Today, 26th of December, we celebrate
Saint Stephen
Jeremiah 33:14-16
The days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time,
I will raise up for David a just shoot ;
he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
"The Lord our justice."
Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
R./ To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O Lord, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day.
R./ To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Good and upright is the Lord;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
R./ To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
All the paths of the Lord are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
R./ To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2
Brothers and sisters:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
Finally, brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
—and as you are conducting yourselves—
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
Jesus said to his disciples:
"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man."
Advent marks the beginning of a season of hope and preparation. It is a time to remember Christ’s first coming and to prepare our hearts for his continued presence and ultimate return. To love Christ is to meet him constantly in our lives, trusting that he never abandons us.
The Gospel of Luke conveys a message of hope amid turmoil. Jesus’ apocalyptic imagery emphasizes renewal rather than fear, encouraging us to acknowledge the world’s brokenness—such as wars, injustice, and suffering—as opportunities for God’s transformative power. Advent invites us to remain vigilant, allowing us to discern Christ’s presence not in distractions or self-serving desires, but in the Eucharist, the marginalized, and the fabric of daily life.
Jesus instructs us to stay awake and pray. Prayer grounds us, enabling us to see with God’s eyes and resist fear. Pope Francis highlights two Advent attitudes: mindfulness and prayer. Mindfulness invites us to look beyond ourselves and respond to the needs of others. Too often, we are consumed by our plans and neglect those suffering around us. Prayer, though challenging, helps us persevere, even amidst distractions or dryness, and draws us closer to God.
Advent is a season of renewal and action. It is a time to embrace charity, justice, and empathy, preparing not only for Christmas but for Christ’s presence in our lives today. Let us “stand erect” with hope, knowing that no darkness is beyond God’s light.
– How can I recognize Christ in my daily life this Advent?
– How can I open my heart to the needs of others?
Through prayer and vigilance, may we joyfully prepare to welcome our Lord.
May the Lord so confirm your hearts in holiness
that you may be blameless
in the sight of our God and Father
when our Lord Jesus Christ comes.
May the Lord be always with you.
R/ And also with you.
A. Waiting in Tension
"Stand erect, hold your heads high." This is the message the Lord speaks to us on this First Sunday of Advent. There are terrible civil wars, there is famine in many parts of the world, and there are millions of refugees seeking safety. Yet our Lord assures us that we should keep up our hope and expectations, for he is still with us and near to us. Be attentive to his presence, not only here in the eucharist but also in the life of every day.
B. Watchful, but not Afraid
Much of the world is sitting in the dark of hunger and suffering and violence, and yet if we are God's people we keep up the indestructible hope that truth and goodness and justice will prevail. For we believe that Christ our Lord has come and is alive among us. We struggle, we know the road is rough, but the Lord goes with us and he tells us: Come with me, serve with me, love with me, give and share yourself with me and you will be better, and the Church and the world will be better.
We have been busy with our own affairs
and have forgotten those of the Lord and the needs of people.
Let us ask the Lord to forgive us.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, make us recognize that you are near
in the people who are hungry and needy.
Liberate us with your love.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, make us discover you
in those who search for peace
for themselves and for their country.
Bring them your lasting peace.
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, reveal yourself to us
in those who grope in their night of suffering.
Let your light shine on them and on us:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Be near to us with your forgiveness, Lord,
and keep us attentive to your constant coming.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Let us pray in this season of hope
that the Lord may keep us vigilant
(PAUSE)
Lord our God,
we are your people on the march
who try to carry out the task
of giving shape to your kingdom of love and peace.
When we are discouraged and afraid,
keep us going forward in hope.
Make us vigilant in prayer,
that we may see the signs of your Son's coming.
Let Jesus walk with us already now
on the road he has shown us,
that he may lead us to you,
our living God for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
First Reading Introduction: Keep Hope Alive
To a discouraged people, the prophet announces: Take courage! A Savior will come from the house of David. With him honesty and integrity will make a new beginning.
Second Reading Introduction: Prepare for the Lord's Coming
Jesus came to make us new. By growing in love and living our faith more deeply, we hasten his coming in our world.
Gospel Introduction: Your Liberation Is Near!
Even in times of danger, Christians keep hoping in the future. By a life of love, prayer, and vigilance they prepare to meet the Lord.
In his love, our Father in heaven sent his Son into the world to fulfill all our hopes and to give us an eternal future. Let us pray to him: R/ Lord, you are all our hope.
- For the community of the Church, that we may make the gospel credible by our commitment to justice and love, let us pray: R/ Lord, you are all our hope.
- For people without hope or courage, for those suffering from hunger and wars, that we may revive their hopes by building a better world with them, let us pray: R/ Lord, you are all our hope.
- For Christians everywhere, that they may not be ashamed of the gospel but speak its message of hope in the language of their own lives, let us pray: R/ Lord, you are all our hope.
- For all of us here, that we may not be self-satisfied but that we may remain vigilant to let God renew us in Christ and to make us live for others, let us pray: R/ Lord, you are all our hope.
Lord our God, you love us and so you expect us to make your goodness and justice visible to all. Let your Son stay with us, that your and our expectations may come true, now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Lord our God,
as a pledge of your promises
you give us your Son Jesus Christ
in these signs of bread and wine.
We do not ask you for a life
without problems and risks,
but for your Son's vision
of a world in which you are present
and for your Son's courage
to answer with our own lives
your call to build up a new world,
in which your Son can be our Lord
now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Already in this eucharist Jesus will be close to us. Every Mass is a sign of hope that God is with us in our world. Let us give thanks to the Father for this.
Let us pray in the words of Jesus
to the Father of all
that we may do his will
and give shape to his kingdom: R/ Our Father...
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil.
Wake us up from our sluggishness
and help us to hasten
the coming of your Son among people,
that we may live in a world of justice
without division and fear,
as we prepare with joyful hope
for the coming in glory
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Lift up your head,
for this is Jesus, our Savior and our Lord.
Happy are we if he finds us awake
as we wait for his coming.
Happy are we that he invites us to his table.
R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Lord our God, merciful Father,
you have spoken to us your word of hope
and renewed our strength
with the bread of life of your Son.
Free our faith from banality and routine
and send us out with your Son
to restore integrity and love
and the trust that with him
we can give shape to a future
beyond all human expectations,
for the future belongs to you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
one God for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Keep your heads high in hope
was the message of today.
Keep hoping when there are wars and violence,
keep hoping when there is much injustice,
Keep hoping when there is much hatred,
keep hoping, for there is a future.
Christ is with you, and with him
you can do away with violence and wars,
you can defeat enmity with friendship.
Yes, hold your heads high,
for the Lord Jesus is among us
and with him there is hope and a future.
Let us go with him
and may almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go in the peace and hope of Christ. R/ Thanks be to God.
