Wednesday December 19

Third Week of Advent;

Introduction
People chosen by God for a special mission in his plan of salvation are constantly presented in the Bible as chosen and loved before birth, with their birth announced in a special way; they are moved by the Spirit of God; their mission demands sacrifices. Witness the call of Samson in his folkloric saga, or that of John the Baptist. The silence of Zechariah comes probably from the joy of an overwhelming message, too great to be put into words.
Underlying these vocation stories is that people are weak, that salvation is gratuitously given by God, that barrenness (the barren women) gives way to fertility, that sacrifices are demanded. And so, people are to be moved by the Spirit of God. All this holds true also for us as we are called to prepare the way of the Lord.

Opening Prayer
Lord, mighty God,
no angel announced our birth,
but we know that you loved us
even before we were born,
and that you call us to prepare
the fuller coming of your Son among people.
Reveal your strength in our weakness,
keep us hoping in your future,
that we may overcome all obstacles
to establish the kingdom
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reading 1JGS 13:2-7, 24-25A
There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites,
whose name was Manoah.
His wife was barren and had borne no children.
An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her,
"Though you are barren and have had no children,
yet you will conceive and bear a son.
Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink
and to eat nothing unclean.
As for the son you will conceive and bear,
no razor shall touch his head,
for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb.
It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel
from the power of the Philistines."

The woman went and told her husband,
"A man of God came to me;
he had the appearance of an angel of God, terrible indeed.
I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.
But he said to me,
'You will be with child and will bear a son.
So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean.
For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb,
until the day of his death.'"

The woman bore a son and named him Samson.
The boy grew up and the LORD blessed him;
the Spirit of the LORD stirred him.

Responsorial PsalmPS 71:3-4A, 5-6AB, 16-17
R. (see 8) My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
For you are my hope, O LORD;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother's womb you are my strength.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
I will treat of the mighty works of the LORD;
O God, I will tell of your singular justice.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Root of Jesse's stem,
sign of God's love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 1:5-25
In the days of Herod, King of Judea,
there was a priest named Zechariah
of the priestly division of Abijah;
his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elizabeth.
Both were righteous in the eyes of God,
observing all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren
and both were advanced in years.

Once when he was serving as priest
in his division's turn before God,
according to the practice of the priestly service,
he was chosen by lot
to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.
Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside
at the hour of the incense offering,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him,
standing at the right of the altar of incense.
Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb,
and he will turn many of the children of Israel
to the Lord their God.
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah
to turn the hearts of fathers toward children
and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord."

Then Zechariah said to the angel,
"How shall I know this?
For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."
And the angel said to him in reply,
"I am Gabriel, who stand before God.
I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.
But now you will be speechless and unable to talk
until the day these things take place,
because you did not believe my words,
which will be fulfilled at their proper time."
Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah
and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.
But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them,
and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary.
He was gesturing to them but remained mute.

Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.

After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived,
and she went into seclusion for five months, saying,
"So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit
to take away my disgrace before others."

Intercessions
– For married couples who expect a child, that they may welcome the child as a present from God, we pray:
– For parents, that they inspire their children to put their talents at the service of people, we pray:
– For prophets of our day, that the Holy Spirit may move them to awaken us with God’s word from our lack of concern for the good of the community, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
God, our Father,
you had prepared your chosen people
to welcome your Son as the Savior
and yet his coming took them by surprise
and they did not recognize him.
Wake us up with the cry
of present-day prophets
to recognize and welcome him
not only in these signs of bread and wine
but also in the poor and the misfits
who hunger and thirst for food,
for justice and peace
and, perhaps without knowing it,
for the dignity of your children.
Grant us this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
Lord, God of hope,
we are your people today
and yet we often hide
the presence of Jesus, your Son,
by our compromise and conformity.
Let your Son pour for us
the young wine of hope,
to rupture with our settled ways
and to make us new people
who reveal in our littleness and fragility
the presence in our midst
of someone much greater than we are,
your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing
Christmas is near. Let our prayers become more insistent that we may become more committed to bring the love and justice of Christ into our cold and harsh world. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary
Both readings of the day describe how God intervenes in our moments of despair and barrenness and makes our life fruitful. Manoah and his wife were without children, and so were Zachariah and Elizabeth. Given the thinking of the times, they would have been considered cursed by God. But how wonderfully God intervenes in their life and changes the curse into an exotic blessing! Often God’s interventions stun us into silence. Zachariah’s inability to speak was a gentle punishment for his disbelief for, as a priest of the Lord and a member of a priestly family, he should have been more inclined to trust God’s mysterious ways. However, the inability to speak might have been partly due to him being stunned by the goodness of the Lord. Who wouldn’t be, when grace abounds around us? We have the example of St. Thomas Aquinas. It is said that he, who had written volumes on God, went into a prolonged silence after having been granted a vision from God. As a wise saying in the East goes: “Those who speak, do not know; those who know, do not speak.” When the Mystery descends on us, words fail.

Why not practice some holy silence today, contemplating the Mystery of God?

Friday December 21

Introduction
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.

Reading 1 SG 2:8-14
Hark! my lover–here he comes
springing across the mountains,
leaping across the hills.
My lover is like a gazelle
or a young stag.
Here he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattices.
My lover speaks; he says to me,
"Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one,
and come!
"For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.
Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,
and come!

"O my dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret recesses of the cliff,
Let me see you,
let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet,
and you are lovely."

Or

ZEP 3:14-18A

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you,
he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.

Responsorial PsalmPS 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21
R. (1a; 3a) 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.

Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 1:39-45
Mary set out in those days
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."

Intercessions
– 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!

Commentary
Once, after having preached on God’s love and forgiveness at a Mass, I received a phone call from a parishioner who was deeply troubled by my homily. “Father,” he said, “you preach too much on God’s love and forgiveness. You must preach more on God’s judgment than on all this compassion stuff. It is clear in the Bible that God will punish evil people. And there are too many of them in the world.” My forty-five-minute effort to convince him that God’s judgment is tempered by His mercy was a failure.
It saddens me to find many well-meaning Catholics so preoccupied with fulfilling the many rules of the Church and ritual compulsions that the joy of Christian living has gone out of them. These men and women are more Levitical than Gospel, for they are more concerned about the laws and punishments in Leviticus than the liberating forgiveness of the Gospel. Perhaps they should take note of the joy that permeates the encounter between Elizabeth and Mary and read the Song of Songs more often than the book of Leviticus.
It is said that when he was requested to give a teaching while on his deathbed, St. Thomas Aquinas, who had known and written about God more than any other mortal, chose to speak on the Song of Songs. Can anyone ever preach too much about God’s love?

Saturday December 22

Introduction
Today is a celebration of thanks to the Lord, who does great things to humble people who trust in God. In the Old Testament Hannah gives thanks to God because he has given her a son. She dedicates him to God. Samuel will be a very great prophet of the Lord. And Mary, a young, humble, unassuming girl boldly sings out her joy and thanks to God who will upset the world’s values through Jesus, the Son to be born from her. With Hannah and Mary we sing out our joy and thanks to God.

Opening Prayer
God of the little ones,
with Mary we rejoice and give you thanks
that you let Jesus Christ become one of us
and let him bring us the dignity
of your sons and daughters.
May we live up to that dignity
and to the joy that says
that we are deeply loved by you.
Like you, may we also learn to care
for all that is little and brittle
and bring your justice to the poor
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reading 1 1 SM 1:24-28
In those days,
Hannah brought Samuel with her,
along with a three-year-old bull,
an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine,
and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh.
After the boy's father had sacrificed the young bull,
Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said:
"Pardon, my lord!
As you live, my lord,
I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD."
She left Samuel there.

Responsorial Psalm1 SAMUEL 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8ABCD
R. (see 1a) My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
"My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory."
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
"The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes."
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
"The LORD puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich,
he humbles, he also exalts."
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
"He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage."
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 1:46-56
Mary said:

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever."

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months
and then returned to her home.

Intercessions
– For all the good things we have experienced in life we ask the Lord to accept our gratitude: Lord, all thanks to you.
– For all who have received from God many talents and goods, that out of gratitude they may share them with others, we pray:
– For our faith, for our brothers and sisters in our Christian communities and for the presence of Christ among us, we give thanks:

Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
we can bring before you no more
than the humble gifts of bread and wine,
which are, after all, gifts coming from your hand.
But do great things in them,
and let them become Jesus,
your Son among us.
Let him stay with us,
so that he too can do great marvels
in us and through us,
for he is our Lord now and for ever.

Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, God of hope,
accept our thanks and joy
for your love and justice
that come to us, however poor we are.
Let your Son liberate us
from our selfishness and cold greed
Weak as we are, let him give us the strength
to make love and service
the foundation of the new world
he wants to begin with us.
Thank you, Lord, for all this joy
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing
With Mary we say: “the almighty has done great things for us. Holy be his name.” May almighty God keep blessing you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary
Only Luke gives us the Magnificat (see May 31, Aug. 15 and Sept. 22). There are two ways of reading it: looking to what went before – the Old Testament - or looking to what it points to in the future. Scholars see its antecedents in Isaiah 29:14, etc., and in the Canticle of Hannah, the mother of Samuel (1 Sam 2:1-10). Mary is shaped, you might say, by the best of the Old Testament. But she is also a figure looking to the future. She is an image of the new community, the Church. That is a community where the topsy-turvy logic of the gospel is intended to hold sway: the first is the last, the weak is the strong, the greatest is the least, the poorest is the richest, the lowest is the highest.... “God has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.” But when we look at the Church - at ourselves - sadly, we see that we live mostly by straightforward logic: power and privilege, palaces, badges and titles of honor.... Mary, the greatest revolutionary figure, still has many revolutions to accomplish.

Sunday December 23

1. God Visits His People
2. God's Way of Coming



Greeting (See the Gospel)

Blessed are they who believe with Mary
that the Lord will fulfill his promises.
The Lord be with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant
1. God Visits His People
Our world is full of humble, ordinary people living in obscure hamlets, and yet some people like these have changed the course of the world. Within the history of the Church we are shown today the first person coming from such an ordinary milieu who by a simple phrase of her YES turned around the course of the world and the Church to be. It is Mary. Her YES to God, her “Here I am,” gave to her and to us Jesus, the Son of God. It made possible the “Here I am, I come to do your will,” of Jesus. Her YES and the YES of Jesus call us and the whole Church today to give our unconditional YES to God. Let us ask in this Eucharist that we may join Jesus and Mary in their YES. Then we can change the course of the world today.

2. God’s Way of Coming
To solve our human problems we have recourse to strong means, like authority, influence, money and power. God’s upsetting standards are quite different from ours. To save our world and us he joins people in their weakness and becomes human among us. The Savior is born not in the capital but in a sleepy rural town. He is born in poverty. He overthrows the power of evil with the apparent weakness of humility, obedience and service. A woman and a child are at the beginning of our salvation. Let us recognize God’s astonishing way of coming.

Penitential Act
1. God Visits His People
Too often we have said “no” to God
and to the people who appealed to us.
Let us ask God and one another to forgive us.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, Mary said her YES to God
and thus you could be born as one of us:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you said your “Here I am”
to the Father and to all of humanity,
and thus you could bring us life and love:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you invite each and all
to say YES to God and to people
together with you and your Mother:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us all our sins.
Make us entrust ourselves to you
and carry out your plans,
so that you can lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

2. God’s Way of Coming
Are we willing to welcome the Lord and let him work in us
not in the way we want but on his own terms?
Let us examine ourselves.
(PAUSE)
Lord, you came to restore our strength
by coming among us in human weakness:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you made us rich in grace
by your poverty and humility:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord, you displayed your saving power
in service and suffering:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
save us and the world from the evil of sin,
convert us to your ways
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer
1. God Visits His People
Let us pray that with Mary
we may eagerly prepare for the Lord’s coming
(PAUSE)
Faithful God,
let us see the face of your Son
and we shall be saved.
Let Jesus come so much alive
among us your people
that with him we can seek your will in all we do.
Help us to serve you and our brothers and sisters
together with Mary, your humble servant,
and with her sing the joyful song
of those you set free
through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

2. God’s Way of Coming
Let us pray to God that we may welcome his Son
with deep faith.
(PAUSE)
Our God and Father,
we are eagerly awaiting
the deeper coming of your Son among us.
Prepare us to recognize and receive him
when he comes in his own astonishing way.
We expected him to come with great power
and he comes in poverty and humility;
we looked for him in far places
and he stands by our side;
we waited for extraordinary signs
and we discover him in the simplicity
of everyday life and everyday people.
Accustom us to your Son and his ways
that he may change our lives to conform to his,
for he is our Lord and Savior for ever. R/ Amen.

First Reading: A Humble Ruler Brings Peace
A shepherd king born in humility will bring peace and salvation.

Reading 1 MI 5:1-4A
Thus says the LORD:
You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah
too small to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel;
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient times.
Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time
when she who is to give birth has borne,
and the rest of his kindred shall return
to the children of Israel.
He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock
by the strength of the LORD,
in the majestic name of the LORD, his God;
and they shall remain, for now his greatness
shall reach to the ends of the earth;
he shall be peace.

Responsorial Psalm PS 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Second Reading: I Am Coming to Obey Your Will
When Jesus comes, he gives himself totally to the Father. Can we say with him: Here I am to do your will?

Reading 2 HEB 10:5-10
Brothers and sisters:
When Christ came into the world, he said:
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight.
Then I said, 'As is written of me in the scroll,
behold, I come to do your will, O God.'"

First he says, "Sacrifices and offerings,
holocausts and sin offerings,
you neither desired nor delighted in."
These are offered according to the law.
Then he says, :Behold, I come to do your will."
He takes away the first to establish the second.
By this "will," we have been consecrated
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Alleluia LK 1:38
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to you word.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Blessed Is She Who Believed
While she was bearing God’s son, Mary paid her cousin Elizabeth a visit of loving service.

Gospel LK 1:39-45
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."

Intercessions
With Mary we firmly believe that God is fulfilling his promises. With Mary we pray to the Father: R/ Lord, give us your Son. – That the Church, God’s People today, may welcome the Lord Jesus with warmth and joy in the poor and the little people, let us pray: R/ Lord, give us your Son.
– That people with their hearts set on peace may bring to our torn and divided world the harmony and the cooperation which Jesus, the Prince of Peace, wanted to give us, let us pray: R/ Lord, give us your Son.
– That justice may flourish in our day, that the needy may be filled with good things and that there may be love and mercy among people as they accept Jesus as their Savior, let us pray: R/ Lord, give us your Son.
– That people who have lost the way in life and those who live in the night of doubt and fear may come to know who their Savior is, let us pray: R/ Lord, give us your Son.
– That all our communities, great and small, which celebrate the joy of Christmas, may grow in unity and friendship and in commitment to unselfish service, let us pray: R/ Lord, give us your Son.
Father in heaven, give us your Son, for we need him to make us and our world new. In him we place all our hope, now and for ever. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts
God of mercy,
you are so near to us
that Jesus, your Son, born of the Virgin Mary,
becomes one of us as our Emmanuel,
our God-with-us.
He looks so much like us
that we are afraid not to recognize him
when he passes among us.
May we truly discover him
in the poor and those in need
and even in ourselves, in our own weakness,
that he may take us by the hand
and lead us to you,
our God and Father for ever. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord Jesus is near this Christmas to take a greater place in our lives. He is near to us here in this Eucharist. With him we thank the Father for his lasting kindness.

Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer
In the words of Jesus, our brother,
let us pray to our Father
that with Jesus we may do his will: R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and let your Son be our peace.
Help us to understand
that to love is not only to give
but also to take and receive.
Open our hearts to welcome your Son
and to receive from him light and life,
as we prepare in joyful hope
for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus, our Lord,
who said on coming into the world:
”God, here I am;
I am coming to do your will.”
Happy are we to be invited
to receive the bread of life
that will help us to seek God’s will. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion
Lord God, loving Father,
in this Eucharistic celebration
you have given us Jesus your Son.
Help us to welcome him always
with the attitude of Mary, his mother,
ready for him when he is least expected,
recognizing him in events and in people,
and sharing him with those we meet
in the joy of serving love.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing
We are now close to Christmas
and we are already full of joy.
Let it not be a superficial cheer
but a joy that comes from saying YES to God,
to his plans, to his love,
and of giving ourselves in love
to those around us.
May God give you this joy and bless you all:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Let us go and recognize the Lord
and welcome him when we meet him.
R/ Thanks be to God.

Commentary
The long wait is almost over. The Liturgy is full of heart-warming phrases: “Know today that the Lord will come: in the morning you will see his glory” (Invitatory antiphon for the Office of Readings), “Lift up your heads for your redemption is at hand,” “Tomorrow your salvation will be with you,” “The time is now at hand for the Virgin Mary to give birth to her firstborn Son” (antiphons of Morning Prayer). When Mary learns that she is expecting a child, her first thought is to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth in “the hill country of Judea.” I have seen that hill country, and the mind boggles at the thought of a young pregnant girl setting out alone to cross it. But it was appropriate behavior for the mother of the one who was to spend his life seeking out “the weak, the sick, the wounded, the strayed and the lost” (see Ezk 34).

