Additional Resource Material for this Sunday

Ideal for catechetical and liturgical dramatization of today's gospel.

A New Heaven and Earth
(Mt 24:3-51; Mk 13:3-37; Lk 12:41-48; 17:26-37; 21:7-36)

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December 2 - Monday, 1st Week of Advent

Theme: UNIVERSAL SALVATION

Readings:
Is 2:1-5; Mt 5:8-11

Introduction

Today's message speaks of universal salvation. Isaiah preaches that all are called to believe in God, to worship him, to live according to God's plans and laws, and to enjoy his peace. Jerusalem stands here for God's believing people. (In year A, another reading from Isaiah is taken, so as not to duplicate that of the first Sunday A: God will protect the remnant that has been faithful to him and live among his people.)

The centurion's faith is remarkable. He is symbolic of the gentiles who will be called, for the kingdom is open to all, without any privilege of race or culture. With Christ, salvation has become available to anyone of good will.

Opening Prayer

Lord God, Father of all,
in your Son Jesus Christ
you invite everyone and all to know and love you
and to live in your unending peace.
Keep alive in us the zeal
to bring the light of your truth
and the riches of your life and love to all,
without any distinction
of race, language or culture.
May everyone on earth come to know you
as the merciful Father of all
through our brother and Savior,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture Readings

First Reading: Is 2:1-5

The vision of Isaiah, son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In the last days, the mountain of Yahweh's house shall be set over the highest mountains and shall tower over the hills.

All the nations shall stream to it, saying, "Come, let us go to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in his paths. For the Teaching comes from Zion, and from Jerusalem the word of Yahweh.

He will rule over the nations and settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not raise sword against nation; they will train for war no more.

O nation of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!"

Gospel Reading: Mt 5:8-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum, an army captain approached him to ask his help, "Sir, my servant lies sick at home. He is paralyzed and suffers terribly." Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."

The captain answered, "I am not worthy to have you under my roof. Just give an order and my boy will be healed. For I myself, a junior officer, give orders to my soldiers. And if I say to one: 'Go,' he goes, and if I say to another: 'Come,' he comes, and to my servant: 'Do this,' he does it."

When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those who were following him, "I tell you, I have not found such faith in Israel. I say to you, many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven."

(Commentary)

General Intercessions

Let us pray that the Lord Jesus may be known and accepted by all: Lord, hear our prayer:

- For people who drift through life without someone to believe in, that they may discover God and his Messiah, we pray:

- For the many cultures all over the world, that the gospel may enrich them, we pray:

- For peace and lasting friendship among nations, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God, bread and wine
food and drink, life and joy -
these you have destined for all
through your Son Jesus Christ.
Let it be a life and a joy
that cannot be taken away
and that we can make real among us
by the strength of him
who is our food and drink,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord, God of the promise,
you have nourished us
with the body of your Son.
By the strength of this food
make us the body of your Son to the world,
not on account of our merits
but for the sake of what you do in us.
Make visible in us
the mercy and justice of Jesus Christ,
that people may recognize his presence among us
and through him give you all honor and praise
now and for ever.

Blessing

"Many will come from east and west and eat with us at the table of the kingdom." This is happening much in our day. Are we ready to respect and welcome them as equals with us before God? May almighty God bless you and them, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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December 3 - Tuesday, 1st Week of Advent

Theme: THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD

Readings:
Is 11:1-10; Lk 10:21-24

Note. December 3 - Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Missionary - see also Celebration of Saints

Introduction

God will make a new beginning with people in the Messiah, in Jesus. He is the young shoot sprouting from the roots of the stump from the line of David and God's Spirit rests on him. He will bring peace - not the peace of resignation and the status quo, but the peace and harmony in the world that comes even to the poorest from justice, loyalty and integrity. In his own self he will show us what we are meant to be and what we can do with our human potentials if we let God work in us, if God's spirit is present in us, if we learn to think with God's wisdom and insight, if we act with his power, if we respect God's order.

