EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 2, n. 4)
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B
December 18-24, 2005
“The Kingdom Shall Endure”
(+) 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 any appropriate song may be sung.
WORDS OF VENERABLE BEDE
The angel came to her and said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.” The angel refers to the kingdom of the Israelite nation as the throne of David because in his time, by the Lord’s command and assistance, David governed it with a spirit of faithful service. The Lord gave to our Redeemer the throne of his father David, when he decreed that he should take flesh from the lineage of David. As David had once ruled the people with temporal authority, so Christ now leads them to the eternal kingdom by his spiritual grace … By faith and love he dwells in the hearts of his elect, and guides them by his unceasing care towards their heavenly reward. In the life to come, when their period of exile on earth is ended, he will exercise his kingship by leading the faithful to their heavenly country. There, forever inspired by the vision of his presence, their one delight will be to praise and glorify him.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Let us pray as Advent draws to a close,
that Christ will truly come into our hearts.
(Pause for silent prayer.)
Lord,
fill our hearts with your love,
and as you revealed to us by an angel
the coming of your Son as man,
so lead us through his suffering and death
to the glory of his resurrection,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
FIRST READING: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
GOSPEL READING: Lk 1:26-38
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 [Series 4, n. 4]: 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 Eucharistic 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: We open our hearts to listen to the promptings of the living Word. Let us ask ourselves with limpid honesty:
1. Like Mary, the virgin of Nazareth, are we ready to receive the “Good News of salvation” and say “yes” to God’s saving plan?
2. Do we believe that in the person of the Word made flesh, conceived by Mary of Nazareth and born of David’s lineage, God’s promise of faithful love and eternal kingdom is radically fulfilled? Do we trust that we too are part and parcel of this promise?
3. On this Advent Sunday before Christmas, do we face the responsibility of making the spirit of Christmas alive in an increasingly secularized world? Do we embrace the duty of being heralds of God’s promise and eternal kingdom of justice and society in a society that is warped with evil, violence and sadness?
AN ADVENT PSALM
(Courtesy of Fr. Raymond Bodson, CICM of the CICM Justice, Peace, and Integration of Creation Commission, Philippines)
Awaken, my heart,
God’s reign is near.
The Peaceable Kingdom is in my hands.
If the wolf can be the guest of the lamb,
and the bear and cow be friends,
then no injury or hate can be a guest
within the kingdom of my heart.
Eden’s peace and harmony will only return
when first,
in my heart, there hides no harm or ruin;
for the Peaceable Kingdom is in my hands.
Isaiah’s dream became Jesus’ vision:
“Come, follow me.”
Emmanuel’s echo rings,
“Reform your life, recover Eden’s peace.”
For only then will salvation appear.
For Advent’s dream is the healing of earth,
when the eagle and bear become friends,
the child and the serpent playmates.
Arise, awaken, my heart,
the Peaceable Kingdom is in your hands.
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 Light of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.
THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
(From the Liturgy of the Hours)
Leader: Let us pray to God our Father who sent his Son to save mankind:
(R.) SHOW US YOUR MERCY, LORD!
1. Father most merciful, we confess our faith in your Christ with our words; keep us from denying him in our actions. (R.)
2. You have sent your Son to rescue us; remove every sorrow from the face of the earth and from our country. (R.)
3. Our land looks forward with delight at the approach of your Son; let it experience the fullness of your joy. (R.)
4. Through your mercy make us live holy and chaste lives in this world, eagerly awaiting the blessed hope and coming of Christ in glory. (R.)
5. In Jesus, the hope of all expectations, your promise of faithful love and eternal kingdom is radically fulfilled; grant that by our words and deeds, we may give witness to the world that we are part and parcel of that promise. (R.)
6. Mary, virgin of Nazareth, is the model of total receptivity to your saving plan; may we always say “yes” to your most gracious will. (R.)
7. The whole world is in need of your saving love; may we be instruments in accomplishing your divine promise. Give us the grace and strength to promote your eternal kingdom of justice and peace in a world warped with evil, violence and sadness. (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Father,
we contemplate the annunciation of the birth of your Son
to the most humble Virgin Mary of Nazareth.
All that you have promised to her
through the message of the angel
has been accomplished.
May we be joyful heralds of your saving word.
Give us the grace we need to promote zealously
your eternal kingdom of justice and peace in today’s world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or song of praise 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