Monday December 24

Introduction
The promise made by the Lord was finally fulfilled with the birth of Jesus… God would set his people free by no less than his own Son. Was the promise finally fulfilled? It was the beginning of the fulfillment. Everything was there to make it real and effective, except the people who would have to put it into practice. For God created us free, and that means he relies on us, on our acceptance and cooperation, on our love. We have to let God make his peace and love come true among us. With and through Jesus. That’s why he came among us as one of us. Here I am, human like you. Look at me and see how it is to be done. Do it with me. I am with you and stay with you to give you the strength. Come, let’s begin. Now.

Opening Prayer
Lord, loving and mighty God,
you fulfilled your promise to save us
when Jesus, your Son, became one of us.
We are no longer in the dark,
for you let your light shine on us.
Bring us your salvation now,
set us really free from our sins,
let us become fully human with Jesus
and go with him in your way of peace and love.
Let him be our strength,
our constant companion on the road,
that through him and growing in his humanity,
we may be your beloved sons and daughters.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Reading 1 2 SM 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16
When King David was settled in his palace,
and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet,
"Here I am living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of God dwells in a tent!"
Nathan answered the king,
"Go, do whatever you have in mind,
for the LORD is with you."
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
"Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD:
Should you build me a house to dwell in?

"'It was I who took you from the pasture
and from the care of the flock
to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went,
and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel;
I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
without further disturbance.
Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
I will give you rest from all your enemies.
The LORD also reveals to you
that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his Kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.'"

Responsorial PsalmPS 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 AND 29
R. (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
"I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations."
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
"He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the rock, my savior.'
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm."
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Radiant Dawn,
Splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 1:67-79
Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
for he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hand of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Intercessions
– For people who are hard and demanding, that God may make us sensitive to others and compassionate, we pray:
– For those who feel especially these days how lonely and fearful they are, that their brothers and sisters in the Lord may bring them support and warmth, we pray:
– For people who feel how empty their lives are, that they may find the Lord and learn from him how love and service can enrich them, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, our Father,
we join Jesus your Son in his feast meal
of the bread and wine of himself,
that we may become more and more like him
and live the way he lived.
Let a new era begin now;
let this food and drink make us free
to create peace among people,
to bring justice and love to our world,
and to walk together on the way
to your home of joy without end.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

Prayer after Communion
God, our merciful Father,
we have heard the Good News of your Son
and we ask you to fulfill it in us today.
Do not allow us to be still afraid
of committing ourselves to your dream
of a new heaven and a new earth.
Let the Spirit of Jesus be alive in us,
that everywhere there may be light instead of the dark,
justice where there is discrimination and inhumanity,
love where there is hatred.
Let your Son live and stay with us,
now and till we safely reach your home,
for Jesus is our Lord for ever. Amen.

Blessing
Blessed be the Lord our God who shows us his mercy and takes us up into his covenant of love. All praise to him. You, and all who are dear to you, receive the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary
Having witnessed and experienced God’s deliverance, Zechariah breaks into a psalm of praise and thanksgiving, and we have what has come to be known as the Benedictus. The first part is a homage to God for the fulfillment of His promises and the realization of the Messianic hopes of the chosen people of God. The second part is addressed to his newborn child, who is “to go before the Lord to prepare the way for him.”
In the birth of John, Zachariah finds that the promise of God’s salvation has already been fulfilled: “He has come and redeemed His people.” The one who had doubted the possibility of God’s promise (Lk 1:18) is the first to believe in the realization of God’s redemption even when it has only just begun! He blesses the child John and the unique destiny God has planned for him. Thus he releases John into the hands of God, knowing fully well that the child truly belongs to God. “This is the work of the mercy of our God,” he declares, “guiding our feet into the way of peace.”
Let us also praise and thank God for fulfilling His promises in our life.

Thursday December 20

Introduction
The two beautiful texts of today correspond to each other as promise and fulfillment of the promise.
The child to be born of a young maiden as a sign of Israel’s salvation probably spoke directly of a son to be born to the king; yet in later tradition and particularly in the Christian understanding, the text came to be understood as a messianic prophecy, which was fulfilled in Mary and the child born from her.

Noteworthy is also the spirit of the fulfillment. The incarnation of Christ was the beginning of a real turning upside down of values, for example: salvation comes to the poor and humble, expresses itself in obedience and humble service, God’s power and majesty shows itself in his unostentatious approach to people, God becomes near in people, even death becomes a way to life.

Opening Prayer
God of the poor and the humble,
we thank you today for choosing Mary
as the Virgin Mother of Jesus, your Son.
Her faith and willing service
opened the way to your new world.
Dispose us to seek your will
and to cooperate with your plans,
that we too, like Mary,
may give to the world its Savior,
Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.

Reading 1 IS 7:10-14
The LORD spoke to Ahaz:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
"I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary men,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.

Responsorial PsalmPS 24:1-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
R. (see 7c and 10b) Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him
, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.

Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Key of David,
opening the gates of God's eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 1:26-38
In the sixth month,
the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end."

But Mary said to the angel,
"How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
Then the angel departed from her.

Intercessions
– Lord our God, make us aware of our poverty, that you may fill it with your riches, we pray:
– Lord, that like Mary we may accept and deeply believe in your word and live by it, we pray:
– Lord, let your Spirit awaken in us great aspirations of goodness and service, that we may bring people closer to Christ, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
God of mercy and love,
by the power of the Holy Spirit
your Son became man
and was born of the Virgin Mary.
By the power of this same Spirit,
let your Son come among us
in these signs of bread and wine
and gather us together in love,
that we may become to the world today
the presence and the message
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
Lord, mighty God,
you spoke your word to the Virgin Mary
and she accepted it readily in faith;
you committed your Son to her
and she gave him to all humankind.
May the good news you have spoken to us
stir our hearts to share it with all
as a liberating message
and may the bread of life we have eaten
make us free for the life you give us
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing
God keeps his promises. He is trustworthy and loving. Do we too keep our promises? May we become reliable and worthy of trust, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary
Why are Mary and Zechariah treated differently? Both had doubts about the viability of God’s plan, but only one is punished. Did God have a soft spot for Mary? Perhaps the answer lies in each one’s personal context. Zechariah was a priest and he belonged to a priestly family. Elizabeth came from a priestly clan as well. Surely, they should be familiar with the strange and surprising ways of God. At their age one would expect them to be wiser. Both were married, open, and desirous of begetting a child. Moreover, the angel appeared to Zechariah in an ambience where one would expect to encounter God—in prayer, in the Sanctuary of the Lord. Now look at Mary: a little girl, young and raw, who has not begun a married life where one normally plans for children. She possibly came from a peasant family of humble origin, with no claims of scholarship in Sacred Scripture. Though we like to present Mary on her knees praying when the angel appeared to her, we have no supportive evidence in Scripture. Most probably the angel met her in the midst of her daily chores, catching her by surprise.

No wonder, God had a soft spot for Mary. For her doubts were honest and sincere. So was her faith as well.

Sunday December 25

1. Flesh from Our Flesh
2. A Recognizable God
3. The Face of God

Both the playing of the organ and the lighting of the church remain subdued during the processional entrance of the minister. One of the ministers goes to the lectern for announcing the Christmas proclamation. There is full lighting after the Proclamation.



1. Flesh From Our Flesh
Christmas Proclamation

Two thousand years ago, in the immense and powerful Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken. Somewhere in the border region of Palestine, a young, humble couple, Mary and Joseph, set out from the insignificant town of Nazareth and traveled to the town of Bethlehem in Judaea. There was no room for them in the inn, and so Mary gave birth to a son and had to put him in a manger. An angel said to poor shepherds: "That child lying in the manger is the Savior born to you and to the world: He is Christ the Lord.” This same news is proclaimed to us: Your Savior is born to you. You are happy and you smile. But now you must proclaim in word and deed that Jesus is your Savior and Lord. Let your mercy and love proclaim him. Let your sense of justice and fairness proclaim him. Let your love and unity proclaim him. Let your concern for the poor and your welcome to the weak proclaim him. Then we can really sing with one voice tonight: "Glory to God in the highest and peace to the people he loves.”

