December 9 - Monday, 2nd Week of Advent

Theme: The Desert Shall Bloom Lame People Shall Leap

Readings:
Is 35:1-10; Lk 5:17-26

Introduction

At the time of the exile, in what is called “the little Apocalypse” (Is 34-35), a disciple of Isaiah describes the return of the Jews to Jerusalem and the Holy Land as a return to Paradise: no sin, no suffering, no fatigue even, with all sickness cured and creation sharing in the liberation of people. For God dwells among his people.

These glowing terms begin to apply more fully when Jesus comes and forgives sin and illness, the consequences and manifestations of sin. When Jesus appears, he comes to bring life to the poor. Yes, the lame people leap for joy, for God has taken pity on them through Jesus.

Additional Commentaries / Daily Gospel: Dec. 9, 2002 from our Bible Diary

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you come among your people;
to those who are poor and paralyzed
you bring them your forgiveness
and your tender compassion
through your Son Jesus Christ.
God, make us deeply believe
that you want to liberate us
from our discouragement and powerlessness.
Give us a sincere, trusting hope
in your healing, compassionate love,
through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Intentions

Let us pray for all people who are discouraged and lonely, that we may
help them relieve their fears and restore their trust and hope.
We say: Lord, hear our prayer.

–   For the physically handicapped, that we may respect them as fully human persons, we pray:

–   For our communities, that we may be full of hope that in Christ we can build a better Church and a better world, we pray:

–   That all of us may be people of joy, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord, God of hope,
in these signs of bread and wine
we celebrate the death and resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ.
Help us to place in him our hope
that he will raise us from our dejection,
from all our fears and resignation
to the evils of the world.
Let him heal us from our sins
and make us people who leap for joy
because of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Our living and saving God,
we thank you for your Son Jesus.
Let him be so much alive among us
that we gladly and enthusiastically
continue his work of healing
of the poor and of those who suffer,
as we remember how he has lifted us up
above our miseries.
Make us healed healers,
as we follow Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

To us too, Jesus has repeatedly said: “Your sins are forgiven you. Stand up.” Let this fill us with great gratitude, and help us also to speak to one another words of reconciliation and encouragement. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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December 10 - Tuesday, 2nd Week of Advent

Theme: God the Shepherd

Readings:
Is 40:1-11; Mt 18:12-14

Introduction

The author of Second Isaiah has a beautiful message of joy and hope. God will end the exile of his people and bring them back to him. Their sins are forgiven. He will live among them as their shepherd.

God became visible as the shepherd of his people in Jesus Christ. To him, every person is precious, also the little people and sinners. But also the pilgrimChurch – her leaders, but also all those belonging to the Church, are to be merciful and forgiving, responsible for one another, sinners responsible for their fellow sinners.

Additional Commentaries / Daily Gospel: Dec. 10, 2002 from our Bible Diary

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you are near to us
in Jesus Christ your Son.
When we go astray,
you look for us until you find us.
Bring us back to you,
show us the way to you
and to one another
through him who is our way,
Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord,
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Intentions

–   That the Church may be compassionate and patient with people who err, as God is compassionate on us, we pray:

–   That we may bring joy and comfort to one another, as God has brought us joy and comfort in Christ, we pray:

–   That we may not condemn people who commit mistakes or hurt us, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God, merciful Father,
you are always near to us
through your Son Jesus Christ.
In these signs of bread and wine
we celebrate his living presence.
Through him, speak to our hearts,
reassure us that we are precious to you
even as the sinners we are,
and begin with us your new era
of merciful love and joy.
Grant us this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, shepherd of people,
in this eucharist you have let us experience
that you want to be close to us
through our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Help us to be shepherds to one another,
sinners responsible for their fellow sinners,
taking one another as we are,
because you take us as we are,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

We thank God that he still cared for us when we sinned. With him we care also for people who go astray. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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December 11 - Wednesday, 2nd Week of Advent

Theme: Strength of the Weary

Readings:
Is 40:25-31; Mt 11:28-30

Introduction

The mighty God is near to the weak. This is the message of today. To the exiles, who felt abandoned by God and who saw the power of Babylon and the supposed might of her gods, God tells through the prophet: I am the mighty God. Rely on me and I will make you strong.