It is those who realize their own indigence, says Jesus, who are receptive to God's gifts. With such people, Jesus can make his new beginning, also today, in this Advent.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you never give up on people.
Again and again you want to make
a new beginning with us.
You showed us in Jesus your Son
the kind of people you want us to be.
As your Spirit rested on him,
pour out on us the same Spirit,
that we may see our mission in life
with your wisdom and insight
and that we may have the strength
to live as we believe and hope.
Grant us this through Christ our Lord.

Scripture Readings

First Reading: Is 11:1-10

From the stump of Jesse a shoot will come forth;
from his roots a branch will grow and bear fruit.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him -
a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a Spirit of counsel and power,
a Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

Not by appearances will he judge,
nor by what is said must he decide,
but with justice he will judge the poor
and with righteousness decide for the meek.
Like a rod, his word will strike the oppressor,
and the breath of his lips slay the wicked.
Justice will be the girdle of his waist,
truth the girdle of his loins.

The wolf will dwell with the lamb,
the leopard will rest beside the kid,
the calf and the lion cub will feed together
and a little child will lead them.
Befriending each other, the cow and the bear
will see their young ones lie down together.

Like cattle, the lion will eat hay.
By the cobra's den the infant will play.
The child will put his hand into the viper's lair.
No one will harm or destroy over my holy mountain,
for as water fills the sea
the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.

On that day the "Root of Jesse" will be raised as a signal for the nations. The people will come in search of him, thus making his dwelling place glorious.

Gospel Reading: Lk 10:21-24

Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and made them known to the little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. I have been given all things by my Father, so that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them privately, "Fortunate are you to see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see but did not, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."

(Commentary)

General Intercessions

Let us pray that the Spirit of God may work in us: Lord, fill us with your Spirit.

- Give us your Spirit of understanding, that we may know and understand you, our world and ourselves, we pray:

- Give us your Spirit of wisdom, that we may see even the wisdom of the cross and of suffering and grow through it, we pray:

- Give us the Spirit of justice and love, that we may honestly serve people, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
we bring before you
this bread and this wine.
Change these gifts through your Holy Spirit
into the body and blood of your Son
and change us into a people
in whom your Son dwells
with all his faithfulness and justice,
that we may live in your peace
now and for ever.

Prayer after Communion

God, in this eucharist
we have offered you our good will
and you have given us your Son.
Make us aware of the indigence of our hearts,
that we may see the great things
you can do in us and through us,
and that we may be open to your gifts.
Help us to grow to full stature
and to give the full measure
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

If only Christ would be more alive among us! If only we would truly and fully live his message! If we would only let his Holy Spirit animate us! How all these would change us and our world! May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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Theme: BREAD FOR THE POOR

Readings:
Is 25:6-10; Mt 15:29-37

Introduction

For Isaiah the sign of the messianic times is that through the Messiah God will give to his people an abundance of food and drink. People long for life, for peace. Prisoners want to be free, the blind want to see, the hungry want bread. But likewise, people hunger for consolation, friendship, forgiveness, understanding, acceptance, and justice. These desires are fulfilled when Jesus, the Messiah comes. He gives food to his hungry people. And we, his disciples, have to satisfy the hunger of God's people today. For he acts through us.

Opening Prayer

God of all people,
you know how people hunger and thirst
for truth, love and acceptance.
If we accept you and believe in you
we see our deepest trust and aspirations
being fulfilled by you
as we work for the coming of your kingdom.
Help us to let the cup that you pour for us
overflow on all your people,
that all may praise you
now and for ever.

Scripture Readings

First Reading: Is 25:6-10

On this mountain Yahweh Sabaoth will prepare for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, meat full of marrow, fine wine strained.

On this mountain he will destroy the pall cast over all peoples, this very shroud spread over all nations,and death will be no more. The Lord Yahweh will wipe away the tears from all cheeks and eyes; he will take away the humiliation of his people all over the world:
for Yahweh has spoken.

On that day you will say: This is our God. We have waited for him to save us, let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. For on this mountain the hand of Yahweh rests.

