EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 3)
A Weekly Pastoral Tool for the YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST
Third Week of Advent, Year A
December 12-18, 2004
“The One to Come”
(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(A moment of silence)
SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or Advent song may be sung.
WORDS OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
(From the Encyclical Letter, Ecclesia de Eucharstia, n. 20)
A significant consequence of the eschatological tension inherent in the Eucharist is also the fact that it spurs us on our journey through history and plants a seed of living hope in our daily commitment to the work before us. Certainly the Christian vision leads to the expectation of “new heavens” and “a new earth” (Rev 21:1), but this increases, rather than lessens, our sense of responsibility for the world today. I wish to reaffirm this forcefully at the beginning of the new millennium, so that Christians will feel more obliged than ever not to neglect their duties as citizens in this world. Theirs is the task of contributing with the light of the Gospel to the building of a more human world, a world fully in harmony with God’s plan. Many problems darken the horizon of our time. We need but think of the urgent need to work for peace, to base relationships between peoples on solid premises of justice and solidarity, and to defend human life from conception to its natural end. And what should we say of the thousand inconsistencies of a “globalized” world where the weakest, the most powerless and the poorest appear to have so little hope! It is in this world that Christian hope must shine forth! For this reason too, the Lord wished to remain with us in the Eucharist.
SILENT ADORATION AND PRAYER
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Let us pray that in the Year of the Eucharist
we may proclaim the Gospel of joy
and contribute to the building of a more human world,
a world fully in harmony with God’s plan.
(Brief silence)
Loving Father,
you have given us the vision and promise
of “new heavens” and “a new earth” (Rev 21:1) at the end time.
You have also planted in our hearts
the seed of living hope and faithful love
that enables us to share in the life-giving mission
of Jesus Christ, your beloved Son.
As the messianic fulfillment of “the one who is to come”,
Jesus continues to be present to us
in the here and now of our daily history.
Grant us the grace to give a courageous witness
of our Christian identity in today’s troubled world.
O most gracious Father,
help us to be sensitive to the weakest,
the most powerless and the poorest in our land.
They long for salvation
and yearn intensely for Christ’s healing touch,
the light of his hope and the warmth of his love.
Help us to continue Jesus’ saving works
of healing, conferring blessing and proclaiming the Gospel joy to the poor.
May we commit ourselves to the building up
of a more humane and compassionate world,
a world fully in harmony with your benevolent plan
of restoring all things in Christ, your Son.
He lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening To the Word
GOSPEL READING: Mt 11:2-11
PERSONAL REFLECTION
(As a tool for personal reflection, please visit the PDDM Website: www.pddm.org // www.pddm.us for BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (# 3): A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy . The Biblico-Liturgical Reflections are an aid for a deeper understanding of the Gospel reading.)
SONG: Any Advent hymn or suitable song of praise may be sung.
Part II
JESUS MASTER WAY
Confrontation with the Word
POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
Leader: Today’s Gospel presents Jesus as the radically new and perfect model of the savior-figure based primarily on mercy and compassion. He realized the messianic expectations of ancient prophets about “the one who is to come”. Like the messianic precursor, John the Baptist, let us turn to Christ and delve into his identity as the saving Messiah. In discovering more deeply the person of Christ, we discover our true identity as “Christians”. In light of the Gospel we have heard, let us now examine our hearts with regards to our relationship with Christ and our personal identity.
1. Are there moments when our messianic expectations concretized in the person of Jesus are frustrated? Do we thus challenge him with the blunt question: “Are you the one who is to come or should we look for another?” (Mt 11:3)?
2. Do we continue to “hear and see” the following messianic miracles in daily life: “the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them” (Mt 11:4-5)? Why, how and in what way do these miracles continue to exist?
3. How do we relive the prophetic mission of John the Baptist in our life as Christian disciples? Especially in this Advent season, how do we “prepare the way of the Lord” (Mt 11:10)?
PENITENTIAL PRAYER
Leader: Lord, you are the defender of the poor: Lord, have mercy.
Assembly: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: Christ, you are the consolation of the weak: Christ, have mercy.
Assembly: Christ, have mercy.
Leader: Lord, you are the hope of sinners: Lord, have mercy.
Assembly: Lord, have mercy.
SONG: Any suitable song may be sung.
Part III
JESUS LIFE
Acting upon the Word
PERSONAL PRAYER
CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Mysteries of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.
THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
Leader: Pope John Paul II, in his Apostolic Letter, “Mane Nobiscum Domine” exhorts us: “Can we not make this Year of the Eucharist an occasion for diocesan and parish communities to commit themselves in a particular way to responding with fraternal solicitude to one of the many forms of poverty present in our world? I think for example of the tragedy of hunger which plagues hundreds of millions of human beings, the diseases which afflict developing countries, the loneliness of the elderly, the hardships faced by the unemployed, the struggles of immigrants. These are evils which are present – albeit to a different degree – even in areas of immense wealth. We cannot delude ourselves: by our mutual love and, in particular, by our concern for those in need we will be recognized as true followers of Christ. This will be the criterion by which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations is judged.”
In the spirit of solidarity with all of humanity and with the use of news briefs, let us now make our prayers of intercession for the world.
1. STORMS DEVASTATE PHILIPPINES: The number of dead or missing totaled nearly 1,000 today (December 3) from the flash floods and landslides that have devastated a large section of the northern Philippines and forced nearly 170,000 people to flee their homes to higher ground. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo blamed illegal logging for the severity of the landslides and flash floods that have resulted from the storms. (SILENT PRAYER)
2. DUTCH HOSPITAL CARRYING OUT EUTHANASIA FOR TERMINALLY ILL BABIES: A hospital in the Netherlands – the first nation to permit euthanasia – recently proposed guidelines for mercy killings of terminally ill newborns, and then made a startling revelation: It already has begun carrying out such procedures, which include administering a lethal dose of sedatives. Roman Catholic organizations and the Vatican have reacted with outrage to the announcement. (SILENT PRAYER)
3. ORANGE COUNTY CLERGY-ABUSE CASE SETTLED: Attorneys for the Diocese of Orange and alleged victims of clergy abuse said late Thursday that they reached a settlement of 87 claims against the Roman Catholic Church, ending two years of negotiations and marking the first group clergy-abuse settlement in California. “I want to take this opportunity to again extend on behalf of the Diocese of Orange and myself a sincere apology, a quest for forgiveness, and a heartfelt hope for reconciliation and healing,” Bishop Tod D. Brown said in a prepared statement. (SILENT PRAYER)
4. POPE OFFERS PRAYERS AND HOPE FOR PEACE ON THE DEATH OF THE PALESTINIAN LEADER, YASSER ARAFAT: The Holy Father prays to the Prince of Peace that the star of harmony will soon shine on the Holy Land and that the two Peoples dwelling therein may live reconciled among themselves as two independent and sovereign States. (SILENT PRAYER)
5. THE HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR DECEMBER 2004 (GENERAL): That children may be considered as precious gifts of God and may be given due respect, understanding and love. (SILENT PRAYER)
6. THE HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR DECEMBER 2004 (MISSIONARY): That Jesus Christ’s Incarnation may be the model of genuine inculturation of the Gospel. (SILENT PRAYER)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
ever faithful to your promises
and ever close to your Church:
the earth rejoices in hope of the Savior’s coming
and looks forward with longing
to his return at the end time.
Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness
that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope
which his presence will bestow,
for he is Lord for ever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or Advent song may be sung.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US