December 22 - Fourth Sunday of Advent (B)

Themes:

A. Servant of the Lord

B. Reliable Words from God and Mary

Readings:
First Reading: 2 S 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
Second Reading: Rom 16:25-27
Gospel Reading: Lk 1:26-38

Gospel Reflections and Commentaries:
Bible Diary • Sundays Into Silence • Diario Biblico

Greeting (see second reading)

Glory to God who is able to give you
the strength to live according to the Good News
about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
This Good News is now proclaimed to all.
May you accept this Good News
and may the Lord Jesus be always with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

A.    Servant of the Lord

To what extent are we available to God and do we see what he wants to do in us and through us? Today we are shown the marvelous example of Mary. Even if she did not see clearly all it implied, she accepted her mission to become the mother of the Savior. Jesus wants to be born in our world through us too, with our cooperation. We too have to say our Yes to God and to his plans with us and with the world. Let us say our Yes with Jesus and Mary.

B.    Reliable Words from God and Mary

How reliable are our words? How often do we keep our promises? Many times in the past God had promised to bring joy and happiness and freedom to his people. He kept his word and promise in a way surpassing by far what people expected:        he sent his own Son as one of us: God’s Son, yes, but also the son of a human mother. A few days from now, on Christmas, we shall celebrate how God gave us Jesus. Today we hear an angel announcing to Mary that God would keep his word through her, and Mary gave her word that she would cooperate with God’s plan. Like her and with Jesus may we also say our Yes to God here in this eucharist.

Penitential Act

Our indifference and our refusals
have been obstacles to God’s plans.
Let us ask the Lord to forgive us.
                        (pause)
Lord Jesus, with you and with Mary
we want to be open to the word of God:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, with you and with Mary
we are willing to face the risks
of committing ourselves to God and to people:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, from you and from Mary
we want to learn to serve:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

In your mercy, Lord,
speak to us your word of forgiveness
and make us respond to your words of life.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray to our Father
that we may be receptive to the coming of his Son
                        (pause)
God, who are the Most High Lord of all,
you have a surprising preference
for people who are small and humble
and who expect everything from you.
You chose Mary, the unassuming virgin from Nazareth,
to become the mother of your Son Jesus.
Through your Holy Spirit
make us aware of the poverty of our hearts,
that we may be open to you and welcome you,
be ready, like Mary, to serve you and your plans,
and expect everything from you.
Come to us and give yourself to us
through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Scripture Readings

First Reading Introduction: A House That  Will Stand Forever
      David proposes to build for God the house of a temple. But God chooses  the house of the dynasty of David, from which a Savior would be born for his people.

First Reading: 2 Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

When king David had settled in his palace and Yahweh had rid him of all his surrounding enemies, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I live in a house of cedar but the ark of God is housed in a tent." Nathan replied, "Do as it seems fit to you for Yahweh is with you."

But that very night, Yahweh's word came to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, this is what Yahweh says: Are you able to build a house for me to live in?

Now you will tell my servant David, this is what Yahweh of hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the sheep, to make you commander of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, cutting down all your enemies before you. Now I will make your name great as the name of the great ones on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel and plant them that they may live there in peace. They shall no longer be harassed, nor shall wicked men oppress them as before. From the time when I appointed judges over my people Israel it is only to you that I have given rest from all your enemies. Yahweh also tells you that he will build you a house.

When the time comes for you to rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your son after you, the one born of you and I will make his reign secure.
I will be a father to him and he shall be my son. If he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod, as men do.
Your house and your reign shall last forever before me, and your throne shall be forever firm."

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29

Second Reading Introduction: God Shows Himself in Jesus Christ
      With Paul, let us praise God, who remained hidden for a long time, but now, in his wisdom, has shown himself in Jesus Christ. This is the Good News to be preached to all.

Second Reading: Rom 16:25-27

Brothers and sisters, he is able to give you strength, according to the Good News I proclaim, announcing Christ Jesus.

Now is revealed the mysterious plan kept hidden for long ages in the past.
By the will of the eternal God it is brought to light, through the prophetic books, and all nations shall believe the faith proclaimed to them.

