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EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 21, n. 2)

Second Sunday of Advent, Year C

December 8, 2024

“JESUS SAVIOR: Through Him All Flesh Shall See

the Salvation of God”

 

 

(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(A moment of silence)

 

SONG: An Advent song, a Eucharistic hymn or another appropriate song may be sung.

 

INTRODUCTION

(Cf. Andre Retif, S.J., in Meditations on the Sunday Gospels, Year C, ed. John Rotelle, New York: New City Press, 1998, p. 16-17)

John’s stay in the desert was simply a burning expectation of the Savior … He continues to be the model of every Christian and every missionary, whom each dawn and each sunset should find awaiting the return of the Son of Man anxiously, but without agitation, joining in that expectation of the last things, which we know throbbed in the heart of early Christians … Together with Mary, whose expectation preceded his own and was superior to it, he is the summit of waiting for the Messiah, and he resembles those peaks on which the sun is already shedding its faint red rays when everywhere else night still reigns.

 

SILENT ADORATION

OPENING PRAYER

Leader: God of power and mercy,

open our hearts in welcome.

Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy,

so that we may share his wisdom

and become one with him

when he comes in glory,

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: Bar 5:1-9

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

SECOND READING: Phil 1:4-6, 8-11

GOSPEL READING: Lk 3:1-6

POINTS FOR REFLECTION

The final words of today’s Gospel passage: “All flesh shall see the salvation of God” are meant to highlight God’s promise of universal salvation. The celebration of Advent entails the missionary task and commitment for the coming of God’s kingdom. The liturgical season of Advent, while it reveals the true, profound and mysterious dimension of the Lord’s coming, delineates likewise the missionary commitment of the Church and of every Christian to work for the advent, or coming, of God’s kingdom. “ADVENIAT REGNUM TUUM” (“Thy kingdom come!”) should be the missionary mantra of every Christian in this Advent season. The Advent celebration is meant to enkindle our apostolic obligation to bring the Good News to those already baptized but who had developed a culture that is not compatible with the Gospel, as well as, to those who have not known Christ explicitly.

In the Church’s Advent mission to bring about the coming of God’s kingdom so that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God”, we have an important paradigm or model: John the Baptist. Indeed, together with the Advent figure, John the Baptist, whose ministry is described by Luke as “the voice crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths”, let us welcome the Word of God that comes to us like a refreshing dew from above. We must allow the Word of God to convert us, mold us and strengthen us; and then let us dedicate ourselves to the task of missionary witnessing.  

 

SONG: A Eucharistic hymn, an Advent song, or any other appropriate one may be sung.

 

Part II

JESUS MASTER WAY

Confrontation with the Word

 

POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART

In our Advent preparation, do we heed the call of the voice of one crying in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths”? Do we remove what impedes grace? Do we prepare the way of grace? Are we a Church “in mission”? Are we a “voice that cries out” so as to proclaim Christ to the world? How do we contribute to the realization of the Advent invocation: “ADVENIAT REGNUM TUUM”? Do we yearn for the fulfillment of the prophetic vision: “All flesh shall see the salvation of God”? In this Advent season, do we strive to imitate John the Baptist as a model of messianic expectation and of a person in mission?

 

PRAYING WITH THE WORD

Father,

we give you thanks through Christ our Lord.

His future coming was proclaimed by all the prophets.

The virgin mother bore him in her womb

with love beyond all telling.

John the Baptist was his herald

and made him known when at last he came.

Christ has filled us with joy

as we prepare to celebrate his birth.

When he comes may he find us watching in prayer,

our hearts filled with wonder and praise.

Heavenly Father,

assist us as we promote the advent of your kingdom

and grant that with your grace at work in us,

we may attain to that prophetic vision:

“All flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

You live and reign,

forever and ever. Amen.

 

SONG: A Eucharistic hymn, an Advent song, or any other appropriate one may be sung.

 

Part III

JESUS LIFE

Acting upon the Word

 

PERSONAL PRAYER

CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Rosary’s Glorious Mysteries may be prayed in part or in full.

 

THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

Leader: With trust and confidence, let us present our petitions to our loving God who gave us the gift of his Son Jesus, the Lord who is to come. Let us say to him:

(R.) LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

1. For the Holy Father’s General Intention for this month of December: for pilgrims of hope. We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthen our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope. We pray: (R.)

2. That there may be an increase of priestly and religious vocations who will give witness to the Christian faith radically. We pray: (R.)

3. That the moral-spiritual fragmentation of today’s society may cease and that in recognizing the Lord God’s authority over us, we may experience “the peace of justice” and the “gathering from the east and the west” of his children. We pray: (R.)

4. That Christian disciples, especially as we look forward to the forthcoming Jubilee Year, may feel the immense energy of the Catholic faith that we “profess, celebrate, live and pray” and be committed to the Advent task of evangelization so that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God”. We pray: (R.)

6. That we may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ’s final “advent” and be filled with the fruit of righteousness that redounds to the glory and praise of the heavenly Father. We pray: (R.)

7. That the homeless and the unemployed, those experiencing moral distress and financial crisis, the poor and the marginalized, the sick and the afflicted, the victims of abuse and various addictions, may be blessed by the “advent” of Christ’s gift of healing and total liberation, and the peace and justice he brings. We pray: (R.)

