Year 37 No.
12 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) — Green
National Seafarer’s Day / Migrants’ Sunday
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
IN A WORLD OF
“No Fishers, No Fish!”
by Fr. Paulo Prigol, CS
F or twenty-eight consecutive
years now the Church in
the Philippines has celebrated
the National Seafarer’s Day
organized by Stella Maris. Today
we pay tribute to fishers who are
part of the people-of-the-sea.
There are 1.03 million domestic
fisherfolks and just around
25,000 Filipino fishers in
international waters.
We love fish, but sometimes
we forget that “No Fishers! No
Fish”! We may not be aware that
many fishers live as well as work
in their vessels, in conditions
that can be cramped and
congested. There may be long
periods away from home and
very long working hours. Access
to adequate food, drinking water,
and recreational facilities when
fishers are off-duty, is often
limited or non-existent. Fishers
sacrifice to provide the tasty fish
on our tables.
We appreciate fish! Do we
also appreciate and thank the
fishers? Or do we just take
for granted the hard-working
reality of fisherfolks? For many
they belong to the “forgotten
category” or “never mind about
them.” For the Church, however,
they are a special category in
need of specific attention.
Rereading today’s Gospel,
we find Jesus comparing the
Kingdom of God to a fisher’s
vessel owner. The latter goes
out at different times and hires
fishers. While in the Gospel
the landowner, God, not only
honors the agreement but shows
immense generosity towards
his hired workers, the reality
of the fishers, especially those
working in international waters,
is far from this. For example,
many fishers are led to increase
their income by applying the
“catching system.” Jesus makes
clear that the Kingdom of God
does not operate as a catching
system we are not rewarded
by a point system, but like
the First Reading says, we are
challenged to imitate God “who
is generous.” Generosity knows
no bounds, does not promote
jealousy, does not give room to
complain and is not synonymous
September 24, 2023
with injustice.
Along this line, the Second
Reading highlights how hard
Paul has worked for the Kingdom
where everyone is equal. The
proclamation of the Kingdom of
God is as laborious as catching
fish. In either work, there is need
for a good and faithful “fisher.”
This 28th National Seafarers’
Day is a unique opportunity to
pay more attention to fishers.
As we remember Filipino
fishers working on domestic or
international waters who, by the
nature of their work, are deprived
of many things, including the
opportunity to receive the
proclamation of the Kingdom
of God, not only do we include
them in our prayers, but in our
generosity, we declare that they
are not the forgotten category.
Likewise, as they travel from
port to port, we pray that they
may remain steadfast in their
faith, be witnesses to Christian
values, and find generous people
who will assist and guide them.
Blessed National Seafarer’s/
Fisher’s Day!
 THE INTRODUCTORY RITES
Entrance Antiphon
(Recited when there is no opening song.)
I am the salvation of the
people, says the Lord. Should
they cry to me in any distress,
I will hear them, and I will be
their Lord for ever.
Greeting
(The sign of the cross is made here.)
P—The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and the love of God, and
the communion of the Holy
Spirit be with you all.
All—And with your spirit.
Introduction
(These [or similar words] may be used
to address the assembly.)
P—God is generous and gives
us more than we may ever
deserve. In turn, we have to
mirror this generosity to others,
going beyond the limits of
strict justice. When we see
the “latecomers,” our brothers
and sisters who turn to God
after living dissolute lives, we
must encourage them in their
struggle to change their ways
rather than wish that they be
made to pay for their sinful past.
Penitential Act
P —Brethren (brothers and
sisters), let us acknowledge
our sins, and so prepare
ourselves to celebrate the
sacred mysteries. (Pause)
All —I confess to almighty
God and to you, my brothers
and sisters, that I have greatly
sinned, in my thoughts and in
my words, in what I have done
and in what I have failed to
do,(striking your breast) through
my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous
fault; therefore I ask blessed
Mary ever-Virgin, all the
Angels and Saints, and you,
my brothers and sisters, to pray
for me to the Lord our God.
P — May almighty God have
mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
All—Amen.
P—Lord, have mercy.
All—Lord, have mercy.
P—Christ, have mercy.
All—Christ, have mercy.
P—Lord, have mercy.
