Sunday December 8, 2024
Second Sunday of Advent Year C
Office: Psalter Week 2, Te Deum
Mass prop. Creed. Preface of Advent 1
Vestment: Purple
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
Vespers II of the 2nd Sunday of Advent
CALABAR: Tomorrow is the 34th Anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Most Revd J. Ekuwen, 9th Dec. 1989.
THEME OF THE SUNDAY: He Comes to Bring Salvation to Every Person. The readings of today speak of the merciful interventions of God in favour of humankind. In the first reading his salvation is manifested through the return of the exiled Jews to Jerusalem. Luke in the gospel explains how the promises of salvation made by the prophets came true. He tells us, “It all began when the word of God was addressed to a man named John, son of Zechariah, in the desert” and he tells us when exactly it took place. In the second reading the apostle refers to the merciful intervention of God when he tells us of the “day of Christ,” that is, of his coming in the life of each person.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Cf. Is 30: 19, 30
O people of Sion, behold, the Lord will come to save the nations, and the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart.
COLLECT
Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heavenly wisdom gain us admittance to his company. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
FIRST READING
“God will show your splendour.”
A reading from the Book of Baruch (Baruch 5: 1-9)
Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on for ever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of the righteousness from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting. For God will show your splendour everywhere under heaven. For your name will for ever be called by God, “Peace of righteousness and glory of godliness.” Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height and look towards the east, and see your children gathered from west and east, at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. For they went forth from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne. For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God’s command. For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 126:1-2ab.2cd-3.4-5.6 (R. cf. 3)
R/. What great deeds the Lord has worked for us! Indeed, we were glad.
When the Lord brought back the exiles of Sion,
we thought we were dreaming.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter;
on our tongues, songs of joy. R/.
Then the nations themselves said,
“What great deeds the LORD worked for them!”
What great deeds the Lord worked for us!
Indeed, we were glad R/.
R/. What great deeds the Lord has worked for us! Indeed, we were glad.
Bring back our exiles, O Lord,
as streams in the south.
Those who are sowing in tears
will sing when they reap. R/.
They go out, they go out, full of tears,
bearing seed for the sowing;
they come back, they come back with a song,
bearing their sheaves. R/.
SECOND READING
“Be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 1:4-6.5- 11)
Brethren: Always in every prayer of mine for you all I make my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Luke 3:4.6
Alleluia. Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight: all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“All flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 3: 1-6)
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness; and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Creed (I Believe)
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
During this season of Advent, the church invites us to prepare the way of the Lord and to make his paths straight. Let us pray for the grace to positively respond to this call and for our other needs.
FOR THE CHURCH: that she may continue to stand as light and hope to all nations, so that through her, those who do not believe in Christ may be led to embrace the Christian faith. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR THOSE IN CIVIL AUTHORITY: that they may continue to seek the good of all those they have been called to serve and that, through them, justice and peace may reign in our land. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST HOPE IN GOD: that they may be led out of their despair and be given the grace to place their hope in Christ for whom nothing is impossible. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR THIS WORSHIPPING COMMUNITY: that, in the world, we may become shining examples of that virtuous life that God has called all to live. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR OTHER INTENTIONS: (the sick, church projects or other activities).
FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. Let us pray to the Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
Celebrant:
Lord, in your mercy and love, prepare our hearts for the coming of your son, the savior of the world. Guide and guard us in our thoughts and actions, and lead us to the realization of our Christian calling. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Lord, your precursor is already on the scene. His mission is to prepare the way for your entry into our midst as our Saviour. God’s word that John received in the desert now resounds disturbingly in the whole territory where he began his mission. John’s invitation shakes me out of my lethargy. I realize the need for true conversion in my own life. I need to admit that I am basically selfish and that I fall far short of what God wanted me to be when He gave me the gift of life. Despite experiencing your closeness to me many times, I see that my life still is a tangle of loose ends and shattered promises. At John’s bidding, let me face up to the brokenness of my life. But, Lord, I am utterly helpless in terms of repairing my life which, at times, is even woefully disordered. I know that no amount of will-power and self-discipline can do that Job. Only by the power of your Holy Spirit can I purge my heart of selfishness and greed.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL
MY ANNUAL SPIRITUAL CHECK-UP IN ADVENT
There is no better time than now to have a spiritual cheek-up for our souls as we prepare for the coming of Our Lord this Advent Season. The idea behind this exercise is to re-examine ourselves, and make amends with God and put ourselves alright with Him.
When you go through this, remember it is designed to expose grey areas in our souls. This exercise is within the four Sundays of Advent, kindly avail yourself and your family of this opportunity.
USE THE FOLLOWING LISTS AS GUIDE TO EXAMINE YOUR LIFE BEFORE THE LORD. Please, take each one slowly and meditate on it carefully now and throughout the week.
LYING – “Any designed form of deception for selfish reasons”. If you design to make an impression contrary to the naked truth, you have lied. Have you been deceitful? (Rev. 21:8)
SLANDER – Speaking evil of someone. Have you talked about someone behind their back in a way you would not be willing to before their face? Malicious gossip – telling the truth with intent to hurt or injure is slander. Are you guilty of backbiting or criticism? (Matt. 7:1-5; I Cor. 5:12; Col.3:8; Matt. 5:21-24)
HYPERCRITICAL – Have you spoken about others without love? Did you judge and nag at every instance, think or say the worst thing about a person in a situation you knew? (Jn. 7:24; I Cor.4:1-7; Gal. 6:1)
MEDICATION NEEDED?
Note that, “If we confess our sins, He is FAITHFUL and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1 Jn. 1:9) Will you go to your gracious and loving Father as a little child and humbly ask His forgiveness?
The LORD is merciful and gracious…He has not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities, “For as the heaven is above the earth, so great is His mercy towards them that fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” (Ps. 103:12)
Please also go to yourself to confession from a priest
Let Us Pray (Please go down on your kneels and pray for forgiveness)
“Oh God, You know my foolishness, and my sin is not concealed from You…please pardon my iniquity, for it is great…If you, Lord, would mark iniquities, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.” (Ps. 69:5; 25:11; 130:3-4) look with pity on me, your humble servant, and have mercy in Jesus name.
Mary my dearest mother pray to Jesus for me.