Gospel Reading: Mt 15:29-37

Jesus went to the shore of Lake Galilee, and then went up into the hills where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the dumb, the blind, the lame, the crippled, and many with other infirmities. The people carried them to the feet of Jesus, and he healed them. All were astonished when they saw the dumb speaking, the lame walking, the crippled healed and the blind able to see; so they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus called his disciples and said to them, "I am filled with compassion for these people; they have already followed me for three days and now have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away fasting, or they may faint on the way." His disciples said to him, "And where shall we find enough bread in this wilderness to feed such a crowd?" Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They answered, "Seven, and a few small fish."

So Jesus ordered the people to sit on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the small fish and gave thanks to God. He broke them and gave them to his disciples, who distributed them to the people.

They all ate and were satisfied, and the leftover broken pieces filled seven wicker baskets.

(Commentary)

General Intercessions

- That people everywhere may have open eyes to see and alleviate the miseries and hungers of others, we pray:

- That we may give not only bread or rice to the hungry, but love and justice, we pray:

- That the Lord may help us to look up to him for the food that makes us richer persons, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

God of all people,
Jesus is among us
and he sets for us the bread and the wine
of his total self-giving.
May this holy meal fill us with his Spirit
and make us people
who live not for themselves
but, like Jesus, for others,
even when the cost is high.
May this be our offering to you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

God, our Father,
The Lord for whom we were waiting
has been with us, Jesus, your Son.
He has filled us with rich food
and the joyful wine of himself.
May he put us back on our feet,
that strengthened by this food
we may go out to the poor,
the lame and the weak of our day
to give them the food of our understanding,
of our compassion and our love,
by the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

The sign that Jesus, the Messiah, is present among his people is that the hungry are fed. Among us today, do we feed them? Do we care for people and give them what they need? May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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Theme: GOD, OUR ROCK

Readings:
Is 26:1-6; Mt 7:21, 24-27

Introduction

The first reading comes from an insert in Isaiah that was written in a later period. It speaks of God's judgment and the victory of God over "cities" of sin. But Jerusalem, God's community, God's city, will stand. Those faithful to God can rely on him: he is faithful and solid as a rock.

Those who accept the call and challenge of Jesus' words by living as his disciples are building on rock. This is true both for the individual disciple and for the community of the Church.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
to those who trust in you
and live the gospel of your Son,
you are a dependable rock.
In the storms and tensions of our times,
may our faith never waver,
but give us the courage
to live as we believe,
consistently, radically,
that with your Son we may do your will
and live in your love now and for ever.

Scripture Readings

First Reading: Is 26:1-6

On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
We have a strong city,
he himself has set up
walls and fortifications to protect us.

Open the gates!
Let the righteous nation enter,
she who is firm in faithfulness.
You keep in perfect peace
the one of steadfast mind,
the one who trusts in you.
Trust in Yahweh forever,
for Yahweh is an everlasting Rock.

He brought down those who dwell on high,
he laid low the lofty city,
he razed it to the ground,
leveled it to the dust,
Now it is trampled
the poor and the lowly tread upon it.

Gospel Reading: Mt 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples, "Not everyone who says to me: Lord! Lord! will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my heavenly Father.

"So, then, anyone who hears these words of mine and acts accordingly is like a wise man, who built his house on rock. The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house, but it did not collapse because it was built on rock. But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not act accordingly, is like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house; it collapsed, and what a terrible fall that was!"

(Commentary)

General Intercessions

- That people may find in the faith and love of our Christian communitiesthe support to be faithful to God and to one another, we pray:

- That people who suffer may keep putting their hope in God and find strength in the crucified Christ, we pray:

- That we may learn to trust and rely on one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
accept this bread and this cup
as a token that with your Son
we wish to rely on you.
Give us the Spirit of your Son,
that we may not be swept away
by every fad or novelty.
Keep our faith and trust rooted in you,
and help us to live accordingly,
through Jesus Christ.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
thank you for speaking to us
in the words and deeds of your Son
and strengthening us with his body.
Grant us the wisdom
of a quiet, solid faith
that makes us live as we believe
and which prompts us to support one another
on the way to you.
May we thus give a bit of certainty
to those among us who waver and seek.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

