; Whose truth instructed the ignorant, Whose sanctity justified the impious, Whose virtues strengthened the weak. Therefore while the advent approaches of Him Who was sent, and the day of our liberation draws ever nearer, we exalt with pious joys in the confidence of Thy promises. And therefore, with angels and archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the host of the heavenly army, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, ever saying:
Or the celebrant may say:
Preface of the Most Holy Trinity
	Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Qui cum unigenito Filio tuo, et Spiritu Sancto, unus es Deus, unus es Dominus: non in unius singularitate personae, sed in unius Trinitate substantiae. Quod enim de tua gloria, revelante te, credimus, hoc de Filio tuo, hoc de Spiritu Sancto, sine differentia discretionis sentimus. Ut in confessione verae, sempiternaeque Deitatis, et in personis proprietas, et in essentia unitas, et in maiestate adoretur aequalitas. Quam laudant Angeli atque Archangeli, Cherubim quoque ac Seraphim: qui non cessant clamare quotidie, una voce dicentes:	It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:
COMMUNION ¤ Isaias 7. 4
	Ecce Virgo concipiet et pariet filium: et vocabitur nomen eius Emmanuel.	Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son: and His name shall be called Emmanuel.
POSTCOMMUNION
	Sumptis muneribus, quaesumus Domine, ut cum frequentatione mysterii, crescat nostrae salutis effectus. Per Dominum nostrum, Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	Having received Thy gifts, we beseech Thee, O Lord: that as we frequent this Mystery, so the world of our salvation may advance. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

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REFLECTIONS AND INSIGHTS

In the Prophecy of Isaias in the Ordinary Form, the wicked Achaz, King of Israel and Head of the House of David, tried the Lord for not asking Him for a sign of the Messiah that would come from their bloodline. For this, the Lord, through Isaias, told Achaz that he is a fool for not asking; besides, the Lord is too omnipotent not to know that Achaz is lying. The wicked king told Him "I will not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord," but he has already tempted the Lord, and thus gave His answer: "The Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel."

This passage made its continuation in the New Testament, when St. Joseph, the righteous man of the House of David, was enlightened that Mary, the woman he is about to marry, was bearing the Word of God made flesh--Jesus Christ, the Emmanuel promised by the Lord through the prophet Isaias. For this, he was convinced and convicted to take the Blessed Lady as his wife and accept the God Incarnate as his own child.

In the Epistle of the Ordinary Form, on the other hand, was taken from the opening passages of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, allegedly his final epistle before he was executed together with St. Peter, Rome's first Bishop and Pope. Not included in the Liturgy of the Word was the verse after the last passage of the Epistle: "First, I give thanks to my God, through Jesus Christ, for you all: because your faith is spoken of in the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make a commemoration of you…" (Rom. 1:8-9). Nevertheless, the passage being proclaimed in the Liturgy of the Word is enough concrete evidence that Rome was the "beloved of God" and is "called to be saints". Besides, most of the first Christian martyrs were executed in Rome, including Sts. Peter and Paul and the first fifty-or-so Popes who succeeded Peter. Maybe in this context, we see that the Church of Rome, which now has the Pope for its Bishop, was given the great privilege to propagate the Incarnation in a very special way to the world: and indeed the Pope always gives an Urbi et Orbi message "to the City of Rome and to the World" (which is the very meaning of the Latin phrase) every Christmas; the only other instances that a message of such manner is addressed is during a Pope's election and every Easter.

On the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, on the other hand, we are reminded in the Gospel by the very words of St. John the Baptist prior to the Theophany of the Messiah: "Prepare ye the way of the Lord".

The Introit of this Sunday's Mass is a good recall to our friends in the Traditional movement as this is the Introit of the Votive Mass for the Blessed Mother during Advent: "Rorate coeli, despuer, et nubes pluant iustum: aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem." "Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior" (Is. 45:8).

The wisdom of the Church compels us this Advent not only to joyfully await the Lord's coming, but also to do it with prayer, withdrawal, and if necessary, fasting. This season, the world advertises that Christmas should be celebrated by preparing way before the day itself; and for this reason, the world is partially right. But it is also partially wrong because they wanted to celebrate Christmas without reference to Christ, as well as preparing it with frivolous or not-so-frivolous parties, last-minute shopping, and even excessive food intake. (Don't get me wrong. I am guilty about the last point). The wisdom of the Church compels us to allot the remaining three-or-so days of the Season of Advent in prayer, withdrawal, and fasting, so that we can celebrate Christmas in its proper manner. Because the truth of the matter is that Christmas is about the Lord and His mercy; and the merry-making, the gifts, and the food come second.

In the Gospel of the Extraordinary Form, John the Baptist, as the fulfillment of the "prophet" or the "messenger" sent before the Messiah, tells us to meet the Lord in the wilderness, as he have received the Word of God there.

The bottom line of the readings and propers of both Forms is this: We must heed the call of John to go meet the Lord with him in the desert with the conviction of Joseph, son of David, to prepare ourselves to welcome the Lord's Sacred Heart in our hearts--that our hearts be a manger for Him who was born to save us all.

Now we ask: With only days before Christmas, am I ready to withdraw myself from the vanities that the world performs this time of year? Will I heed the call of John to prepare the way of the Lord? Will I be like Joseph, who accepted the Lord into his heart as he was convicted to take Mary, His Mother, for his wife?

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PRAYING THE COLLECT

O Lord, we beseech Thee, stir up Thy power, and come, and with great might succor us: that by the help of Thy grace that which is hindered by our sins may be hastened by Thy merciful forgiveness. Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection.

Through Him who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end. Amen.

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SOMETHING TO CONSIDER

Since Christmas is just around the corner, I would like to share with you some suggested pieces to consider for the three Masses that would be said on Christmas Day (Midnight, Dawn and Day).

Processional for both Forms:

"Pastorale" from Handel's "Messiah"