Liturgy Alive: Models of Celebrations

December 7, 2003 - 2nd Sunday of Advent (C)

A. Signs of Hope
B. Remove the Obstacles from the Road

Readings:
Bar 5:1-9; Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6

Commentaries / Gospel Reflections from:
Sunday's Into Silence • Diario Biblico • Daily Gospel

Greeting (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.

Scripture Readings

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.

First Reading: Bar 5:1- 9

Jerusalem, put off your garment of mourning and unhappiness, put on the splendor and glory of God forever.

Wrap yourself in the mantle of holiness that comes from God, put on your head the crown of glory of the Eternal One.
For God will show your splendor to every being under Heaven.
He will call your name forever, "Peace in Justice" and "Glory in the Fear of the Lord."

Rise up, Jerusalem, stand on the heights. Look towards the East and see your children gathered together from the setting of the sun to its rising, by the voice of the Holy One, rejoicing because God has remembered them.

They left you on foot, taken away by the enemy. God will lead them back, carried gloriously like royal princes.

For God has resolved to bring low every high mountain and the everlasting hills, to fill up the valleys and level out the ground, in order that Israel may walk in safety under the Glory of God.

Even the forests and the fragrant trees will give shade to Israel at God's command. For God will lead Israel with joy by the light of his Glory, escorting them with his mercy and justice.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

R. (3) 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.

Ten 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 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.

Second Reading: Phil 1:4-6.8-11

When I pray for you, I pray with joy. I cannot forget all you shared with me in the service of the Gospel, from the first day until now. Since God began such a good work in you, I am certain that he will complete it in the day of Christ Jesus.

God knows that I love you dearly with the love of Christ Jesus, and in my prayers I ask that your love may lead you each day to a deeper knowledge and clearer discernment, that you may have good criteria for everything. So you may be pure of heart and come blameless to the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of holiness that comes through Christ Jesus, for the glory and praise of God.

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.

Gospel Reading: Lk 3:1-6

It was the fifteenth year of the rule of the Emperor Tiberius; Pontius Pilatus was governor of Judea; Herod ruled over Galilee, his brother Philip ruled over the country of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias over Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the High Priests at that time when the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah in the desert.

John proclaimed a baptism for repentant people to obtain forgiveness of sins and he went through the whole country bordering the Jordan River. It was just as is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: listen to this voice crying out in the desert: prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight. The valleys will be filled and the mountains and hills made low. Everything crooked will be made straight and the rough paths smooth; and every mortal will see the salvation of God.

Commentary

Advent is a time for conversion, a time to prepare the way for the coming of the kingdom of God. Conversion is a radical change of mentality, basic attitudes, a change of minds and hearts that manifest in a new lifestyle and behavior. Conversion is a prerequisite to celebrate the season of advent. Conversion is like going to the wilderness of the desert. It demands inner solitude, silence and self-awareness to listen to the voice of God and feel His presence. As C. Lewis said so well, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains." It is not only John and the prophets shouting at us in this season but God himself who constantly offers us His great love.

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.

Introduction 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.

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