Build your house on rock. Build your life on the Lord and the gospel and you will never be disappointed, for God loves you and stays with you. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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Gospel Commentary (Thursday)

Isaiah praises God: "You keep in perfect peace the one who trusts in you." His proclamation is a Magnificat: God has brought down the high and mighty, leveled their mansions to be trampled by the destitute and oppressed. The gospel uses the same symbol of houses which stand or fall. Jesus has just given an extended teaching: reconcile before worshipping; be faithful in relationships; do not return evil for evil; love your enemies; keep your donations anonymous; don't make a show of religious practices; you cannot serve God and money; don't judge; do to others as you would have them do to you. To live by these values is to build on rock. Christmas is not just for children. He whose birth we celebrate invites all to a high degree of adult maturity and true wisdom - the narrow gate that leads to life.

Theme: THE BLIND WILL SEE

Readings:
Is 29:17-24; Mt 9:27-31

Note. December 6 - St. Nicholas (Santa Claus), Optional Memorial - see also Celebration of Saints

Introduction

In this season of hope, Advent, the word of God gives us a vision of hope. The mighty who rely on their own political power and alliances will be crushed, but the poor, the deaf, the blind, that is, those who still believe in God's presence and action in the world, will see salvation. So promises Isaiah in the name of God.

When we celebrate the eucharist, we profess our faith that God, in fact, begins the fulfillment of this promise in Jesus. He restores the eyesight of the blind because they believe. God has committed himself to the world through Jesus Christ.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you are our light and our help;
notwithstanding our limitations
and all our ambiguities,
we place all our hope in you.
We know that we are weak,
yet that our weakness can be constructive.
We realize that sin is not dead in us,
yet that sinners can serve you.
We are mortal, yet we can live with death
as a dimension of life,
but not as a final obstacle.
God, help us to live with these realities
in faith and hope,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture Readings

First Reading: Is 29:17-24

In a very short time,
Lebanon will become a fruitful field
and the fruitful field will be as a forest.
On that day the deaf will hear the words of the book,
and out of the dark and obscurity
the eyes of the blind will see.

The meek will find joy
and the poor among men will rejoice
in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more
and the scoffers gone forever,
and all who plan
to do evil will be cut down -
those who by a word make a you guilty,
those who for a bribe can lay a snare
and send home the just empty-handed.

Therefore Yahweh, Abraham's redeemer,
speaks concerning the people of Jacob:
No longer will Jacob be ashamed;
no longer will his face grow pale.
When he sees the work of my hands,
his children again in his midst,
they will sanctify my name,
they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,
and stand in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who err in spirit will understand;
those who murmur will learn.

Gospel Reading: Mt 9:27-31

As Jesus moved on from Capernaum, two blind men followed him, shouting, "Son of David, help us!" When he was about to enter the house, the blind men caught up with him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do what you want?" They answered, "Yes, sir!"

Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, "As you have believed, so let it be." And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus gave them a stern warning, "Be careful and let no one know about this." But as soon as they went away, they spread the news about him through the whole area.

(Commentary)

General Intercessions

Let us ask the Lord that we may be always people of joy and hope who live in the love of God.

- That we may learn to see beyond the evils of our time the signs of goodness and mercy, we pray:

- That we may be people who can admire and appreciate whatever is good and beautiful and true, we pray:

- That we may be people who see the needs of others, even unspoken and hidden, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord, God in whom we trust,
in this bread and wine
we celebrate the memory of your Son.
He has shown us in his own life
that obstacles to life and love
cannot be overcome without suffering.
Through him, keep us hoping in you
and in your future for people and our world,
and reassure us that you prepare for us
a table and a feast of joy
that will last for ever.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
in the shadows and struggles of life,
let the body and blood of your Son
be to us a glimpse of light
that you are present in our world
and that you do not despair of people.
Help us to grow
in the new humanity of your Son,
that we may dare all and hope all
and commit ourselves to each other and to you,
who are our God for ever.

