CTRL+Z
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
We are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain a part of the Body of Christ.
Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
The Sign of the Cross
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.
A: Blessed be God forever.
L: Billy Graham said: “We’re suffering from only one disease in the world: our basic problem is not a race problem… not a war problem; it is a heart problem. We need to get the heart changed.” John the Baptist had a similar message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
That’s the thrust of the liturgy today; that’s the program for Advent! We pray that we may change our hearts during this Advent season, that we may remove everything that prevents us from living in peace and harmony with one another.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have been unwilling to turn back to God, we ask him to forgive us.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, like John, you invite us to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God’s kingdom:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you came to reconcile us to one another and to the Father:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
Opening Prayer
L: Your kingdom is at hand,
O God of justice and peace;
you made John the Baptist its herald
to announce the coming of your Christ,
who baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Give us a spirit of repentance
to make us worthy of the kingdom.
complacency yield to conviction,
that in our day justice will flourish
and conflict give way to peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.
Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
Response Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Reading 2 Romans 15:4-9
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths:
all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Gospel Matthew 3:1-12
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine being in the desert of Judea when John preaches: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” What thoughts and feelings do his appearance and his words evoke?
Sunday Snippets
One of the most useful Windows shortcuts, and one that I use most often, is “Ctrl+Z”! By pressing this key combo, one can undo one’s last action. Did I key in a wrong word or letter? Did I delete an entire paragraph by mistake? No problem! I just press “Ctrl+Z” and return to where I was before my mistake.
All of us have done things in our lives that we regret and would like to undo: poor decisions, unkind words, wrong acts… it’s part of being human, and sometimes we wish we had Ctrl+Z in our lives.
Advent offers us a Ctrl+Z time and program, summarised in the call of John the Baptist: “Repent… make straight his paths”.
Repentance is undoing our errors. It is turning away from sin (whatever breaks my relationship with God, others, myself, and nature) and a turning to God. It is what happens when – like the prodigal son – we come to our senses and return to the Father. It is moving from selfishness to selflessness, from defending oneself to donating oneself.
Our ancestry, religious affiliation, social status do not matter. What matters is bearing good fruit: we ought to live justly, in harmony with one another, and in total dependence on God.
When we repent, we collaborate with God in the realization of the ideal realm (which Isaiah foretold in the first reading) and of his kingdom (which Jesus brings and where justice, peace, and harmony reign).
That’s what Paul exhorts the Romans: “Think in harmony with one another… Welcome one another.”
And yet today we are a divided people… nations are divided, communities are divided, families are divided.
In trying to build harmony, we focus on conflict resolution. However, there are issues which are difficult to resolve and some which can never be resolved. Psychology and spirituality tell us that the focus should be on conflict engagement. We acknowledge our differences and figure out a way to live in harmony. We acknowledge someone’s perspective without agreeing with that perspective. Not easy but possible!
In what areas of my life do I need Ctrl+Z? How can I foster peace - justice - harmony… and so collaborate in the realization of the kingdom?
May our celebration of the Eucharist and of Advent be Ctrl+Z time and help us return to our original state of being.
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: In baptism I received the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in this reading: wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, and reverence. Do I use these gifts to deal with problems?
Reading 2: There are people with whom I disagree. How easy is it to “think in harmony” with them? Why think in harmony instead of just going along with such people, or being nice, or acting like I agree with them?
Gospel: How would I respond to John’s call to repent? Is the fire within me a conflagration or does it look more like a pilot light? What can I do during Advent to gather some kindling for my fire?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: My brothers and sisters, attentive to God’s word and presence among us and awaiting the coming of our Saviour, let us pray for the mission of the Church and the salvation of all people: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that through our baptism with Spirit and fire, we may courageously live the Gospel and be instruments for the transformation for the world, we pray to the Lord…
R: For the world: that leaders may recognize the root causes of evil, poverty, racism, and abuse so that new and constructive efforts may produce a just and life-giving society, we pray to the Lord…
R: For an end to violence in our cities and families: that the Spirit of God may transform hearts and help people to recognize the dignity of each person, we pray to the Lord…
R: For all who are ill: that the coming of Christ may bring healing, freedom from addiction, and courage to live life fully each day, we pray to the Lord…
R: For the renewal of all of creation: that God may heal the divisions amongst peoples and the wounds within nature so that his plan for the earth may be realized, we pray to the world…
R: For ourselves: that God may help us to look honestly at our lives and guide our process of disengaging from the old so that we may live and act in new ways, we pray to the Lord…
L: O God of hope and salvation, stir up within us the fruit of repentance that the fire of your Spirit may cause us to burn with love for all people and reflect the warmth of your presence. Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
Lord,
John cried out in the desert:
Prepare! Change your heart!
Fill us with your gifts
of wisdom, understanding, counsel,
strength, knowledge, wonder and awe.
Help us to turn back to you
and to lives by the values of your kingdom.
Help us to live in harmony
with one another and with nature.
Help us to collaborate with you
in the realization of the ideal realm
and of your kingdom.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: God our Father,
give us people inspired by you,
prophets like John the Baptist,
to wake us up when we are self-satisfied,
and to inspire us to turn back to you
and prepare the way
for the full coming of Jesus Christ,
our Saviour and our Lord.
A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.
A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
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