Greeting
The Lord is here with you.
R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant
Yes, we are assured tonight that the Lord is really with us: He smiles on us through a little child lying newborn in a manger. God has come to us in his humble way. The star of his coming has come to rest on this church, on this community. Are we humble and little enough to accept him the way he comes to us?
Because of the Christmas proclamation, the Penitential Act could perhaps be omitted. For those who prefer to keep it:

Penitential Act
We have lost our freshness and grown tired
because of our sins and failures.
Let us tell the Lord that we are sorry
and acclaim his coming among us.
(PAUSE)
People living in darkness,
here comes your light.
Let it enlighten and save you:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

People wounded and burdened,
here comes your Savior.
Let him heal you.
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

People who keep hoping,
here comes God as a child
to make you adults in faith and love.
Let him bring you peace.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord, let the peace of your pardon
come over us and over our world.
Lead us to the joy of a new world
and of everlasting life. R/ Amen

2. A Recognizable God
Christmas Proclamation

In the beginning God created the world.
God created the human person as a partner.
He guided this person all throughout his history.
God calls Abraham and Abraham gives up his idols.
He becomes a pilgrim.
God calls Moses and humanity gives up its chains.
The human person too becomes a liberator.
Gad calls David and humanity gives up its wanderings.
The human person becomes someone who hopes.
God calls the prophets
and people begin to give up sin.
The human person becomes God’s voice.
God calls up witnesses who believe in him
and people give up their security.
The human person becomes a martyr.
God calls a man named John:
John leaves everything and goes to the desert.v There God waits for him to speak to him.
And God gives his Son, born of Mary.
And to our great joy, everything begins anew.

Greeting
The Lord be with you.
R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant
Tonight the world is reminded how God became flesh from our flesh and blood from our blood. He joined us in our human poverty as he was born from the Virgin Mary in a stable by the roadside. There people could see how God had eyes to smile at us, ears to hear our cries and stammering, arms to extend to us and embrace us, a heart to beat for us and to love us, a mouth to speak to us words of endearment and truth, a life to live for us and to give up for us. Has his coming changed us and brought us close to him?

Penitential Act
Jesus came among us as our Savior,
to liberate us from our sins.
Have we become better because of him?
Let us examine ourselves before the Lord.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you came to bring us peace.
Let it also be the peace of your forgiveness.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you came to bring us light.
Let it brighten all we do:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you came to bring us life:
Let our lives reflect the goodness of yours:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Deliver us, Lord, from the sadness of sin
and fill us with the joy of your life and love.
Lead us to the happiness of everlasting life. R/ Amen.

3. The Face of God
Christmas proclamation for the Midnight Mass

It is night, but the night that promises the dawn
and the light that drives away all darkness.
This night promises the end of the darkness
of sin and evil and death.
It is the night of peace,
for a child is born to us:
he is the prince of peace,
a child, but our mighty God.
If we let him live among us, we live in peace.
It is the night of joy.
Do away with all sadness,
for God is now with us, among us, in us:
Share your joy, make others happy,
for God’s Son brings us life and happiness.
It is the night of giving birth:
Mary gives us Jesus, her Son, God’s Son,
and from now on we can all give birth
to love and forgiveness among us.
With Jesus we can open our eyes and ears
to the needs of anyone who suffers.
It is the night of friendship,
for God makes us not only his friends
but his sons and daughters
and brothers and sisters of Jesus.
We belong together,
we are of the same flesh and blood.
Come, let’s rejoice together
and walk together in love,
for Christ is born to us.

Note: Now the Church is fully lighted and the organ accompanies a joyous, vigorous Christmas song.

Greeting
A holy and joyful Christmas to all of you!
Christ is born to us,
he lives in us.
May he always be with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant
When God wanted to show himself as he is in a way we could understand, he became human, one of us, appearing with the face of a child. He showed himself in all our fragility, as if saying: Do you see now that I am near to you, that I am with you not to overpower you but with the face of peace and love and trust? Let us welcome with joy the Lord who comes to live among us and to join us on the journey of life. Now we can become more like God.

Penitential Act
Certain that Jesus brings us forgiveness and life,
we acclaim him as our Savior
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, with the angels we say:
Glory to God and peace to God’s people!
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, with the shepherds
we come to you and love you:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, with Mary and Joseph
we receive you with great joy:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Forgive us all our sins, Lord,
and let us live in your peace and joy.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer
Let us pray to our loving God
for giving us Jesus
(PAUSE)
Glory to you, God in the highest,
for bringing peace on earth to your people
and for letting your Son Jesus smile on us
from the arms of Mary, his mother.
Let him be our hope and our joy,
our forgiveness and our life.
Create us anew in the image of Jesus,
for then we become more like him,
you may recognize us in him
and our love can become deep and faithful.
Help us to give him to the world,
that all may become fresh and new again
through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

First Reading: A Light In Our Darkness
A child born to us will bring us light and peace from God.

Reading 1 IS 9:1-6
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David's throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!

Responsorial PsalmPS 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13.
R. (Lk 2:11) Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Second Reading: Jesus, the Gift of God’s Grace
The coming of Jesus was God’s gift of grace to all people. But he depends on our cooperation.

Reading 2 TI 2:11-14
Beloved:
The grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires
and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of our great God
and savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness
and to cleanse for himself a people as his own,
eager to do what is good.

Alleluia LK 2:10-11
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I proclaim to you good news of great joy:
today a Savior is born for us,
Christ the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Today A Savior Has Been Born To Us
This is the Good News of today: a Savior has been born to us. Let us give glory to God.

Gospel LK 2:1-14
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment,
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
"Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

Intercessions
Joy is to be shared. Let us pray to Jesus our Lord that the Good News of his coming may warm the hearts of all, and let us say: R/ Lord, stay with your people.
– That today may be a feast of joy for all our families and for all to whom we bring a bit of happiness this day, let us pray: R/ Lord, stay with your people.
– That today may be a feast of joy for all children far and near, to those who are happy and to those who hunger and suffer, let us pray: R/ Lord, stay with your people.
– That today may be a feast of faith for those who know the Lord and for those who do not yet know him, let us pray: R/ Lord, stay with your people.
– That today may again become a feast of peace for those divided by quarrels, for countries divided by war, let us pray: R/ Lord, stay with your people.
– That today may be a feast of joy for all our Christian communities and that we may share that joy as we go together the Lord’s way of peace, let us pray: R/ Lord, stay with your people.
Lord Jesus, you are one of us. Help us to become more like you, that we may become your joy, as you are ours now and for ever. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts
Father,
with bread and wine we celebrate
the family feast of your Son.
He is one of us, and we are happy.
Let our joy be shared by all,
that people from all races and nations
may come and share his table.
Let there be no end to our feast
and no limit to our love and generosity,
for now there lives among us your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Let our joy for the coming of God’s Son flow into a prayer of thanksgiving to our generous Father in heaven.

Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer
God has indeed become our Father through Jesus, who made himself our brother. With him we say with the fullest trust: R/ Our Father...

Prayer for Peace
Lord Jesus Christ,
your birth was the beginning
of a new peace for all the people you love.
May this Christmas sing of the glory of God
by leading us to walk hand in hand
and to share your tenderness.
Be our God with us that there may be peace,
now and for ever. R/ Amen.
May the peace of the Lord be always with you
R/ And also with you.
Let us generously share the peace of the Lord
with one another.

Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus the Lord,
God’s Son and our brother,
our God-with-us.
He is our living bread come down from heaven.
Happy are we to receive him
as our joy and peace. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion
Father,
what more can we say tonight
than “Thank you, thank you again”
for coming to us in a way
we do not even dare to expect.
Do not allow us to get so accustomed
to the presence of your Son among us
that we forget that he is here
and that we fail to recognize him
in the heart of our lives
and in the faces of our brothers and sisters.
Let his justice rule our earth
and his peace and love be alive in us,
for he is our Lord for ever and ever. R/ Amen.

Blessing
Our hearts can sing tonight with joy
of God’s love for us, his people.
With Mary we can sing her song of thanksgiving:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has done great things for us.”
Yes, we remember on Christmas
that his Son Jesus has become one of us.
He is here as our companion in life.
He lifts up the wounded,
and he shows us in himself
that God loves us very deeply
and will never abandon us.
With joy we receive the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Go in peace and again,
a holy, happy Christmas to all of you. R/ Thanks be to God.

Commentary
Christmas! The great feast of the amazing grace of God’s love for humanity! The Word that is God becomes a helpless, defenseless human baby! God, who is perfection personified, whom the universe cannot contain, becomes a finite, localized, and fragile child. God who is life is born as a mortal. All this, out of God’s love for us, His desire to redeem us! On this Feast of all feasts, let us listen to the great mystic, Meister Eckhart:

“Here in time we celebrate the eternal birth that God the Father bore and still bears constantly in eternity, and which is also now born in time, in human nature. St. Augustine says that this birth is happening continually. We should ask ourselves: If it doesn’t happen in me, what good is that birth after all? What ultimately matters is that God’s birth should happen in me.” May Christ’s birth—a Merry Christmas—happen in you and me!

Wednesday December 26

Introduction
From the very beginning of its existence, the Church suffered persecution, like its founder, Jesus. St Stephen was of Greek, pagan origin and highly respected in the young Church of Jerusalem. Like Jesus, he died praying for his persecutors, and entrusted himself, even as he died into the hands of God. He had been one of the seven deacons who assisted the apostles, particularly in the ministry to the poor. He is described in Acts of the Apostles as “filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit” and “full of fortitude.”

Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
we honor today St Stephen,
the first martyr of your young Church.
Make us good witnesses like him,
people filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit,
men and women who are full of fortitude,
as we try to live the life of Jesus.
Give us a great trust
that we may live and die in your hands
and make us pray for those who harm us,
that you may forgive them and us.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Reading 1 ACTS 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Stephen, filled with grace and power,
was working great wonders and signs among the people.
Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,
Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,
and people from Cilicia and Asia,
came forward and debated with Stephen,
but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.
But he, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven
and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and he said,
"Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God."
But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears,
and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Responsorial PsalmPS 31:3CD-4, 6 AND 8AB, 16BC AND 17
R. (6) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Alleluia PS 118:26A, 27A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD:
the LORD is God and has given us light.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 10:17-22
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved."

Intercessions
– For faithful witnesses, who testify to God and to the values of the gospel by their life and when necessary by their death, we pray:
– For zealous and compassionate people, who serve their neighbors in their need, we pray:
– For people persecuted because of their faith, that they may keep steadfast in their faith and strong in the Holy Spirit, we pray:
– For deacons in the Church, that God may keep them generous in their ministry of service, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
we bring before you bread and wine,
as we remember how St Stephen
gave food to the hungry.
Make us, too, ministers of your love,
who care for the poor,
that no one in our Christian communities
may suffer any want.
For we try to be one heart and mind
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
as we celebrate the memory of St Stephen,
take away from us all fear
and dispose us to bear witness in all serenity
to the death and resurrection of Jesus.
May we learn from this martyr
to become more like Jesus
in what we say and in the way we live.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing
How much Stephen was like Jesus , living in the hands of the Father and dying as he forgave those who were killing him and entrusted himself to God. May God give us such a beautiful faith and bless us, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary
Of Gods and Men is a French movie that won the Grand Prix award at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. The movie tells the true story of the kidnapping and murder of seven French Trappist monks in the predominantly Muslim village of Tibhirine in Algeria by a group of Muslim terrorists in 1996. The movie focuses on the monks’ dilemma: should they stay or leave? They have the freedom to leave, and the government wants them to leave. But their leaving would crush the spirits of the poor, frightened Muslims of the village who count on them. Each monk painfully ponders the question, plumbing the depths of his soul. Finally, each of them choose to stay, in fear and trembling, but with a peace that dwells amidst all the terror in their hearts. Finally, they are kidnapped and beheaded.
We celebrate the feast of St. Stephen, the martyr. Martyrdom is not easy, even for saints, especially when they have the freedom to choose otherwise. But inevitably, Christian martyrs embrace it, not because they are not afraid, but because they believe in a greater good and deeper love that impels them to give up their life even for their enemies. May our martyrs inspire us to live our faith to our last breath!

Thursday December 27

Introduction
Close to our Lord, obsessed by love. This may well be the marks of John the Evangelist. He had experienced in his person what it means to be loved by Jesus and to love in return. And Jesus was the Lord, God’s Son! In later life he was driven by this love, as his gospel and his first letter reveal to us. He was the man who preached love; the words he used, the urgency and insistence with which he spoke cannot come but from a man who lived this love deeply and who felt that this should be the mark too of the Christian communities.

Opening Prayer
Lord God, you are love itself.
We know that you loved us first
before we could ever love you.
Let this unforgettable experience
of your “beloved apostle” John
become also our deep and lasting experience.
May the love you have shown us
in your Son Jesus Christ
move us to love you very deeply in return
and overflow on all those we meet in life.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Reading 1 1 JN 1:1-4
Beloved:
What was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and touched with our hands
concerns the Word of life —
for the life was made visible;
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to us—
what we have seen and heard
we proclaim now to you,
so that you too may have fellowship with us;
for our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.

Responsorial PsalmPS 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
R. (12) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are around him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Alleluia See Te Deum
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 20:1A AND 2-8
On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
"They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him."
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.

Intercessions
– Lord Jesus, make us understand and put into practice that the core of the gospel is love for you and for one another, we pray:
– Lord Jesus, may our words and actions bear witness that we believe and rejoice in you as our risen Lord, we pray:
– Lord Jesus, make us happy people, who feel secure because we know that we live in your presence, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
Father,
bread and wine are the signs
in which your Son gives himself to us today.
May these gifts be at the same time
the signs in which we place ourselves
at your disposal
and of the concrete you
who are our neighbors far and near,
our brothers and sisters whom you love
and whom we love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
Our living and loving God,
who can nourish our love better
than he who spoke of it to us,
your Son Jesus Christ?
Like him, and strengthened by his body and blood,
may we respond to the warmth of your love
by caring for our brothers and sisters,
even at the expense of ourselves.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing
John is the apostle who insists that we should love one another as Jesus loves us. Jesus asks us to live in him as he lives in us. May we remain and grow in this love, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary
How privileged people feel to have a glimpse of the Pope, a living Saint, or a charismatic world leader! How eagerly people reach out to touch them or to have a photograph taken with them! If this is how we feel about earthly leaders, how would we feel about the privilege to see, hear, touch, and live with the Word who is Life! St. John, whose memory we keep today, writes about how privileged he and the other apostles were to have heard, seen, touched, and lived with Christ, the Word of God. He shares his experience of God with us in order to complete his joy, just as Jesus shared with the apostles his experience of the Father for his joy to be in them and their joy to be complete (Jn 15:11).
How privileged must we feel, for we are able to see, touch, and feed on the Lord in the Eucharist! How blessed are we to see and serve him in every human being around us!

Friday December 28

Introduction
Today’s celebration shocks us into the realization that the birth of Christ was not all peace and joy. The coming of Jesus was the beginning of a struggle-to-death between the powers of evil and the kingdom of light, a struggle that would have its climax in the passion and death of Jesus. Herod stands here for the forces of evil. Even innocent children are often the victims of this enmity. The story of the Innocents may very well be a theological illustration of Matthew on this climactic clash between good and evil that began with the birth of Jesus. Often the innocents have to suffer on account of so much evil in the world caused by people.

Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
today’s innocent martyrs
bore witness to you
not by proclaiming your name in words
but by laying down their lives for you,
even though they were not aware of it.
We pray to you on their feast
that we may bear witness to you
both by the words we speak
and the way we live what we believe in.
May we do so in the full awareness
of what we are doing.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Reading 1 1 JN 1:5—2:2
Beloved:
This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ
and proclaim to you:
God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
If we say, "We have fellowship with him,"
while we continue to walk in darkness,
we lie and do not act in truth.
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light,
then we have fellowship with one another,
and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
If we say, "We are without sin,"
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.

My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.

Responsorial PsalmPS 124:2-3, 4-5, 7CD-8
R. (7) Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.
Had not the LORD been with us—
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept the raging waters.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.

Alleluia Te Deum
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the white robed army of martyrs praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 2:13-18
When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
"Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him."
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,
Out of Egypt I called my son.

When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,
he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:

A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.

Intercessions
– That especially children may be spared from suffering, malnutrition and maltreatment, we pray to God our merciful Father:
– That children may not become the victims of unloving parents who do not want them, abandon them or desert them as they separate from each other, we pray:
– That children may have caring parents who help them to grow toward a generous and rich adulthood, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
We bring these our gifts before you, Lord God;
accept them from your faithful people,
that we may be strengthened in our faith.
May they also bring your salvation
to those whom we sometimes call anonymous Christians,
those who do not know you,
yet who seek you with a sincere heart
by trying to do what is right and good.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
Lord, God of eternal light,
we all share in the struggle-to-death
between light and darkness.
Let the light of your love and peace
shine among people all over the world,
that our solidarity in the evil of sin
may be changed into a new solidarity
of justice, forgiveness and community
by the coming among us of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Blessing
We ask the Lord today that he may bless especially our children, that they may grow up as God’s children, as good Christians and good citizens. May almighty God bless them and you all, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary
Why are we presented with readings filled with death and martyrdom in the days following Christmas? The very day after Christmas, we met Stephen’s martyrdom. The empty cave confronted us yesterday. Today we face the murder of the holy innocents. Isn’t this the season to celebrate birth and life?

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. But his birth loses its meaning without the death for which he was born. The stable at Bethlehem cannot be separated from the tomb which will eventually turn empty. Over the Babe of Peace hangs the shadow of the Cross. In his poem Journey of the Magi, T. S. Eliot beautifully captures the intermingling of death and birth in Bethlehem:
… were we led all that way for

Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly,
We had evidence and no doubt. I have seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
To be born in him, we must die with him.