Blessing

That God may open our eyes to look at ourselves and this world with eyes of faith. Then there will be little that is dark in life. May the Lord touch the eyes of our hearts and bless us, the Father, and the Son, and the HolySpirit.

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Gospel Commentary (Friday)

Isaiah proclaims that the deaf will hear, the blind will see, the poor will rejoice and the tyrant will be no more. Blindness can sometimes be cured. The blind men in the gospel knew they were blind and strove for healing. To have sight but refuse to see is a much greater blindness, much harder to cure. As Isaiah says, those who plan evil are blind enough to shift their guilt onto the innocent, blind enough to convince themselves that a bribe is just a gift. They scarcely fear to be found out, for they have many ways to avoid being cut down. They can depend on powerful friends who prize mutual gain above truth. And the rest of society? Awed by power and wealth, or in return for a few crumbs from their table, or in despair and fatigue, many choose to turn a blind eye.

Theme: A COMPASSIONATE GOD

Readings:
Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Mt 9:35-10:1, 6-8

Note. December 7 - Feast of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor - see also Celebration of Saints

Introduction

God is compassionate. He cannot let his people suffer. This compassion of God has become visible in the person of Christ.

The Old Testament text, perhaps an elaboration on Isaiah's thoughts by a later author, promises restoration to God's people after their conversion. God will take pity on his people. He promises freedom from evil, sickness, famine, violence, injustice, provided people realize their own poverty and inability to live as they should by their own powers, though God will work these things in people and with people.

In the New Testament, Jesus will go out to encounter us and to help us out. He sends out his Church, even today, to encounter people in their miseries and to alleviate all suffering.

Opening Prayer

God of mercy and compassion,
in your Son Jesus Christ
you have revealed yourself
as a God of people.

Turn our empty hearts to you,
give us eyes to see the depth of our poverty
and our inability to build a better world
with our own resources,
and then come and build it with us
through your Son and our Savior
Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Scripture Readings

First Reading: Is 30:19-21, 23-26

O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. When you cry, he will listen; when he hears, he will answer.

When the Lord has given you the bread of anguish and the water of distress, he, your teacher will hide no longer. Your own eyes will see him, and your ear will listen to his words behind you: "This is the way, walk in it."

He will then give rain for the seed you sow and make the harvest abundant from the crops you grow. On that day your cattle will graze in wide pastures. Your beasts of burden will eat silage tossed to them with pitchfork and shovel.

For on the day of the great slaughter, when fortresses fall, streams of water will flow on every mountain and lofty hill.

The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun seven times greater, like the light of seven days, when Yahweh binds up the wounds of his people and heals the bruises inflicted by his blows.

Gospel Reading: Mt 9:35-10:1, 6-8

Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and he cured every sickness and disease. When he saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest."

Then he called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over the unclean spirits to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.
He said, "Go instead to the lost sheep of the people of Israel.

Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. You received this as a gift, so give it as a gift."

(Commentary)

General Intercessions

Let us pray to the Lord that he may call many to become shepherds willing to continue his work in our Christian communities with zeal and patience.

- That leaders in our communities may be people with a heart, compassionate and patient, we pray:

- That they may proclaim the gospel as good news of joy, justice and love, we pray:

- That they may be living examples of what they preach and teach, so that the message may become credible through them, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord, merciful and loyal God,
at the table of your Son
you dress the wounds of your people
and you fill those who are poor of heart
with the strength of Jesus Christ.
Keep us going, in the certain hope
that with him we can rebuild
what our hands have destroyed
and that he can turn our miseries
into lasting happiness.
This is our prayer
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

God of tenderness and love,
you let your Son encounter us
in the inadequacy of our love.
Through him, present among us,
open our hearts and hands
to all ills and all needs,
to forgive, to bless, to uplift
and to be together the people
who live in your love
and who glory in the name
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

Jesus had compassion on the leaderless crowd. May God give us compassionate hearts that care for people in patience and a spirit of service. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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