Few
things, if any, are more beautiful on the human – and the
divine – level than the encounter between persons. An encounter
is a great joy and a grace. The first reading (from the Song
of Songs) speaks of the encounter between a suitor and the
young woman he loves; this is probably an image of the love
between God and Israel. The second option (from Zeph) describes
the joy of Jerusalem because God stays with his people.
In
the gospel, Elizabeth encounters Mary; even the unborn John
the Baptist encounters the Savior and his mother. Deeper than
meetings between people in business, science, politics, or
their jobs, are the understanding, love and sharing of real
human encounters. This is the kind of encounter that awaits
us with the Lord on Christmas and in this eucharist. Encounters
are even deeper when God is a partner of them.
Opening
Prayer
God,
we tend to lose ourselves
in the bustle and stir of the day,
in our work and our petty worries.
Give us the freshness of heart
to look for the things that matter,
those that make our lives deeply human
and at the same time open us
to your world and to your values.
Make us long to encounter you with joy,
that we may discover again the quality
of gratuitous giving, of respect,
and of carefree, self-forgetting love,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Scripture
Readings
First
Reading: Song
2:8-14
The
voice of my lover! Behold he comes,
springing across the mountains,
jumping over the hills,
like a gazelle or a young stag.
Now he stands behind our wall,
looking through the windows,
peering through the lattice.
My
lover speaks to me,
"Arise, my love, my beautiful one!
Come, the winter is gone,
the rains are over.
Flowers have appeared on earth;
the season of singing has come;
the cooing of doves is heard.
The fig tree forms its early fruit,
the vines in blossom are fragrant.
Arise,
my beautiful one,
come with me, my love, come.
O my dove in the rocky cleft,
in the secret places of the cliff,
let me see your face,
let me hear your voice.
Your face - how lovely!
Your voice - how sweet!"
Responsorial
Psalm: Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21
R
Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Give
thanks to the Lord on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
R Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
But
the plan of the Lord stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Our
soul waits for the Lord,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.
R Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Gospel
Reading:
Lk 1:39-45
Mary
set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. She entered the house
of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's
greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with
holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, "You are most blessed
among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that
the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded
in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed
are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!"
(Commentary)
–
That the deeper coming of Christ to us on Christmas fill us
all with gratitude and joy, we pray:
–
That God may give us the gift of having many friends, we pray:
–
That we may learn to appreciate people and rejoice in their
gifts and talents, we pray:
Prayer
over the Gifts
Lord
God, loving Father,
in this eucharist you encounter us again
through your Son Jesus Christ.
In these signs of bread and wine
may we really meet him
from person to person.
Let him set our hearts afire with his Spirit,
that we give up our self-made securities
and dare with him to become
your people and your world
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Prayer
after Communion
God,
our Father,
we have encountered your Son
in his word and his body.
Let him go with us now
to speak through us your word
of courage and lasting hope
and to make us his body to the world,
that every encounter among people
may from now on become
a blessing and a grace and a joy,
and a commitment to one another and to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
The
coming of Christ has brought joy to the world. With him, there
is hope. No more room for sadness and fear! Even the cross
can lead to joy! May almighty God make you people of joy and
bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Thank
You, Lord!
Gospel
Commentary
(Saturday)
Who
is this son of Mary? Luke shows us through Mary's cousin,
Elizabeth. "How is it that the mother of my Lord comes
to me?" Somehow, one unborn child sensed the approach
of the other, and his mother understood. How quietly God works!
These two women alone are the witnesses and heralds of this
news of great joy for all people. The seed God planted in
secret is growing. Mary receives a confirmation of God's promise
to her through the prophet Elizabeth. As the cry of Elizabeth
echoes down the centuries, may her joy be ours. May we, too,
sense the divine presence, a personal presence, calling us
by name.
TOP
Taken
from Liturgy
Alive for Weekdays
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