Fourth Day of Christmas

Saturday December 29

Introduction
God comes to his temple today as if incognito, as a child carried in the arms of its mother. Simeon, the old man in the Temple, took Jesus in his arms and recognized this child as the Savior expected by the Jews in the Old Testament but also as the salvation of all people. In him the old Israel can fade away in peace. This child was to be the glory of Israel, yes, but also the light to enlighten pagans, everyone. He comes to us now not merely to be the light of us Christians. He does not belong to us alone but to all. St John tells us how to reflect the light of Christ: all those who love their neighbor are living in the light.

Opening Prayer
God, Father of light,
the old man Simeon recognized your Son
as the light that would shine on all.
May we too recognize Jesus,
even if he comes to us in a humble way,
in the shape and person of children,
of old people, of the poor and the little ones.
Make us receive him too
as the light not only of our lives
but as the bright dawn for all nations.
For you are the Father of all
and Jesus belongs to all as their Savior and Lord,
now and for ever.

Reading 1 1 JN 2:3-11
Beloved:
The way we may be sure that we know Jesus
is to keep his commandments.
Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.

Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you
but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.
The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
And yet I do write a new commandment to you,
which holds true in him and among you,
for the darkness is passing away,
and the true light is already shining.
Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Responsorial PsalmPS 96:1-2A, 2B-3, 5B-6
R. (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
The LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty go before him;
praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Alleluia LK 2:32
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 2:22-35
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

"Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel."

The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
"Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Intercessions
– For all parents who take their children to church for baptism, that God may bless them and their children, we pray:
– For all parents who suffer when their children bring sorrow on them, that they may keep trusting in the Lord, we pray:
– For all peoples who come to know Christ, that they may accept him as their joy and life, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
Loving God,
a humble piece of bread and a little wine
are enough to let Jesus come among us.
Enliven these simple gifts with your Spirit,
that we may welcome among us
him who enlightens all nations
with his joy and the bright morning
of true justice and deep commitment
of loving service, a sense of compassion
and a boundless generosity,
Jesus, the Savior of all and our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
God of light,
we have sat at the festive table
of him who came to unite all peoples far and near
as brothers and sisters
who can love and accept one another,
notwithstanding all their differences
of race and culture,
of social standing and personality.
Make us believe and practice
that this is only possible
in him who became one of us all
and who laid down his life for all,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Blessing
May the Holy Spirit rest also on us, that we accept and recognize Jesus as the Lord and Savior of everyone and the light that brightens the lives of all. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary
“Now I can die!” Here at the end of the year stands the serene figure of Simeon, in vivid contrast to the tortured Herod, slayer of the Innocents. Herod’s death became legendary for its awfulness. But Simeon can teach us how to approach death: how not to see it as an enemy, “the prince of terrors,” how not to define it as the destruction of life, but to welcome it as a culmination, a completion. If we have not lived fully, we will be terrified of death. If Simeon could approach death so beautifully, he must have lived a deep life: unlike Herod, he must have fought the war within, and come to peace with himself, with others and with God. “Now, Lord, you can let your servant go in peace.” Simeon’s canticle, the Nunc Dimittis, is part of the Night Prayer of the Church. It is a beautiful closing of the day: a lesson in how to end things, how to take one’s leave....

Sunday December 30

1. In the House of the Father
2. Busy with the Father's Affairs

Greeting (See the Second Reading)
We are already the children of God;
we need not be afraid in his presence.
May the Lord Jesus be always with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant
1. In the House of the Father
It may come as a real surprise to us to hear Jesus ask Mary and Joseph: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be where my Father is?” Even Joseph and Mary had still to learn and to grow in their faith. Like the Holy Family, our families and each of us have also to grow in the faith. Perhaps it is through painful trials like the one of Mary and Joseph that our faith may become mature. We too are asked: Did you not know...?

2. Busy with the Father’s Affairs
It is perhaps hard for us to imagine that Jesus, God’s own Son, was really human, that he grew up not only physically but matured as a person and discovered little by little who he was. Of course, the whole Holy Family sought to do the will of God but we see Jesus affirm today that he has become aware that he is especially close to the Father and that God’s loving will is all that matters. Isn’t that all that matters for us, too, and should also we not grow closer to God? Let Jesus here in this Eucharist help us to become mature in God’s love.

Penitential Act
Are we still willing to grow in our faith?
Let us examine ourselves before the Lord.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you accepted to live
under the authority of Mary and Joseph:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, your mother pondered in her heart
the events happening in her life:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, with Mary and Joseph
you sought above everything
the will of the Father in heaven:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Lord, forgive us our sins
and our lack of understanding.
Make us mature in our faith and love.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer
Let us pray
that the Lord Jesus may grow up in us
(PAUSE)
God our Father,
we give you all thanks and praise
that you chose for your Son a human family.
Through the prayers and example
of Mary and Joseph,
may we too learn
to make room for Jesus in our life,
that he may grow up in us day after day
and make us more like him.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

First Reading
Reading 1 Sir 3:2-6, 12-14
God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother's authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.
My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
—a house raised in justice to you.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
R. (cf. 1) Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

Second Reading
Reading 2 Col 3:12-21


Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,
as is proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives,
and avoid any bitterness toward them.
Children, obey your parents in everything,
for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children,
so they may not become discouraged.

Alleluia Col 3:15a, 16a
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the peace of Christ control your hearts;
let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Gospel Lk 2:41-52
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year
at the Feast of the Passover.
And when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to custom.
And when the feast was ended, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
His parents did not know it,
but supposing him to be in the group
they went a day's journey,
but then they began to search for him
among their relatives and acquaintances,
and when they did not find him,
they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting among the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions.
And all who heard him were amazed
at his understanding and his answers.
And when his parents saw him, they were astonished.
And his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you treated us so?
Behold, your father and I
have been searching for you in great distress.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
And they did not understand the saying
that he spoke to them.
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth
and was submissive to them.
And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature
and in favor with God and man.

Intercessions
With the Holy Family of Nazareth we trust in the Lord, who knows all our needs, and we ask him to bless all our human families. Let us say: R/ Lord, bless your people.
– For the family of the Church, that it may be a mother and a home for all people in need, let us pray: R/ Lord, bless your people.
– For all married couples, that they may keep the freshness of their first love or rediscover it, let us pray: R/ Lord, bless your people.
– For all the families of the world, that they may keep growing in mutual appreciation and service, let us pray: R/ Lord, bless your people.
– For children and young people, that their parents may be to them grownups concerned about their growth and happiness, let us pray: R/ Lord, bless your people.
– For separated couples and their children, that they may meet warmhearted people whose understanding helps them to overcome the failures of their home life, let us pray: R/ Lord, bless your people.
– For our Christian communities, that as members of one family we may learn to carry each other’s burdens and to share each other’s joys, let us pray: R/ Lord, bless your people.
Father, we trust in you. May we not deny one another all the love you show us in Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father,
you invite us to share the family table
of Jesus your Son.
May the food and drink he gives us
change us into gifts to one another,
that we may become each other’s
bread and wine, life and joy.
Let serving love and respect
be our offering to one another,
today and tomorrow and every day,
on account of your Son in our midst,
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Today we thank our Father for having given us the Holy Family as a model of loving service for our homes. May this Eucharist make us responsive to God’s love.

Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer
United before God as his sons and daughters,
we pray the prayer taught us
by his son, Jesus of Nazareth. R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and let the peace of Christ live
in our hearts and our homes.
Keep us from all that divides us
or encloses us within ourselves.
Give us compassion, gentleness and patience,
that we may prepare in hope and joy
for the full coming among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus the Lord,
who comes to unite us
as the sons and daughters of the Father.
Happy are we to be invited
at the family table of the Lord. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
Jesus your Son made himself near to us
in this Eucharistic celebration.
He has been here for us
approachable and available to all.
May he keep on living
in our homes and our communities.
Let him make us also approachable
and available to one another,
even at the cost of personal comfort
and, with Mary and Joseph,
ready for any task you may entrust to us.
For we can do anything
in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing
It has been good to be together
as the family of God’s people
and to pray with the Holy Family of Nazareth
for what is dear to all of us:
our homes, our families,
the Christian community,
the family of our nation and people.
May God bless you all
and keep you in his love:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Go in the peace of the Lord.
R/ Thanks be to God.

Commentary
Now he is twelve years old, on the threshold of adulthood. Already there is a hint of what is to come: he must be “in his Father’s house.” The enclosing circle of family opens to the greater world. There is pain in the opening, because life is not idyllic for long; it is tragic, which means it is destined for unimaginable greatness. Just how great, we would never know but for that small Child born so long ago, so far away. Yet he is nearer than anyone to every disciple’s heart. Thank you for traveling with me through this very special year. May God’s providence continue to protect and guide us; and sometime – who knows? – it may make our paths to cross.

