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First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11
"Be comforted, my people,
be strengthened," says your God.
"Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, proclaim to her
that her time of bondage is at an end,
that her guilt has been paid for,
that from the hand of Yahweh
she has received double punishment
for all her iniquity."
A voice cries,
"In the wilderness prepare the way for Yahweh.
Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley will be raised up;
every mountain and hill will be laid low.
The stumbling blocks shall become level
and the rugged places smooth.
The glory of Yahweh will be revealed,
and all mortals together will see it;
for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken."
Go up onto the high mountain, messenger of Zion,
lift up your voice with strength,
fear not to cry aloud when you tell Jerusalem
and announce to the cities of Judah:
"Here is your God!"
Here comes your God with might;
his strong arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
and here before him is his booty.
Like a shepherd he tends his flock:
he gathers the lambs in his arms,
he carries them in his bosom,
gently leading those that are with young.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14
R./ Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the Lord — for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R./ Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R./ Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
The Lord himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and prepare the way of his steps.
R./ Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Second Reading: 2nd Peter 3:8-14
Do not forget, brothers and sisters, that with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. The Lord does not delay in fulfilling his promise, though some speak of delay; rather he gives you time because he does not want anyone to perish, but that all may come to conversion. The Day of the Lord is to come like a thief. Then the heavens will dissolve with a great noise; the elements will melt away by fire, and the earth with all that is on it will be burned up.
Since all things are to vanish, how holy and religious your way of life must be, as you wait for the Day of God and long for its coming, when the heavens will dissolve in fire and the elements melt away in the heat. We wait for a new heaven and a new earth in which justice reigns, according to God's promise.
Therefore, beloved, as you wait in expectation of this, strive that God may find you rooted in peace, without blemish or fault.
Gospel Reading: Mark 1:1-8
This is the beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in the book of Isaiah, the prophet, "I am sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare your way. Let the people hear the voice calling in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, level his paths."
So John began to baptize in the desert; he preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. All Judea and all the people from the city of Jerusalem went out to John to confess their sins and be baptized by him in the river Jordan.
John was clothed in camel's hair and wore a leather garment around his waist. His food was locusts and honey. He preached to the people saying, "After me comes one who is more powerful than I am; I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. As for me, I am not worthy to bend down and untie his sandals."
2nd Sunday of ADVENT (B)
Preparation
The Family assigned to light the ADVENT CANDLE
assembles in the front seat.
The Cantor sings / says the Verse
The Choir leads the Assembly in singing / saying the Response
When the Ministers are ready to begin the Procession
the CM says: Please STAND.
C The Spirit and the Church cry out:
All Come, Lord Jesus!
C All those who await his appearance pray:
All Come, Lord Jesus!
C The whole creation pleads:
All Come, Lord Jesus!
[pause]
CM As we await Christ's coming let us sing our Gathering Song:
The Ministers begin the procession
Presider kisses the altar and stands near the Wreath.
Sanctuary Assistants with Clear Book and Microphone are in attendance.
Other Ministers proceed to usual places.
Sign of the Cross
Greeting
Praised be Jesus our Lord
whose coming is announced by John the Baptist!
May you prepare for Jesus a straight path,
and may his peace and love be with you.
And also with you.
LIGHTING OF ADVENT WREATH
Assigned family ascends the steps and lights the 1st and 2nd candle on ADVENT WREATH.
While they do this the Presider says slowly at the appropriate time:
P: As we light the Advent wreath,
let us pray that God's power may prepare
our hearts and our world
for the advent of the kingdom,
the dawning of God's day of righteousness and peace.
The family members now return to their seat.
The Presider may proceed to the Chair
or stay beside the wreath until the Liturgy of the Word.
Introduction and Litany of Praise
Option A
In today's liturgy we hear again the lonely voice
of John the Baptist urging us to prepare a way
for the Lord. Let us create a space in our minds
and hearts so that the Lord can come
to us in this Eucharist. [pause]
John began his mission with a call to repentance.