(Other prayers may be added.)

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER

CONCLUDING PRAYER  

Leader: Lord,

we are nothing without you.

Sustain us with your mercy

as we prepare for the advent of your Son

who will make radiant the night of the waiting world.

Assembly: Amen.

 

FINAL SONG: A Eucharistic hymn, or any other appropriate song, may be sung.

 

 

 

 

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EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 21, n. 3)

Third Sunday of Advent, Year C

December 15, 2024

“JESUS SAVIOR: John the Baptist Was His Prophet”

 

 

(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(A moment of silence)

 

SONG: An Advent song, a Eucharistic hymn or another appropriate song may be sung.

 

INTRODUCTION

(Cf. Jean Vanier in Meditations on the Sunday Gospels, Year C, ed. John Rotelle, New York: New City Press, 1998, p. 18-19)

It was into a confused and conflict situation, where anger and despair were smoldering, that a man called John appeared. He was a prophet … John dressed like a prophet, in camel’s hair, not with the flowing garments of the Pharisees. John ate like a prophet, locusts and wild honey. John cried out like a prophet, shouting the word of God will all its force and truth, its simplicity and directness, issuing severe warnings: if people did not change their ways, if they did not repent, they would be punished, eaten up by fire.

 

SILENT ADORATION

 

OPENING PRAYER

Leader: Lord God,

may we, your people,

who look forward to the birthday of Christ

experience the joy of salvation

and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving.

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.

 

 

Part I

JESUS MASTER TRUTH

Listening to the Word

 

FIRST READING: Zep 3:14-18a

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

SECOND READING: Phil 4:4-7

GOSPEL READING: Lk 3:10-18

 

POINTS FOR REFLECTION

           The joy of Advent is not passivity. In order to bring about the advent of God’s kingdom on earth, the people of messianic expectation must ask the question “What should we do?” as the crowds, tax collectors and soldiers asked John the Baptist. His response emphasized a practical spirituality rather than a high mysticism. John the Baptist did not prescribe ritual sacrifice or oblige ascetical practices but challenged them to a more radical response: a selfless concern for the disadvantaged poor. Moreover, he demanded just and responsible behavior from the tax collectors and soldiers. Indeed, as salvation is for all classes of people, so the practice of justice and charity is a moral imperative in every walk of life. Our charity for our less fortunate brothers and sisters and our active concern for God’s beloved creation are a necessary preparation for the coming of the Messiah, the servant of justice and the Lord of creation.

 

SONG: A Eucharistic hymn, an Advent song, or any other appropriate one may be sung.

 

Part II

JESUS MASTER WAY

Confrontation with the Word

 

POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART

In the Church’s preparation for the Lord’s definitive coming, do we seek to translate our Advent invocation “ADVENIAT REGNUM TUUM” into an expression of effective concern by asking: “WHAT SHOULD WE DO?” Does our joyful hope in the coming of the Messiah, the servant of justice and the Lord of creation, prove itself in acts of justice and works of charity, and care for the earth? Do we imitate the messianic witness of John the Baptist who “preached the good news to the people”? Do we respond to his challenge of practical spirituality that we may “prepare the way of the Lord”?    

PRAYING WITH THE WORD

Lord Jesus,

as we prepare for your definitive coming at the end time

and as we welcome your daily advent in our lives,

teach us “what we should do”

so that we may truly be a people of the new covenant

and messengers of hope to the poor and the oppressed.

Help us to care for the earth.

The earth forms the basic raw material for humankind

and the substance for the incarnation of God’s Son.

In our care for the earth

and in deeds of compassion and mercy,

may we be a “sacrament” of the final advent of your Kingdom

where you live and reign forever and ever.

Amen.   

 

SONG: A Eucharistic hymn, an Advent song, or any other appropriate one may be sung.

 

Part III

JESUS LIFE

Acting upon the Word

 

PERSONAL PRAYER

CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Rosary’s Glorious Mysteries may be prayed in part or in full.

 

THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

Leader: With trust and confidence, let us present our petitions to our loving God who gave us the gift of his Son Jesus, the Lord who is to come. Let us say to him:

(R.) LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

1. For the Holy Father’s General Intention for this month of December: for pilgrims of hope. We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthen our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope. We pray: (R.)

2. That the rampant cases of violence in contemporary society may cease and that Christian disciples may seek to turn discouraged hearts to God and find joy and healing in him. We pray: (R.)

3. That as people of Advent expectation we do what is right and commit ourselves to works of justice and peace, and the integration of creation. We pray: (R.)

4. That we may leave behind our useless anxieties and learn to rejoice in the Lord, and that the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard our minds and hearts in Christ Jesus. We pray: (R.)

5. That the sick may rejoice in the experience of healing, that the poor and hungry may find gladness in human solidarity and divine providence, and that those fragmented in spirit and moral values may find the joy of integrity. We pray: (R.)

 

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 forever and ever.

Assembly: Amen.

 

FINAL SONG: A Eucharistic hymn, or any other appropriate song, may be sung.

 

 

 

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Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang, PDDM

 

 

PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI

SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER

3700 North Cornelia Avenue, Fresno, CA 93722 (USA)

Tel (559) 275-1656