Monday December 31

Introduction
Today the liturgy fits in very well with the celebration of New Year’s Eve: it both looks forward to the end of time (first reading) and back to the beginning: to the Word that created all and came among people as the living Word, Jesus, to make a new beginning with us. And that’s life: the end of what is past, a new beginning to be made ever anew. It was a mixture of joys shared together and miseries that were lighter when they too were borne together. And a time for which, after all, we are grateful to one another and to God. A turning point is also a time of hope. The past is gone; we look forward. We say goodbye and we welcome what is coming with hope, for the Lord is with us; we resume our journey together as God’s pilgrim people.

Opening Prayer
Loving Father,
You gave us your Son Jesus Christ
and let him share our poverty.
He brought us grace upon grace,
for all that comes from you is a free gift.
Accept our thanks for the moments
when we accepted your gifts
and shared them with one another.
Accept our thanks for the times
we listened attentively to your Son’s words
and put them into practice.
Help us go forward with hope and joy
with joy and mutual encouragement.
with the companion in life you have given us,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reading 1 1 Jn 2:18-21
The Jews then said to Him,
“What sign do You show us as your authority
for doing these things?”
Jesus answered them,
“Destroy this [b]temple,
and in three days I will raise it up.”
The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years
to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”
But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:1-2, 11-12, 13
R. (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts;
worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A holy day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
Today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through Him,
and apart from Him nothing came into being
that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
The Light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not [b]comprehend it.
There [c]came a man sent from God,
whose name was John.
He came [e]as a witness,
to testify about the Light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the Light,
but he came to testify about the Light.
There was the true Light which,
coming into the world, enlightens every man.
He was in the world,
and the world was made through Him,
and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own,
and those who were His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him,
to them He gave the right to become children of God,
even to those who believe in His name,
who were born, not of blood
nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh,
and dwelt among us,
and we saw His glory,
glory as of the only begotten from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
John testified about Him and cried out, saying,
“This was He of whom I said,
‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I,
for He existed before me.’”
For of His fullness we have all received,
and [o]grace upon grace.
For the Law was given through Moses;
grace and truth [p]were realized through Jesus Christ.
No one has seen God at any time;
the only begotten God
who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him

Intercessions
In gratitude to our generous Father for all his blessings and graces received in the past year, we pray:
– For all those with whom we are united in one common friendship and concern, that he may keep us all in his love, we pray:
– For all whom we have disappointed in the past, for those whom we have hurt or neglected, and for those who have pained and irritated us, we pray:
– For those who have lost someone dear to them, that their hope in Christ may give them strength; for those who have died this year, that they may live in the Lord’s peace, we pray:
– And for all of us here, that we may be grateful for life, for all the joys we have experienced, and for one another, we pray: God, let your Son speak his word among us and live among us, now and for ever.

Prayer over the Gifts
Loving Father,
it is easy for us here to break this bread
and to share it with one another,
to drink this cup and offer it to one another.
As we offer you these gifts
we pray you for strength,
for it is difficult for us the whole year long,
to keep sharing ourselves with one another
to offer our hand to give and receive help
and to forget ourselves for the sake of others.
Let us be always each other’s food and drink
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
in this celebration we have looked back
to the past, to what is done and gone.
With Jesus in our midst
we look now forward to the future.
Let neither the past nor the present, nor the future,
neither joys nor sorrows
ever separate us from him.
Let you Son be the center of our lives
and the bond that binds us to you
and to one another,
in faith, hope and lasting love.
Go with us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing
Let us go in the peace of the Lord. May the Lord be with you wherever you go. May he bless your coming and your going, your work and your care, your joys and your suffering. As he blessed you the past year, may he bless you even more in the new year: The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary
As the year ends, we are told of the beginning of everything. “In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We are reminded that everything comes from God and belongs to Him. God is our true origin and destiny. But things did not go well, for human beings loved darkness more than the Light. Hence, the need for a new creation, a new birth, a new beginning. We are invited to be born of God through His Only Son who offers us the fullness of Truth and Loving-kindness.
We might have begun this year with God, and with several noble resolutions. But things may not have gone too well and we might have digressed from the path. As the year ends, let us take stock and review our life over the last twelve months. Let us be thankful for the many blessings received this year; sorry for the many blessings wasted along the way. And we shall resolve to start again, with God and His Son who offers us the fullness of life. Every end is a new beginning, and we shall walk along in God’s Light. Come, Lord Jesus, and walk with us!

Thursday September 27

Introduction
Today we hear a man who is puzzled: Qoheleth, Ecclesiastes, the preacher (the man who speaks in the assembly) in search of answers to the problems of life; he is apparently a disillusioned man; “the inspired pessimist” as he is sometimes called, but he is a believer, and there must be answers.
Herod, too, was puzzled about this man Jesus. He wanted to see this strange prophet about whom there were so many rumors. Does Jesus, do the gospel and life and our faith puzzle us? Are we in constant search of the deeper meaning of our Christian life?

Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
you came to make all things new
through Jesus Christ, your Son.
Let him question us
and let us question ourselves
whether we give him in our lives
the place he deserves.
Make him the meaning
of all we are and do,
for he is our risen Lord for ever.

Reading 1 ECCL 1:2-11
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
What profit has man from all the labor
which he toils at under the sun?
One generation passes and another comes,
but the world forever stays.
The sun rises and the sun goes down;
then it presses on to the place where it rises.
Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north,
the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds.
All rivers go to the sea,
yet never does the sea become full.
To the place where they go,
the rivers keep on going.
All speech is labored;
there is nothing one can say.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing
nor is the ear satisfied with hearing.

What has been, that will be;
what has been done, that will be done.
Nothing is new under the sun.
Even the thing of which we say, "See, this is new!"
has already existed in the ages that preceded us.
There is no remembrance of the men of old;
nor of those to come will there be any remembrance
among those who come after them.

Responsorial Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 AND 17BC
R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Alleluia JN 14:6
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 9:7-9
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
"John has been raised from the dead";
others were saying, "Elijah has appeared";
still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen."
But Herod said, "John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?"
And he kept trying to see him.

Intercessions
– Lord, keep us always searching to understand you and our gospel better, we pray:
– Lord, let our faith be a light that makes us see the meaning of our lives, we pray:
– Lord, make us patient with those who are lax in their faith, that we may not extinguish the smoldering wick, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
through these offerings of bread and wine
your Son will appear in our midst
as the Lord of life.
Let him touch our hearts,
that we may fully believe in him
and that we may be alive
with the life he brought us.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
we know Jesus, your Son:
he has spoken to us
and shared his table with us.
Make us anxious
to see and recognize him
in the events of life
and in the people around us,
that life may not be empty and vain
but ever beautiful and new
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing
Is everything really in vain? Is there no meaning in life? In moments of doubt and questioning, we ask ourselves perhaps this question. But then we remember we are people of faith, and our faith and our life are very meaningful. Let God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary
Repentance (1987), Tengiz Abuladze’s semi-allegorical movie critiquing Stalinism, ends with a thought-provoking scene: A woman is preparing a cake (a scene with which the movie opened). An old lady walking along the road comes up to the window of the woman and asks whether the road will lead to the church. The woman responds that the road is Varlam Street and will not lead to the church. The old lady then responds: “What good is a road if it does not lead to a church?”
When people claimed that the time for rebuilding God’s House had not come, God thundered through the mouth of Prophet Haggai: “Is this the time for you to live in your well-built houses while this House is a heap of ruins? Build my House!” What good are our happy and cozy lives if God’s House is in ruins? What good is a community if God is not its center? What good are all our scientific discoveries and technological advancements if they do not lead us closer to God? Indeed, what good is a road if it does not lead to a church?

Tuesday January 1, 2019

Greeting (See second Reading)
God sent his Son, born of a woman,
to enable us to become God's children.
Through the Spirit of the Son we can cry out to God:
"Father, my Father!"
May Jesus, this Son, be always with you.
R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant
It is a pleasure to begin the year with Mary. As followers of Jesus we want to be close to him. Who was closer to him than his mother? We want to grow up in Christ. Mary conceived him and carried him in her body until he was born from her. She saw him grow up day after day. She helped him grow up. She is eager to help him grow in us. We place ourselves in the care of Mary, that she may help us this year to grow into the full stature of Jesus.