Jesus repeats his call to us today. [pause]
You sent John the Baptist as a herald to announce your coming:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
You tell us to show by our actions that we are indeed repentant:
Christ, have mercy:
Christ, have mercy.
You send your Holy Spirit to change our hearts and give us life:
Lord, have mercy:
Lord, have mercy.
Option B
Today the voice of John the Baptizer
comes to us out of the wilderness
calling us to a change of heart to prepare
for the one who is to come.
In joyful expectation, let us call out to the Christ,
who is our salvation. [pause]
You came as herald of the good tidings of God's mercy.
Lord, come and save us.
Lord, come and save us.
You come to baptize in the Holy Spirit a people to be your own:
Christ, come and save us:
Christ, come and save us:
You will come to establish a 'new heavens and a new earth'
where righteousness will be at home:
Lord, come and save us.
Lord, come and save us.
Opening Prayer
Option A
With tender comfort and transforming power
you come into our midst,
O God of mercy and might.
Make ready a way in the wilderness,
clear a straight path in our hearts,
and form us into a repentant people,
that the advent of your Son
may find us watchful and eager for the glory he reveals.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.
Option B
O God of all consolation,
to us who journey as pilgrims through time
you have promised new heavens and a new earth.
Open our eyes to the One who comes into our midst,
that by lives of holiness and service
we may hasten the coming of that day
and be found at peace when at last it dawns.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who was, who is and who is to come,
your Son who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
P Let us entrust ourselves and our concerns to the God of all consolation,
who feeds his flock and gathers the lambs in his arms.
With confidence we pray:
CM Come, Lord Jesus, come. (Please repeat)
That those who minister to the flock[The Presider may add a Petition that is local / relevant]
P Almighty God,
stir up our hearts to prepare the way of your beloved Son,
so that when he comes we may be found watching and waiting.
This we ask through the same Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Prayer over the Gifts
Grant, O Lord,
that the gifts we present
may be pleasing in your eyes.
Make us watchful and faithful
as we await the coming of your Son our Lord;
that, when he shall appear,
he may find us active in his service
and joyful in his praise.
We ask this in the name of the same Christ our Lord. AMEN
Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer
Option A
God does not delay his promise.
With trust we pray to him the prayer of Jesus our Lord:
Our Father ...
Option B
Our time of slavery is ended; God has come to save us.
We need have no fear then, if we claim God as Our Father:
Our Father ...
Deliver us Lord
Deliver us Lord, from every evil
and give us dedicated men and women
to work for 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 coming among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Prayer for Peace
Through Isaiah, the Lord says:
"Comfort, O comfort my people.
Do not fear.
Here is your God!"
Inspired by these words, Lord Jesus,
we look forward to the time
when there will be peace and unity in your kingdom
where you live for ever and ever.
Exchange of Peace
The Baptizer pointed the way to Christ.
Let us acknowledge Christ in each other as we offer a sign of peace.
Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’
P Now let us break the bread of life
remembering the words of Jesus:
"See, I am coming soon." (Rev.27:7)
And let us answer:
A "Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!" (1 Cor. 16:22)v.
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus, the Lamb of God.
It is he who is coming to save us.
Blessed are we who have been invited to his banquet:
Lord, I am not worthy…
Prayer after Communion
Lord, God of hope,
in this Eucharist we have again celebrated
the coming of your Son in our midst.
Let this brief encounter with him
refresh and restore us
that we may become humble road-signs
to a justice, a peace, a dignity and joy
that far surpasses our powers.
Al this we ask through Christ our Lord. AMEN
Blessing
May the God of consolation open our hearts to welcome him. AMEN.
May God remove all that hinders us from receiving him with joy. AMEN.
May we hasten the coming of the day of God. AMEN.
And may God bless you,
+ the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
Dismissal
Option A
All through the coming week
let us do our part in preparing the way for the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Option B
Go forth in peace to prepare the way of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
