Fourth Sunday of Lent
Come back to me
with all your heart.
Don't let fear keep us apart.
Trees do bend,
though straight and tall;
so must we to others' call.
Long have I waited
for your coming
home to me and living
deeply our new life.
The wilderness will lead you
to your heart
where I will speak.
Integrity and justice
with tenderness you shall know.
Long have I waited
for your coming
home to me and living
deeply our new life.
You shall sleep secure
with peace; faithfulness
will be your joy.
Long have I waited
for your coming
home to me and living
deeply our new life.
Psalmody
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 O God, my God, I give you thanks; you are my God, I shall proclaim your glory.
Psalm 118
Song of joy for salvation
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, *
for his love endures forever.
Let the sons of Israel say: *
“His love endures for ever.”
Let the sons of Aaron say: *
“His love endures for ever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say: *
“His love endures for ever.”
I called to the Lord in my distress; *
he answered and freed me.
The Lord is at my side; I do not fear. *
what can man do against me?
The Lord is at my side as my helper:*
I shall look down on my foes.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord *
than to trust in men;
it is better to take refuge in the Lord *
than to trust in princes.
The nations all encompassed me; *
in the Lord’s name I crushed them.
They compassed me, compassed me about; *
in the Lord’s name I crushed them.
They compassed me about like bees; †
they blazed like a fire among thorns. *
In the Lord’s name I crushed them.
I was hard-pressed and was falling, *
but the Lord came to help me.
The Lord is my strength and my song; *
he is my savior.
There are shouts of joy and victory *
in the tents of the just.
The Lord’s right hand has triumphed; *
his right hand raised me.
The Lord’s right hand has triumphed; †
I shall not die, I shall live *
and recount his deeds.
I was punished, I was punished by the Lord, *
but not doomed to die.
Open to me the gates of holiness: *
I will enter and give thanks.
This is the Lord’s own gate *
where the just may enter.
I will thank you for you have answered *
and you are my savior.
The stone which the builders rejected *
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord, *
a marvel in our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord; *
we rejoice and are glad.
O Lord, grant us salvation; *
O Lord, grant success.
Blessed in the name of the Lord *
is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord; *
the Lord God is our light.
Go forward in procession with branches *
even to the altar.
You are my God, I thank you. *
My God, I praise you.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; *
for his love endures for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,*
and will be forever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord God, you have given us the great day of rejoicing: Jesus Christ, the stone rejected by the builders, has become the cornerstone of the Church, our spiritual home. Shed upon your Church the rays of your glory, that it may be seen as the gate of salvation open to all nations. Let cries of joy and exultation ring out from its tents, to celebrate the wonder of Christ’s resurrection.
Ant. O God, my God, I give you thanks; you are my God, I shall proclaim your glory.
Ant. 2 God of might, deliver us; free us from the power of the enemy.
Canticle: Daniel 3:52-57
Let all creatures praise the Lord
(Romans 1:25).
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, *
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name, *
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.
Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, *
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.
Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, *
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
Blessed are you who look into the depths †
from your throne upon the cherubim, *
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, *
praiseworthy and glorious forever.
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, *
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,*
and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. God of might, deliver us; free us from the power of the enemy.
Ant. 3 Praise God for his mighty deeds.
Psalm 150
Praise the Lord
Praise God in his holy place, *
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his powerful deeds, *
praise his surpassing greatness.
O praise him with sound of trumpet, *
praise him with lute and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance, *
praise him with strings and pipes.
O praise him with resounding cymbals, *
praise him with clashing of cymbals.
Let everything that lives and that breathes *
give praise to the Lord.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,*
and will be forever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord God, maker of heaven and earth and of all created things, you make your just ones holy and you justify sinners who confess your name. Hear us as we humbly pray to you: give us eternal joy with your saints.
Ant. Praise God for his mighty deeds.
1st Reading
Jos 5:9a, 10-12
Go to the Readings for Cycle A
A reading from the Book of Joshua
The LORD said to Joshua,
“Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.”
While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho,
they celebrated the Passover
on the evening of the fourteenth of the month.
On the day after the Passover,
they ate of the produce of the land
in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain.
On that same day after the Passover,
on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased.
No longer was there manna for the Israelites,
who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.
Continue with the Readings for Cycle C
Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
℟. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
℟. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
℟. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
℟. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
2nd Reading
2 Cor 5:17-21
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
Brothers and sisters:
Whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.
