Today, 26th of December, we celebrate
Saint Stephen
First Reading: Baruch 5:1-9
Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery;
put on the splendor of glory from God forever:
wrapped in the cloak of justice from God,
bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name.
For God will show all the earth your splendor:
you will be named by God forever
the peace of justice, the glory of God's worship.
Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights;
look to the east and see your children
gathered from the east and the west
at the word of the Holy One,
rejoicing that they are remembered by God.
Led away on foot by their enemies they left you:
but God will bring them back to you
borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones.
For God has commanded
that every lofty mountain be made low,
and that the age-old depths and gorges
be filled to level ground,
that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God.
The forests and every fragrant kind of tree
have overshadowed Israel at God's command;
for God is leading Israel in joy
by the light of his glory,
with his mercy and justice for company.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6.
R./ The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R./ The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Then they said among the nations,
"The Lord has done great things for them."
The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R./ The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those who sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R./ The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R./ The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Second Reading: Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
Brothers and sisters:
I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,
because of your partnership for the gospel
from the first day until now.
I am confident of this,
that the one who began a good work in you
will continue to complete it
until the day of Christ Jesus.
God is my witness,
how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer:
that your love may increase ever more and more
in knowledge and every kind of perception,
to discern what is of value,
so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God.
Gospel Reading: Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,
and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee,
and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region
of Ituraea and Trachonitis,
and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,
the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan,
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
"Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
Greetings (See Second Reading)
May our love for one another
prepare us for the Day of the Lord,
when Jesus Christ returns.
May his grace and love be always with you.
R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. Signs Of Hope
Vatican II has restored the meaning of Advent from a season of penance and conversion into its original purpose: a time of hope. We remember the coming of Christ, and we know he has to come more deeply in our Church and in our world. To dispose us to do this we need conversion, of course, but we need especially hope that, notwithstanding everything to the contrary, his kingdom will come. To deepen that hope, we have to learn to see the signs that this hope is already present among us. Let our Lord open our eyes to these signs.
B. Remove The Obstacles From The Road
Tremendous amounts of money are spent to build better roads, to have better communications, but there still remain a lot of obstacles among people and even nations to communicate with one another. In the same way there are still many obstacles to the coming of our Savior in our world. People put up roadblocks and we have to remove them, so that his mercy and freedom, his justice and love may reach all people. Ah, if only all could encounter the Savior and experience God's salvation in him and at work in us too! We ask Jesus our Lord in this Eucharist that we may be the road to him and that we may bring him near to people.
Penitential Act
A. Signs Of Hope
Are we really people of hope,
with a faith capable of changing this world?
Let us examine ourselves before the Lord.
(pause)
Lord Jesus, you became one of us
to make us capable of love and hope:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you rely on us
and you give us the will and the strength
to make this world God's world:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you will come in glory
to crown your own work in us:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
In your merciful kindness, Lord,
forgive us all our sins
and make us look to the present and the future
with an unflagging hope.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
B. Remove The Obstacles From The Road
We are people of the road, pilgrims on the way,
and we sometimes stumble and fall.
We now ask the Lord to forgive us.
(pause)
Lord Jesus, you brought us freedom and justice
and opened wide for us
the way to the Father and to people:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you showed to us
the path to the peace of forgiveness:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you lead us on the road
of love and generosity
and you want to bring your salvation to all:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord,
and fill us with the joy of your pardon.
Wipe away the tears of our sorrow
and make us sing of the gladness of everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray
that we may prepare the road
for the Lord's coming
(pause)
God our Father,
we know today how to pierce mountains
and level hills to build highways,
but we have lost the way
to each other's heart and to you.
Let your Son come among us
to make us inventive and daring enough
to build roads of justice and love
that make us encounter one another
and you, our living God.
We ask you this in the name of him whom we expect
and who is waiting for us,
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction: God Will Save His Scattered People
The prophet announces a message of hope: God will lead his scattered people back to their country and to himself. They will become shining signs of God's salvation.
Second Reading Introduction: Prepare For The Day Of Christ
In a warm letter, Paul thanks the Christians of Philippi for their hospitality to himself and to the Gospel. He asks them and us to prepare for Christ's coming by means of an attentive, ever-growing love.
Gospel Introduction: Prepare The Way Of The Lord
God began his salvation history with his new people when John the Baptist announced the coming of Jesus. Then, as now, people have to prepare for the Lord's coming. If we prepare the way, all will see how God saves.
General Intercessions
Let us pray in trusting hope that all people may see and accept the salvation which Jesus offers to all. Let us say: R/ Come, Lord, wait no longer.
• For the pope, bishops, priests, and lay leaders, that they may strengthen us in our faith and help us to hasten the Lord's coming, let us pray: R/ Come, Lord, wait no longer.
• For all the faithful spread over the whole world, that they may be light for our times, to keep faith and hope alive and active, and to work for more justice and honesty, let us pray: R/ Come, Lord, wait no longer.
• For all those who do not believe in God, that they too may place all their potentials in the service of people and the whole human community, let us pray: R/ Come, Lord, wait no longer.
• For all those afraid of the future, that they may put aside their fears and distress and learn to hope in God and trust in his promises, let us pray: R/ Come, Lord, wait no longer.
• For all of us gathered here, that our eyes may be open and our hearts vigilant to recognize and receive Christ our Lord when he comes to encounter us, let us pray: R/ Come, Lord, wait no longer.
Lord Jesus Christ, give us the will and the courage to remove the obstacles that separate us from each other and to level the road for your coming. Stay with us, now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
in these signs of bread and wine
you reassure us that your Son
will soon be among us.
May we be the humble servants
of the light and joy and the great hope
for which humanity is waiting.
May our lives proclaim the message
that you are near to us in Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
We could not find the way to God by ourselves. He has sent us Jesus as our Way and as our guide on that road. Through Jesus, let us thank the Father.
Invitation to the Lord's Prayer
Let us pray to our Father in heaven
that we may seek his will
and sow the seeds of his kingdom: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and give us dedicated men and women
to prepare that peace which is the sign
of the presence of your Son on earth.
Turn our hearts to you and free us from sin,
as we wait in joyful hope
for the full coming among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of the world.
Happy are we to be invited
to prepare the way for his coming,
that people all over the world may see his salvation.
R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Lord, God of hope,
in this Eucharist we have celebrated again
the coming of your Son in our midst.
Let this brief encounter with him
refresh and restore us
to become humble road signs
to a justice, a peace, a dignity, and a joy
that far surpass our powers,
but which can be shared by all
if we let your Son go with us all the way
to you, our God for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Blessing
To be a highway to God,
level, smooth, and straight,
we need to become more Christ-like ourselves.
We can show others the road to Christ
and prepare the way for his full coming
only if we ourselves take his Gospel seriously,
if the Lord becomes visible in us:
his goodness, his compassion, his love,
his concern for justice and truth.
May God give you this strength and bless you all:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go with one another the way of the Lord. R/ Thanks be to God.