Jesus assumes these powers to himself, and he says: Come to me, you little, humble people who are burdened by laws in the name of religion, and I, who have become little and humble with you, will strengthen you and teach you to love; then your burdens will be light.

Additional Commentaries / Daily Gospel: Dec. 11, 2002 from our Bible Diary

Opening Prayer

Everlasting, mighty God,
at times we do not know
where you are or where we are going.
When our burdens are heavy to bear,
help us to keep searching for you
and teach us to become humble again,
that we may be open to the strength
which you give us through him,
who became weary with the weary,
Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever.

Intentions

–   That the Lord may take away from our hearts all pride and harshness, and make us gentle and humble, we pray:

–   That we encourage the weak and support them to become courageous in the Lord, we pray:

–   That we may help others, friend and foe, by helping them to carry their burdens, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord, mighty God,
often we look far away
for you and your strength
and forget that you are near
in your Son and in people.
Strengthen us with the bread of life
of Jesus, your Son among us.
Make us face life with courage,
for you have made it worth to be lived
through the good people around us
and on account of Jesus Christ,
who lives with you and with us for ever.

Prayer after Communion

God of comfort and strength,
you have spoken to us your refreshing word
and renewed our courage
with the body and blood of your Son.
We thank you with all our hearts.
Help us to be in our turn
near to our neighbor in need
and a haven of rest for the weary.
Make us gladly accept your yoke,
which love makes easy to bear,
and lighten one another’s burden
on account of your Son among us,
Jesus Christ our Lord for ever.

Blessing

Weak as we are at times, we learn to carry our burdens when we are aware that the Lord is close to us and that we can always rely on him. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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December 12 - Thursday, 2nd Week of Advent

Theme: God Saves the Poor

Readings:
Is 41:13-20; Mt 11:11-15

Introduction

It is heartening to hear these days a strong and repeated message of encouragement. This is what we believe in if we trust in the nearness of God in his Son Jesus Christ. When people are poor and afflicted, God is near as their Savior, that is, one who is bound to them with close bonds and who is bound to come to their assistance. The poor are those who trust in him. He promises them a new paradise. Even the least in his kingdom are greater than the greatest and last of the prophets, John the Baptist.

Additional Commentaries / Daily Gospel: Dec. 12, 2002 from our Bible Diary

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you do not abandon those who rely on you.
Take us by the hand when we are afraid,
help us when we call out to you,
for we experience that we are powerless
to establish your kingdom of justice and love.
Send your Son again among us today
to be our Lord and Savior
now and for ever.

Intentions

–   For the fainthearted who think they are too small for God to care for them, that they may become aware that God, like a good father and mother, cares very much for them, we pray:

–   For the powerful and the rich, that they may be sensitive to the rights and the needs of the poor, we pray:

–   For prophets among us, that they may remind us that we have to speak out and stand up for the voiceless and the oppressed, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God, we bring before you
these humble gifts of bread and wine.
In these signs of sharing,
may your Son become present among us
and may he give us the courage
to take your kingdom by storm,
that we who are powerless and easily discouraged
may commit ourselves with him
to bring hope to the poor.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord, our God and Father,
we are the new people of your promises.
May we be humble enough
not to seek our selfish, obstinate ways
but to be open to you and to trust in you.
Remember that we are yours
and that we are entitled to your help.
For you love us in Jesus Christ, your Son,
who is our Lord now and for ever.

Blessing

To us too God speaks today: “I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand and I say to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’” May you be aware of God’s care and may he bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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December 13 - Friday, 2nd Week of Advent

Theme: Don't Be Childish

Readings:
Is 48:17-19; Mt 11:16-19

Introduction

“If you had only paid attention to what I have said,” complains the Lord through the prophet, for God wants our own good. Jesus complains that there are people who behave in a childish way when John the Baptist preaches repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah: they are like girls who refuse to dance when the flute plays joyful tunes or boys who refuse to mourn when people are weeping. The Lord is among us and asks for commitment so that we can lead the world to life and justice and happiness. What is our faith worth, if we do not practice it?

