Today, 4th of December, we celebrate
Saint John Damascene

The daily Word of God

December 24, 2024

Advent Weekday (December 24)

Lk 1:67-79 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has come and redeemed his people."

First Reading: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

When King David was settled in his palace,
and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet,
"Here I am living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of God dwells in a tent!"
Nathan answered the king,
"Go, do whatever you have in mind,
for the LORD is with you."
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
"Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD:
Should you build me a house to dwell in?

"‘It was I who took you from the pasture
and from the care of the flock
to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went,
and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel;
I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
without further disturbance.
Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
I will give you rest from all your enemies.
The LORD also reveals to you
that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his Kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.'"

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

R./ For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R./ For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

"I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations."
R./ For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

"He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the rock, my savior.'
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm."
R./ For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Gospel Reading: Lk 1:67-79

Zechariah, filled with holy spirit, sang this canticle,
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has come and redeemed his people.
He has raised up for us a victorious Savior
in the house of David his servant,
as he promised through his prophets of old,
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of our foes.

He has shown mercy to our fathers
and remembered his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to Abraham, our father,
to deliver us from the enemy,
that we might serve him fearlessly
as a holy and righteous people
all the days of our lives.

And you, my child,
shall be called prophet of the Most High,
for you shall go before the Lord
to prepare the way for him
and enable his people to know of their salvation
when he comes to forgive their sins.

This is the work of the mercy of our God,
who comes from on high as a rising sun
shining on those who live in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
and guiding our feet into the way of peace."

Introduction

The promise made by the Lord was finally fulfilled with the birth of Jesus… God would set his people free by no less than his own Son. Was the promise finally fulfilled? It was the beginning of the fulfillment. Everything was there to make it real and effective, except the people who would have to put it into practice. For God created us free, and that means he relies on us, on our acceptance and cooperation, on our love. We have to let God make his peace and love come true among us. With and through Jesus. That’s why he came among us as one of us. Here I am, human like you. Look at me and see how it is to be done. Do it with me. I am with you and stay with you to give you the strength. Come, let’s begin. Now.

Opening Prayer

Lord, loving and mighty God,
you fulfilled your promise to save us
when Jesus, your Son, became one of us.
We are no longer in the dark,
for you let your light shine on us.
Bring us your salvation now,
set us really free from our sins,
let us become fully human with Jesus
and go with him in your way of peace and love.
Let him be our strength,
our constant companion on the road,
that through him and growing in his humanity,
we may be your beloved sons and daughters.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

General Intercessions

– For people who are hard and demanding, that God may make us sensitive to others and compassionate, we pray:

– For those who feel especially these days how lonely and fearful they are, that their brothers and sisters in the Lord may bring them support and warmth, we pray:

– For people who feel how empty their lives are, that they may find the Lord and learn from him how love and service can enrich them, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God, our Father,
we join Jesus your Son in his feast meal
of the bread and wine of himself,
that we may become more and more like him
and live the way he lived.
Let a new era begin now;
let this food and drink make us free
to create peace among people,
to bring justice and love to our world,
and to walk together on the way
to your home of joy without end.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

Prayer after Communion

God, our merciful Father,
we have heard the Good News of your Son
and we ask you to fulfill it in us today.
Do not allow us to be still afraid
of committing ourselves to your dream
of a new heaven and a new earth.
Let the Spirit of Jesus be alive in us,
that everywhere there may be light instead of the dark,
justice where there is discrimination and inhumanity,
love where there is hatred.
Let your Son live and stay with us,
now and till we safely reach your home,
for Jesus is our Lord for ever. Amen.

Blessing

Blessed be the Lord our God who shows us his mercy and takes us up into his covenant of love. All praise to him. You, and all who are dear to you, receive the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.