Glory to God, who alone is wise, through Christ Jesus, for ever! Amen.

Gospel Introduction: Your Will for Me Be Done
       God’s plans are fulfilled where people, in all humility like Mary, receive God on his own terms.

Gospel Reading: Lk 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you." Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.

But the angel said, "Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever and his reign shall have no end."

Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be if I am a virgin?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called Son of God. Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child, and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible."

Then Mary said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said." And the angel left her.

Commentary  •  Gospel Reflections by Fr. Gerry Pierse, CSsR

• Additional Commentaries & Reflections from Diario Biblico (English edition)

General Intercessions

Let us open our hearts to the Lord Jesus that he may live in us and stay with us. Let us say: R/ Lord, make your home in us.

–    Lord, feel at home in your Church, that it may be open to you in the poor and that those who seek you may find in it your forgiveness, your life and truth and joy, we pray:
R/ Lord, make your home in us.

–    Lord, feel at home with priests and religious, that they may live up to the word once given to you and that they render you humble service in the people you have entrusted to their care, we pray:
R/ Lord, make your home in us.

–    Lord, feel at home in our world, that peoples and cultures may understand one another, seek peace together and promote justice and love, we pray:
R/ Lord, make your home in us.

–    Lord, feel at home in our families, unite them in fidelity and tenderness, guide parents to raise their children toward your own mature adulthood, we pray:
R/ Lord, make your home in us.

–    Lord, feel at home in our communities, where we welcome everyone in need, where we serve one another with joy and make you visible by our untiring love. we pray:
R/ Lord, make your home in us.

Lord, it is good to be with you, to be aware that you live among us. Like Mary, may we not keep you for ourselves but take you to others, that they may know and love you, now and for ever. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts

Faithful God,
we are aware of our limitations
and the insufficiency of these gifts
we bring before you.
May our very poverty dispose you
to fill our empty hearts
with the wisdom of your Holy Spirit
and with the presence of him
whom we expect with great longing,
your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

Soon we will pray in the eucharistic prayer that by the power of the Holy Spirit bread and wine may become Jesus himself. By the same Holy Spirit, may Jesus be born also in our hearts and in our world.

Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer

By the power of the Holy Spirit
Jesus was born of  the  Virgin Mary
and we have become God’s children.
Let us pray with him the prayer of Jesus
to our Father in heaven: R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us

Deliver us, Lord,
from our pride in our own achievements
which closes us to your gifts.
Keep us from building for you
splendid buildings in which to confine you,
that you may choose us, your people,
rather than a building of stone
as your home in which you want to live
through him whom we expect with joy and hope,
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus Christ,
the Son of the Most High
born by the power of the Holy Spirit
of the virgin-mother Mary.
Happy are we to receive him. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion

God our Father,
you fill the hungry with good things
and send the self-satisfied away empty.
In this eucharist you have filled us
with the word and the bread of life
of your Son Jesus Christ.
Make us hunger now for his coming
in the hearts and the homes of all.
Fill us with his spirit of service
and self-forgetting love,
that through us he may become near to people.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing

Christmas is now very near.
With the Blessed Virgin Mary
we wait for the Lord’s coming.
With her we say:
We are the Lord’s servants;
we want to do his will
and to give his Son for all to share.
May almighty God bless you:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Go in peace and live in the joy
of knowing that the Lord is near. R/ Thanks be to God.

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Gospel Commentary (Sunday)

Today we have another chance to hear God's promise to Mary. She was blessed because she believed God's promise would be fulfilled. She becomes the house of God. A human heart is the house God seeks, where his reign will have no end. We, too, are born to be a home for God, and to continue the saving mission of Jesus. With God, nothing is impossible: from barren ground God brings forth life. If we believe this, if we even hope that it could be so, we have our share in the blessedness of Mary. Faith is faith; it is not scientific certainty. It is always to some extent a leap in the dark. Mary took the risk and the consequences - commitment to a lifelong pilgrim journey, searching, wondering, holding on, waiting. She, too, knows what it is to live between the first and second comings of Christ.

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Taken from Liturgy Alive for Sundays
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