Additional Commentaries / Daily Gospel: Dec. 13, 2002 from our Bible Diary

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
too often we are deaf to your voice
and to the presence of your Son
among us, his people.
Inspire us by your prophets and your Spirit
that now is the right moment to change
and to commit ourselves
to the kind of life and to the justice
demanded by the kingdom.
Help us to make people see
that your Son is alive among us
and that he is our Lord for ever.

Intentions

–   Lord, make us attentive to the voice of your Holy Spirit, that we may not let the right moment pass when he inspires us to do the works of justice and love, we pray:

–   Make us listen to people who contest our laxity and materialism, we pray:

–   Guide our political leaders to follow the voice of their conscience for the good of our people, rather than seek gain and political power, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
we bring before you
these gifts of bread and wine
and join your Son Jesus Christ
at the table he sets for us.
Give us the determination and strength
to bring his message and his life
to the people around us.
Help us to give ourselves with him
wholeheartedly and without hesitation,
for he is our Lord for ever.

Prayer after Communion

God our Father,
now that we have eaten the bread of your Son,
help us to do now the good
we have postponed so long.
Make us just and fair to everyone,
to respect the poor and the little ones,
to visit the sick
and to feed the hungry.
Lord, we are waiting for you
but do not let us make you wait for us,
for we want to follow your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

Fickle children who pay no attention to what is good for them: that is what we should not be. May the Lord dispose us to do what is right and good always, even when it is inconvenient. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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December 14 - Saturday, 2nd Week of Advent

Theme: Prophets of Fire

Readings:
Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Mt 17:10-13

Introduction

In the Old Testament the prophet Elijah is the “prophet of fire,” a fiery, zealous personality who makes fire come down on the enemies of God. He wanted to prepare the hearts of the people to accept God.

In the New Testament the “prophet of fire”, the new Elijah, was John the Baptist. Full of zeal, he wanted to prepare the hearts of the people to accept Jesus as the saving Messiah. Who is calling us to conversion today and opening our hearts to make Christ alive in us? It is the Spirit of fire, who wants us to do with great zeal and love the work of Christ to bring the love and peace and justice of God in today’s world. Do we let the Spirit kindle that fire in us?

Additional Commentaries / Daily Gospel: Dec. 14, 2002 from our Bible Diary

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
let us never become indifferent
to the ardent message
which your Son speaks to us in the gospel
When we have become inattentive and uninvolved,
send us again prophets to wake us up
and to make us attentive again
to make your kingdom among us a reality
of love of you and of people,
of justice and serving love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Intentions

–   That God may inspire among us prophets who in season and out of season wake us up from our complacency with ourselves and with the Church and the world of our day, we pray:

–   For men and women of integrity and courage, who are voices that speak out against injustice and the disregard of human dignity, we pray:

–   For prophets who dare us to be different in God’s ways and to take the pains to be constructive in building up a world of compassion and reconciliation, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Our living and loving God,
bread and wine are the signs for us
how Jesus wanted to bring among us
your goodness and forgiveness,
even when people were not willing to listen
and nailed him to the cross.
Give us your Spirit of fire,
that we may not spare any effort
to bring about the new season
that Jesus came to bring among us:
a time of hope and peace and love.
Let Jesus be our Lord now and for ever.

Prayer after Communion

God of hope and of our future,
we thank you for giving us again Jesus
to strengthen us with his word and his body.
With Jesus among us,
let us not be afraid of committing ourselves
to bring about the new world
for which he laid down his life.
Let him make our love strong and lasting,
and fiery enough to take the risks
of facing contradiction and ridicule
for Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

May there be fire in us, the fire of the Spirit that inspires us to love and to serve without measure, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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