HE RENEWS ALL THINGS
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: Today we celebrate Gaudete Sunday when the Church invites us to “rejoice” because the Lord is near and his coming will bring about renewal and wholeness.
While we rejoice, we prepare ourselves for the Lord’s coming so that we may experience newness and fullness of life.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have not allowed God to transform our lives and have been content with the old, we ask him to forgive us.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you give sight to the blind and free the captives:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you raise the dead to life in the Spirit:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you proclaim the good news to the poor:
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: God of glory and compassion,
at your touch the wilderness blossoms,
broken lives are made whole,
and fearful hearts grow strong in faith.
Grant perseverance and patience
to all who long for your Son’s return
that we may announce in word and deed
the good news of the kingdom.
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 35:1-6a, 10
Psalm Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10
Response Lord, come and save us.
Reading 2 James 5:7-10
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
Gospel Matthew 11:2-11
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine being present when John’s disciples come to Jesus and ask whether Jesus is “the one who is to come”. What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear the question and when you hear Jesus’ reply?
Sunday Snippets
Dr Verghese Kurien, the Milkman of India and the Father of the White Revolution, helped establish Amul. His brainchild “Operation Flood” became the world’s largest dairy development program and transformed India from a milk-deficient nation in 1949 to the world’s largest milk producer forty years later. He helped farmers improve their financial and social well-being: his work lifted millions out of poverty (three-fourths of the price one pays for an Amul product goes to the producing dairy farmer) and contributed to the transformation of rural India.
What Dr Kurien did for dairy farmers in India, Jesus does for all peoples: he transforms us; he makes all things new!
The readings of today on this Third Sunday of Advent emphasize this renewal and wholeness.
In the first reading, Isaiah announces that the coming of God will cause abundant flowers to bloom in the desert, strengthens feeble hands, makes firm knees that are weak, and brings back the Babylonian exiles. There will be a radical renewal.
In James’ letter, the coming of the Lord is likened to “the precious fruit of the earth.”
This renewal is evident in the gospel, too. Jesus answers John’s question (“are you the one?”) in the language of Isaiah: “The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” What Isaiah foretold becomes reality with the coming of Jesus.
The same Jesus comes again to renew all things – every day and at the end of time. What should we do while we await his coming?
In the words of St James, we ought to “be patient” and wait with “hearts firm” like “the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth”. A farmer waits patiently and productively! When we do this, the Lord will make all things new in his time and on his terms.
Will I wait patiently and productively for the coming of God? Do I believe that he can and does transform my reality or do I look for another because his action does not meet my expectations? How can I be his instrument of transformation?
May we be partners with God in the rainbow revolution and cooperate with him as he makes all things new.
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 sisters and brothers, God’s word tells us to patiently await all the good things that the coming of the Saviour brings. With trust, we make our needs known to him and pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that we may be instruments of hope and bring light to the darkness of society, we pray to the Lord…
R: For leaders of nations: that the Spirit may guide their work to address the issues of immigration, poverty, and violence, we pray to the Lord…
R: For all who struggle with doubt: that God may open their eyes and hearts to Jesus and the marvellous things he does within and around them, we pray to the Lord…
R: For the sick and the suffering: that we may recognise the Christ who lives in them and share with them the gifts God has given us, we pray to the Lord…
R: For better stewardship of creation: that we may learn to respect creation and care for it as a gift of God, we pray to the Lord…
R: For ourselves: that we may recognize the presence and action of God in the people and events around us and work to establish his kingdom of peace and justice, we pray to the Lord…
L: God of joy and exultation, you strengthen what is weak and give hope to those who live in fear. Look upon our needs this day. Make us grateful for the good news of salvation and keep us faithful in your service. 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,
the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth.
We watch and wait for you,
and count the ways you come to us.
Teach us to patiently wait
for the exquisite yield of your love.
And while we wait,
help us to cooperate with you
in renewing your creation.
Help us to strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
and sustain those whose hearts are frightened.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: God our Father,
help us to strengthen the weary,
to give hope to the discouraged,
to be near to the poor and the weak.
But remember us too,
for we are but weak and fallible people,
and stay with us.
Through Christ 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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