And all this is from God,
who has reconciled us to himself through Christ
and given us the ministry of reconciliation,
namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
not counting their trespasses against them
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
So we are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Thanks be to God.
Glory to You,
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the Living God.
I will get up and go to my Father and I shall say to him:
Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
Glory to You,
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the Living God.
Gospel
Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable:
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.’”
At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:
The Gospel of the Lord.
All reply:
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Then he kisses the book, saying quietly:
Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.
The Creed is said.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of
the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right
hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the
Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in One, Holy,
Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism
for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to
the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Lord, we gather today, in your house we kneel down and pray.
We ask for your mercy as we
open our hearts to receive your forgiveness, O Lord.
Lord, we lift up to you, all these gifts we offer for your glory.
We will eat this living bread,
we will drink this saving cup,
and feel your presence, O Lord.
As we offer this bread and
as we bring you this wine,
bless them Lord Jesus,
feed us now, give us life.
Send us your spirit,
the source of our lives,
and together we will
serve you with love.
As we offer this bread and
as we bring you this wine,
bless them Lord Jesus,
feed us now, give us life.
Send us your spirit,
the source of our lives,
and together we will
serve you with love.
O Diyos, awang ’di mabilang,
tanggapin Mo yaring aming alay;
gawin ito bilang tanda
ng aming kaligtasan.
Narito O Ama, alak at tinapay,
bunga ng lupa at ng aming paggawa.
O Diyos, awang ’di mabilang
tanggapin Mo yaring aming alay
gawing alaala ng pagkamatay,
muling pagkabuhay ni Hesukristo.
Narito O Ama, alak at tinapay,
bunga ng lupa at ng aming paggawa.
O Diyos, awang ’di mabilang
tanggapin Mo yaring aming alay;
sa bisa nitong sakripisyo,
mapasa amin ang buhay na walang hanggan.
Narito O Ama, alak at tinapay,
bunga ng lupa at ng aming paggawa.
Dan Schutte, SJ
Holy, holy, holy
Lord God of Hosts.
Heaven and Earth are full,
are full of Your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna,
hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes,
who comes in the
name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna,
hosanna in the highest.
Dan Schutte, SJ
We proclaim your Death,
O Lord,
and profess your Resurrection
until you come again.
M.V. Francisco, SJ
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread, and
forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who
trespass against us;
and lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us,
deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,
have mercy on us,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,
have mercy on us,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,
grant us peace.
Manlamig man sa Akin
puso mong maramdamin,
lisanin man ng tuwa
puso mong namamanglaw.
Manginig man sa takot
masindakin mong puso,
mag-ulap man sa lungkot
diwa mong mapag-imbot.
Kapiling mo
Akong laging naghihintay
sa tanging tawag mo;
Pag-ibig kong ito
isang pananabik sa puso ko
sa‘yong pagbabalik sa piling
Kong puspos ng pagsuyo.
Manahimik at makinig ka’t
maging Akin muli.
Di mo rin akalain
tinig mo’y hanap Ko rin.
Ang ‘yong tuwa at sakit
aking galak at pait.
Kung lingid pa sa iyo
aking pakikiloob.
Tuklasin mong totoo
tunay mong pagkatao.
Kapiling mo
Akong laging naghihintay
sa tanging tawag mo;
Pag-ibig kong ito
isang pananabik sa puso ko
sa‘yong pagbabalik sa piling
Kong puspos ng pagsuyo.
Manahimik at makinig ka’t
maging Akin muli.
Kapiling mo
Akong laging naghihintay
sa tanging tawag mo;
Pag-ibig kong ito
isang pananabik sa puso ko
sa‘yong pagbabalik sa piling
Kong puspos ng pagsuyo.
Manahimik at makinig ka’t
maging Akin muli.
Gospel Canticle
Ant. It was unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man born blind until the coming of Christ, the Son of God.
Canticle of Zechariah
Luke 1:68-79
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed + be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old †
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. It was unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man born blind until the coming of Christ, the Son of God.
It’s time for us to make
our dreams come true.
A guiding voice
will tell us what to do.
It’s the time to change
ourselves and show the world
that we still care for men
and we’ll lead them there.
We’ll lead them to
a place beyond the sea.
A place of love where
everyone is free.
Don’t despair the path
to happiness is wide.
If we must change our ways
call on God for our guide.