All—Lord, have mercy.
Gloria
All — Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace
to people of good will. We
praise you, we bless you, we
adore you, we glorify you, we
give you thanks for your great
glory, Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father. Lord
Jesus Christ, Only Begotten
Son, Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father, you take
away the sins of the world, have
mercy on us; you take away the
sins of the world, receive our
prayer; you are seated at the
right hand of the Father, have
mercy on us. For you alone are
the Holy One, you alone are
the Lord, you alone are the
Most High, Jesus Christ, with
the Holy Spirit, in the glory of
God the Father. Amen.
Collect
P—Let us pray. (Pause)
O God, who founded all
the commands of your sacred
Law upon love of you and of
our neighbor, grant that, by
keeping your precepts, we
may merit to attain eternal life.
Through our Lord Jesus
Christ, your Son, who lives
and reigns with you in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, God,
for ever and ever.
All—Amen.
THE LITURGY
OF THE WORD
First Reading (Is 55:6–9) (Sit)
The Lord is generous in forgiving
and so the wicked person is invited
to forsake his wicked ways. It is never
too late to return to the Lord.
A reading from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah
SEEK THE LORD while he may
be found, call him while he is
near. Let the scoundrel forsake
his way, and the wicked his
thoughts; let him turn to the
Lord for mercy; to our God,
who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, nor are your ways
my ways, says the Lord . As
high as the heavens are above
the earth, so high are my ways
above your ways and my
thoughts above your thoughts.
—The word of the Lord.
All—Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm (Ps 145)
R—The Lord is near to all who
call upon him.
Sr. M.C.A. Parco, fsp
Am C E7
   
     
The Lord is near to all who

5 Dm E7 Am
    
call u pon him.
1. Every day will I bless you,/
and I will praise your name
forever and ever./ Great is
the L ord and highly to be
praised;/ his greatness is
unsearchable.(R)
2. The Lord is gracious and
merciful,/ slow to anger and
of great kindness./ The Lord is
good to all/ and compassionate
toward all his works. (R)
3. The Lord is just in all his
ways/ and holy in all his
works./ The Lord is near to all
who call upon him,/ to all who
call upon him in truth. (R)
Second Reading
(Phil 1:20c–24, 27a)
When our life is Christ’s, says Paul,
any option is desirable. When we
live, we are happy to serve him, and
when we die, we shall be with him.
A reading from the Letter of
Saint Paul to the Philippians
BROTHERS AND SISTERS:
Christ will be magnified in my
body, whether by life or by
death. For to me life is Christ,
and death is gain. If I go on
living in the flesh, that means
fruitful labor for me. And I do
not know which I shall choose.
I am caught between the two.
I long to depart this life and be
with Christ, for that is far better.
Yet that I remain in the flesh is
more necessary for your benefit.
Only, conduct yourselves
in a way worthy of the gospel
of Christ.
—The word of the Lord.
All—Thanks be to God.
Alleluia (Cf. Acts 16:14b)
(Stand)
All—Alleluia, alleluia. Open
our hearts, O Lord, to listen to
the words of your Son. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Gospel (Mt 20:1–16a)
P—A reading from the holy
Gospel according to Matthew
All—Glory to you, O Lord.
JESUS TOLD his disciples
this parable: “The kingdom
of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to
hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for
the usual daily wage, he sent
them into his vineyard. Going
out about nine o’clock, the
landowner saw others standing
idle in the marketplace, and
he said to them, ‘You too
go into my vineyard, and I
will give you what is just.’ So
they went off. And he went
out again around noon, and
around three o’clock, and
did likewise. Going out about
five o’clock, the landowner
found others standing around,
and said to them,‘Why do
you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no
one has hired us.’ He said
to them, ‘You too go into
my vineyard.’ When it was
evening the owner of the
vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and
give them their pay, beginning
with the last and ending with
the first.’ When those who
had started about five o’clock
came, each received the usual
daily wage. So when the first
came, they thought that they
would receive more, but each
of them also got the usual
wage. And on receiving it
they grumbled against the
landowner, saying, ‘These last
ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them
equal to us, who bore the
day’s burden and the heat.’ He
said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating
you. Did you not agree with
me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this
last one the same as you? Or
am I not free to do as I wish
with my own money? Are
you envious because I am
generous?’ Thus, the last will
be first, and the first will be
last.”
