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Opening Prayer
O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one god, for ever and ever. AMEN.
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The Readings
Reading 1 IS 61:1-2A, 10-11
The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God. I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and rapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise spring up before all the nations.
Reading 2 1 THES 5:16-24
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil. May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.
Gospel JN 1:6-8, 19-28
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said. ”Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The Homily
Please click on the video link below to watch the homily for this week.
The Prayers of the Faithful
For the Church, that our words and actions may testify to the light, so that others may realize the goodness of God in what we say and do. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.
That justice and peace may spring up before all nations. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.
For prophets of our time, who boldly proclaim the truth as they stand up for what is right and good, and worthy. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.
For our Jewish brothers and sisters, who have begun celebrating Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.
For the poor, the brokenhearted, captives, and prisoners, that they may know a year of favor from the Lord. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.
That we may heed the words of Saint Paul and retain what is good and refrain from every kind of evil as we await the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.
For all who have been affected by COVID19, may God’s healing presence be comfort to them and bring health and well-being. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.
For the departed, who remain with us in our prayers and our memories, and for the promise of a joyful reunion, and especially for: Caroline Lupori, Sarah Alvarez, and Diane G. Ghattas. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.
For Ethaniel Gonzalez, who is receiving First Holy Communion today,
that as Jesus welcomes us to His Table, He may fill us with many blessings and spiritual gifts. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.
Sunday Offertory
Spiritual Communion
In many places in the world receiving Holy Communion is not possible. Catholics in these areas are encouraged to make “Spiritual Communion.” St.Teresa of Jesus wrote about this practice:
“When you do not receive communion and you do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you”
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Closing Prayer
We implore your mercy, Lord, that this divine sustenance may cleanse us of our faults and prepare us for the coming feasts. Through Christ our Lord. AMEN.
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