Penitential Act
Today we ask the Lord to forgive us our past sins
and to lead us with confidence to the future.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, God's own Son
and son of the virgin Mary,
let God's will be done in us, his servants.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you were born of a woman
to make us capable of becoming
son and daughters of the Most High God:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, keep speaking to us
your word of peace and hope
and help us to treasure this word in our hearts.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us all our sins,
that we may live this year in your love,
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer
Let us pray to our mighty God
who chose Mary as the mother of his Son
(PAUSE)
Our faithful and saving God,
in Mary our earth said its yes to your call
and there burst upon humanity
forgiveness and blessing and new life
in the person of your Son Jesus Christ.
Give us Mary's trusting faith,
that we may always be close to Jesus
even in the darkness of suffering
and that we may take him
to the poor and the lonely of our world.
Bless us through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

First Reading: God Blesses His People
God blessed the people with whom he had made a covenant: he was to them the source of all blessing. May his blessings and grace come down on us, his people, this whole year long.

First Reading: Num 6:22-27
The LORD said to Moses:
"Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,
and I will bless them."

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
R. May God bless us in his mercy.

May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.

May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. May God bless us in his mercy.

Second Reading: Sons and Daughters of God Through Mary's Son
God has given us his Son Jesus through the Virgin Mary. With God's Son, we have become the sons and daughters of God.

Second Reading: Gal 4:4-7
Brothers and sisters:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
to ransom those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As proof that you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, "Abba, Father!"
So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son then also an heir, through God.

Gospel: They Found Mary and the Child
The shepherds saw Jesus and accepted him in faith. They praised God and could not keep silent about what they had seen. Mary treasured these events in her heart.

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:16-21
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.

Intercessions
With the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us call upon the Lord to pour out his blessings on all God's children and on the world. Let us say: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

- Lord, pour out your blessings on the Church, that all the people of God may grow in faith and hope, that there may be unity and cooperation between the leaders and the laity, we pray: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless all priests and religious, that they may live the gospel and proclaim it, that their heart may be open to everyone, that they may care especially for the last and the least, we pray: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless all fathers and mothers, that they may be faithful and loving to one another as you are faithful and tender to them, and that they may reflect your own love on their children, we pray: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless all children and young people, that they may have parents who care, that they may learn at home and in school to become generous and responsible, we pray: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless our country, that there may be justice among us, jobs for all, access for all to the wealth of resources in our land, and peace and unity in all our diversity, we pray: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless the seekers and doubters, the sick, orphans and widows, those who are sad, all who have to carry heavy burdens in life. Give them hope, make your people show them your love, we pray: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

Lord, let this year be to all of us a year of grace, of peace and joy, that we may face the future with hope and live in your love now and for ever. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, loving Father,
in this bread and this wine
we bring before you our offering
of this new year.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,
give us your Son to be with us
in this eucharistic celebration
and every day of this year.
As he gives himself to us,
help us to share ourselves with each other
every day you give us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Let us give wholehearted praise and thanks to God our Father for giving us Jesus through the Virgin Mother Mary. May this eucharist bring us his blessing and give us Jesus to go with us through life today and every day of the year.

Invitation to the Lord's Prayer
Through the Spirit of Jesus
alive in our hearts,
we pray to our Father in heaven
in the words of Jesus himself: R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us
Lord, deliver us this year
from every evil of sin
and grant us and the whole world
your reliable, lasting peace.
Grant us your understanding love
and your infinite respect for others,
that in justice and goodness
we may prepare for the final coming among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus our Lord,
born from the Virgin Mother Mary.
He comes among us
to be our saving God-with-us
and to grow in us.
Happy are we to be invited
to the table of the Lord. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion
Lord God, loving Father,
you have given us in this eucharist
your Son Jesus as our guide on your way of peace
and Mary, his Mother, as our model of faith.
Let your grace this year
be stronger than our weakness and self-will.
Keep blessing us and let them inspire us
that all we say and do
may give praise to you
and lead us to the joy you have prepared for us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing
With Mary, we have blessed the Lord today
that he has done great things for us in the past.
May he keep blessing us
and give us his peace:
peace with God himself, peace with ourselves
peace in our families, peace among nations.
May this year be to all of us
a year of grace,
with the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Go in peace, a happy New Year to all of you,
and take the Lord's blessing with you
all the days of your life. R/ Thanks be to God.

Commentary
The Blessed Virgin Mary receives the Word of God into her person in a way that is unique among the human race, for she is given the great honor of being the mother of our Lord Jesus, true God and true man. As she holds the child Jesus in her arms, she treasures the tremendous gift of the Word of God and continually ponders over its mystery. In so doing, she is a model for all who listen attentively to the Word of God, especially through the reading of the Holy Bible.
As you keep reading and reflecting on the Word of God, may your heart be daily inspired, challenged, consoled, and uplifted. Through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God, may you be drawn closer to the living presence of her Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Wednesday January 2, 2019

Introduction
In his first letter, John, probably reacting against the Gnostics, strongly asserts that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ in our midst.
Like John the Baptist in the Gospel, we, and the whole Church, have to assert strongly that we are not the Christ, though he stands among us, but we have to be his voice, most of all by the way we live. Our lives have to point to him

Opening Prayer
God,
your Son stands among us,
but we don’t know him enough
and people may not know him enough
because they don’t see him in us or among us.
Make us his voice,
perhaps a silent and timid voice,
because we show a bit of his goodness,
of his compassion and forgiveness
by the way we live.
We are not Christ,
but let us be his humble sign and voice,
for he is our Lord for ever.

Reading 1: 1 JN 2:22-28
The LORD said to Moses:
Beloved:
Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.
And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.
I write you these things about those who would deceive you.
As for you,
the anointing that you received from him remains in you,
so that you do not need anyone to teach you.
But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false;
just as it taught you, remain in him.

And now, children, remain in him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming.

Responsorial Psalm 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4
R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Alleluia HEB 1:1-2
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: JN 1:19-28
This is the testimony of John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, "Who are you?"
He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted,
"I am not the Christ."
So they asked him,
"What are you then? Are you Elijah?"
And he said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
So they said to him,
"Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?"
He said:
"I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
'Make straight the way of the Lord,'
as Isaiah the prophet said."
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him,
"Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?"
John answered them,
"I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.

Intercessions
– That the Church and all of us may be one voice pointing to Christ as our life and the source of our faith and happiness, we pray:
– Especially for our priests, catechists, and religious, who are by vocation road signs to Christ, that their word and life style may lead people to him, we pray:
– For people to whom Christ is still unknown, that they may discover Christ as the meaning of their lives, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts
Our loving God,
you come among us as a person,
human like us and close to us in your Son, Jesus Christ.
Give us a deep and living faith in him,
that we may live in him
and be close to him in all we say and do.
For he is our Lord and God,
and yet our brother who loves us.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
Father of Jesus Christ,
your Son, has spoken to us
and he has nourished us
with himself, with his body and blood.
Though, we know him now a bit better,
we ask you insistently
that we may come to love him more,
for in many ways, he is still a stranger to us
and we are still very much unlike him.
Let Jesus live in us, now and for ever.

Blessing
If only we could be better voices and signs of Christ! We wish that we, and the whole world, would know him better. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary
The liturgical readings from the feast of Mary, the Mother of God (January 1), to the Epiphany draw on the Johannine lit¬erature in pointing up the deeper significance of the Christ event. Today’s readings stress the importance of the truth, with Christ as its noblest expression.
A lie is defined as a lack of conformity between the mind and reality. Objective facts say one thing and, for a variety of reasons, the person says another. This may be called equivocation, obfuscation, deception, or simply a lie. When John’s epistle was written, Christians were separating themselves from the faith community as well as from the truth. In denying that Christ was truly the Son of God, they were declared antichrists. In so saying and professing, they sinned against both Father and Son. The charge against them is strong. They deny the truth and are nothing more than bars.
The authentic Christian remains strong in his faith affirma¬tion. That person stands in the truth, anointed in baptism, and destined for eternal life. If we remain in the truth, evil will have no hold on us. We are well prepared for the fullness of God that will come at the end of the road. John the Baptist was a celebrated preacher and end-time prophet in his day. But, as in today’s Gospel, he makes no exag¬gerated claims. He speaks the truth. No, he is not the messiah, nor Elijah, nor the expected eschatological prophet. His baptism is one of conversion administered with water. Yes, there is one com¬ing after him who will far exceed him in his person and his ministry. There is no equivocation, no duplicity. He states it as it is and merits die praise of Jesus. No one born of woman was greater than he.
The truth in our time is evasive. People in government dis¬tort the truth in what is referred to as the “spin.” CEOs of major companies face incarceration for the deceptive use of funds for their own personal gain. Sadly, we have seen examples of the eva¬sion and concealment of truth within the church itself to the detriment of members of the faithful.
In our daily lives, we may be inclined to alter the facts for reasons of pride, personal interest, or embarrassment. The truths of faith are, of course, paramount. But truth is not selective. It seeks objectivity and candor in all instances. In the spirit of gospel transparency, let our answer be “yes, yes” or “no, no.”

Points to Ponder
The truths of faith
Truth in daily life
Truth in society
Distortion of the truth
The limited claims of John the Baptist