— The Gospel of the Lord.
All—Praise to you, Lord Jesus
Christ.
Homily (Sit)
Profession of Faith (Stand)
All — 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, (At the words that follow
up to and including and became
man, all bow.) and by the Holy
Spirit was incarnate of the
Virgin Mary, and became man.
Fo r o u r s a k e h e wa s
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 b e l i e ve i n o n e , h o l y,
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.
Prayer of the Faithful
P —Jesus reveals to us the
Father who is good to all
his children and who is not
outdone in generosity. Full of
confidence, we pray to him:
R—Loving Father, hear our
prayer.
C—That Church leaders and
laity alike may zealously work
in the Lord’s vineyard, content
with the promise of heavenly
reward, we pray: (R)
C—That government leaders,
policymakers, and businessmen
may answer the people’s needs
for more decent employment,
we pray: (R)
C—That labor and management
may settle issues through hon-
orable and peaceful dialogue,
we pray: (R)
C—That family members may
realize the importance of each
other and the need for daily
dialogue and encounter with
one another, we pray: (R)
C—That those who have died
may see God’s eternal embrace
of peace and lead them to the
everlasting life, we pray: (R)
C —Let us pray for the urgent
concerns of our community
and our personal intentions
(pause). We pray: (R)
P—Father, may your divine
providence not lead us to self-
righteousness and selfishness,
but to selfless love for all.
Make us generous like you,
that we may live fully and
bring others to life.
All—Amen.
 THE LITURGY OF
THE EUCHARIST
Presentation of the Gifts
(Stand)
P—Pray, brethren…
All—May the Lord accept the
sacrifice at your hands for the
praise and glory of his name,
for our good and the good of
all his holy Church.
Prayer over the Offerings
P —Receive with favor, O
Lord, we pray, the offerings
of your people, that what they
profess with devotion and
faith may be theirs through
these heavenly mysteries.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
Preface (Ordinary VII)
P—The Lord be with you.
All—And with your spirit.
P—Lift up your hearts.
All—We lift them up to the
Lord.
P—Let us give thanks to the
Lord our God.
All—It is right and just.
P—It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give
you thanks, Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God.
For you so loved the world
that in your mercy you sent
us the Redeemer, to live
like us in all things but sin,
so that you might love in
us what you loved in your
Son, by whose obedience
we have been restored to
those gifts of yours that,
by sinning, we had lost in
disobedience.
And so, Lord, with all
the Angels and Saints, we,
too, give you thanks, as in
exultation we acclaim:
All—Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
God of hosts. Heaven and
earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in
the name of the Lord. Hosanna
in the highest. (Kneel)
Acclamation (Stand)
All—When we eat this Bread
and drink this Cup, we
proclaim your Death, O Lord,
until you come again.
THE COMMUNION RITe
The Lord’s Prayer
All—Our Father…
P—Deliver us, Lord…
All—For the kingdom, the
power and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Invitation to Peace
Invitation to Communion
(Kneel)
P—Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away
the sins of the world. Blessed
are those called to the supper
of the Lamb.
All—Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under
my roof, but only say the
word and my soul shall be
healed.
Communion Antiphon
(Ps 119 [118]:4–5)
You have laid down your
precepts to be carefully kept;
may my ways be firm in
keeping your statutes.
Prayer after Communion
(Stand)
P—Let us pray. (Pause)
Graciously raise up, O
Lord, those you renew with
t h i s S a c ra m e n t , t h a t w e
may come to possess your
redemption both in mystery
and in the manner of our life.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
THE CONCLUDING RITES
P—The Lord be with you.
All—And with your spirit.
Prayer over the People
P—Bow down for the blessing.
(Pause)
Turn your people to you
with all their heart, O Lord,
we pray, for you protect even
those who go astray, but when
they serve you with undivided
heart, you sustain them with
still greater care.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
P—And may the blessing of
almighty God, the Father, and
the Son, (†) and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain
with you for ever.
All—Amen.
Dismissal
P—The Mass has been offered.
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord
by your life.
All—Thanks be to God.