PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD
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 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: Seventeen days to go for Christmas! People are getting ready for Christmas. The Liturgy on the Second Sunday of Advent reminds us that we need to get our hearts ready for Christ. We need to make our crooked ways straight and smooth out the rough places so that we can walk with Jesus each day of our life. Let’s ask the Lord for his grace to do this.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have created obstacles to the Lord’s coming, we ask the Lord to forgive us.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you brought us freedom and justice
and opened wide for us the way to the Father and to people: Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you showed us the path to the peace of forgiveness: Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you lead us on the road of love and generosity
and you want to bring your salvation to all: 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 our Father,
we know today how to pierce mountains
and level hills to build highways,
but we have lost the way to each other’s heart and to you.
Let your Son come among us
to help us build roads of justice and love
that make us encounter one another and you.
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.
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 Baruch 5:1-9
Psalm Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
Response The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Reading 2 Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths:
all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Gospel Luke 3:1-6
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine you are in the “region of the Jordan”. What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear John proclaim a baptism of repentance and invite people to “prepare the way of the Lord”?
Sunday Snippets
A man caused a stir among Christmas shoppers in a mall. He sat near the beautifully decorated Christmas tree and talked to people. He asked them why they spent so much money on Christmas and stressed themselves over this tinselled holiday. To some, he said: “The best gifts we can give are kindness and compassion.” To others: “Why don’t you forgive or reconcile with family or friends?”
Many nodded in agreement. Some quit shopping and went home. Others bought an extra toy or some clothes for charity.
Word reached the store managers. They had security escort him from the premises. He wasn’t really hurting anyone, but he had to go; he was ruining everyone’s Christmas.
Were John the Baptist to appear today, he would probably ruin everyone’s Christmas. He would remind us of the same things and tell us that the coming of God among us means more than cleaning and decorating, shopping and cooking. It means “preparing the way of the Lord”.
In the first reading, Baruch offers a song of hope to the Babylonian exiles that God would one day lead them home. Like the foreman of a road crew, God orders that mountains be levelled and valleys filled for the building of a road on which “Israel may walk safely in the glory of God.”
Luke takes up the same image to interpret the message of John the Baptist. John offers hope that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
The salvation promised by Baruch and John is God’s work. Ours is to repair the road for God’s coming. Our task is to repent: to recognise and admit that I’m going the wrong way and then change direction. Repentance is awareness-admission-action.
What are the areas in my life that need “repair” and the obstacles that must be removed? There are
- mountains that need to come down: racism, communalism, sexism.
- valleys to be filled: despair, loneliness, grief, pain.
- crooked places to be made straight: abuse, immorality, violence.
- rough places to be made smooth: oppression, injustice.
There is work to do! Let’s bring on the bulldozers and road graders… and get to work on our hearts!
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: How can I help God lower “the lofty mountains” or “fill the depths and gorges” for those who are struggling and oppressed?
Reading 2: St Paul writes: “The one who began a good work in you will complete it.” Who is the instigator of the good work in me? Whom do I trust, myself or God, to complete this “good work”?
Gospel: “All flesh shall see the salvation of God”? What are the implications for humanity in this saying? Is the entire world included in this plan? What are the implications for me?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Let us pray in trusting hope that all people may see and accept the salvation which the Lord offers to all: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that we may make ready a way for the Lord in our time and make a straight path for God in our hearts, our families, and our workplaces, we pray…
R: For peace in the world: that God may inspire all people to respect the dignity of others, and promote justice for all, we pray…
R: For all who are suffering: that God may smooth the pathways of those fleeing oppression, guide refugees to places of safety, renew the spirits of those who have experienced abuse, and free those unjustly held, we pray…
R: For all those afraid of the future: that God may help them put aside their fears and distress, and learn to hope in him and trust in his promises, we pray…
R: For ourselves: that God may remove resentments and prejudices from our hearts, free us from vices that blind us to his presence, and dissolve our inability to forgive others, we pray…
L: Lord God, give us the will and the courage to remove the obstacles that separate us from each other and to level the road for the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, who is Lord forever and ever.
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,
in our chaos, let us hear once again
the voice of the Baptist crying out to us:
“Prepare the way, make straight the paths.
Every valley filled and hills made low.
All flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
God of constant newness,
carve fresh roads into our wilderness:
into climate and racial emergency.
Turn our deserts into gardens.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: Lord, God of hope,
in this liturgy we have celebrated again
the coming of your Son in our midst.
Let this brief encounter with him
help us prepare the way his coming
by bringing low the mountains
and filling the valleys of our lives.
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:
No comments:
Post a Comment