Liturgical Leaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

4 December 2022 2nd Sunday of Advent Year A

CATHOLIC HANDICAPPED DAY / NATIONAL AIDS SUNDAY

Prepare the Way of the Lord!

A s we progress in our spiritual pilgrimage toward the shrine of Jesus’ man-
ger, on this Second Sunday of Advent, St. John the Baptist reminds us that
we need to prepare ourselves adequately for our encounter with the Lord.
We must prove the seriousness of our resolve to change for the better, each of us
in our own situation.
St. Paul gives us some practical tips about what this preparation can mean, as
he invites us to live in perfect harmony with one another, accepting one another
as Christ has accepted us. Only on these conditions shall we be able to glorify
God with one voice and one heart as loving children should, particularly in this
Advent season.
Today is also National AIDS Sunday and Catholic Handicapped Day. Let
this be an opportunity for us not only to pray for those who are victimized by
HIV/AIDS, but also do our share to stop the alarming rise of this pandemic that
threatens the foundation of our society. At the same time, let us also show our love and solidarity for our
handicapped brothers and sisters.

ness of our many shortcomings Collect (Opening Prayer)

and the need to be healed by P –Almighty and merciful
God’s forgiveness and strength- God, may no earthly undertak-
ened by His grace. (Pause) ing hinder those who set out in
Entrance Antiphon P –Lord Jesus, forgive our acts haste to meet your Son, but may
(To be recited only when no of unfairness and aggres- our learning of heavenly wisdom
Entrance Hymn is sung.) siveness toward our neigh- gain us admittance to his com-
O people of Sion, behold, bor. Lord, have mercy! pany.
the Lord will come to save All – Lord, have mercy! Who lives and reigns with
the nations, and the Lord will P –Lord Jesus, forgive us for you in the unity of the Holy Spir-
make the glory of his voice the times we have reject- it, God, for ever and ever.
heard in the joy of your heart. ed people we did not like. All – Amen!
Christ, have mercy!
Greeting All – Christ, have mercy!
P –Grace and peace from God P –Lord Jesus, forgive us for
our Father and the Lord Jesus the times we have walked
Christ be with you! the winding roads of sin. 1st Reading Is 11:1-10
All – And with your spirit! Lord, have mercy! To a people disheartened by
All – Lord, have mercy! the disappointing performance
Penitential Act P – May almighty God have of its rulers, Isaiah presents the
P –As we continue our prepara- mercy on us, forgive us our sins, vision of a descendant of David,
tion to welcome the Lord in our and bring us to everlasting life. who will promote justice and
hearts, let us renew our aware- All – Amen! peace throughout the world.

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R – A proclamation from the other, then, as Christ welcomed
Book of the Prophet Isaiah you, for the glory of God.
On that day, a shoot shall For I say that Christ be-
sprout from the stump of Jesse, came a minister of the circum-
and from his roots a bud shall cised to show God’s truthful-
blossom. The Spirit of the Lord * O God, with your judg- ness, to confirm the promises
shall rest upon him: a spirit of ment endow the king, and with to the patriarchs, but so that
wisdom and of understand- your justice, the king’s son. He the Gentiles might glorify God
ing, a spirit of counsel and of shall govern your people with for his mercy. As it is written:
strength, a spirit of knowledge justice and your afflicted ones “Therefore, I will praise you
and of fear of the Lord, and his with judgment. R. among the Gentiles and sing
delight shall be the fear of the praises to your name.”
* Justice shall flower in his
Lord. days, and profound peace, till The Word of the Lord!
Not by appearance shall he the moon be no more. May he All – Thanks be to God!
judge, nor by hearsay shall he rule from sea to sea, and from
decide, but he shall judge the the River to the ends of the Gospel Acclamation Lk 3:4-6
poor with justice, and decide earth. R.
aright for the land’s afflicted. All – Alleluia! Alleluia!
He shall strike the ruthless * For he shall rescue the Prepare the way of the
with the rod of his mouth, and poor man when he cries out, Lord, make straight his
with the breath of his lips he and the afflicted when he has paths: all flesh shall see
shall slay the wicked. Justice no one to help him. He shall the salvation of God.
shall be the band around his have pity for the lowly and the Alleluia! Alleluia!
waist, and faithfulness a belt poor; the lives of the poor he
upon his hips. shall save. R. Gospel Mt 3:1-12
Then the wolf shall be a John the Baptist is clear and
* May his name be blessed even blunt in his appeal to con-
guest of the lamb, and the leop- forever; as long as the sun, his
ard shall lie down with the kid; version as he reminds us that ev-
name shall remain. In him ery tree that does not bear fruit
the calf and the young lion shall shall all the tribes of the earth
browse together, with a little will be cut down and thrown into
be blessed; all the nations shall the fire. No one should presume
child to guide them. The cow proclaim his happiness. R.
and the bear shall be neigh- to take advantage of God’s pa-
bors, together their young shall tience.
2nd Reading Rom 15:4-9
rest; the lion shall eat hay like About to conclude his let- P –The Lord be with you!
the ox. The baby shall play by ter to the faithful of Rome, the All –And with your spirit!
the cobra’s den, and the child apostle Paul asks for them a har- P – A proclamation from the
lay his hand on the adder’s lair. monious relationship and mutual holy Gospel according to
There shall be no harm or acceptance – two virtues that Matthew
ruin on all my holy mountain; we, too, should practise as we All – Glory to you, O Lord!
for the earth shall be filled with prepare for Christmas. John the Baptist appeared,
knowledge of the Lord, as wa- preaching in the desert of
ter covers the sea. R –A proclamation from the
Letter of Paul to the Ro- Judea and saying, “Repent,
On that day, the root of for the kingdom of heaven is
Jesse, set up as a signal for the mans
at hand!” It was of him that
nations, the Gentiles shall seek Brothers and sisters: the prophet Isaiah had spoken
out, for his dwelling shall be Whatever was written pre- when he said: “A voice of one
glorious. viously was written for our crying out in the desert, ‘Pre-
The Word of the Lord! instruction, that by endurance pare the way of the Lord, make
All – Thanks be to God! and by the encouragement of straight his paths.’ ”
the Scriptures we might have John wore clothing made
Responsorial Psalm Ps 72 hope. of camel’s hair and had a
R –Justice shall flourish in May the God of endurance leather belt around his waist.
his time, and fullness of peace and encouragement grant you His food was locusts and wild
forever! to think in harmony with one honey.
another, in keeping with Christ At that time Jerusalem, all
Jesus, that with one accord you Judea, and the whole region
may with one voice glorify the around the Jordan were go-
God and Father of our Lord ing out to him and were being
Jesus Christ. Welcome one an- baptized by him in the Jordan

GLOSSARY: • Jesse: The father of King David and, therefore, a forefather of the Messiah. • Pharisees: Members of a religious
sect in Israel who were characterized by a very strict interpretation and observance of all the laws contained in the Bible .
• Sadducees: A religious party or sect existing in Palestine in the time of Jesus. They believed neither in the resurrection from
death nor in the existence of angels. This put them at odds with the Pharisees and also with Jesus.
4 December 2022
River as they acknowledged glory to judge the living and the free our hearts from whatever
their sins. dead and his kingdom will have hinders us from welcoming Je-
When he saw many of the no end. sus, let us pray! R.
Pharisees and Sadducees com- I believe in the Holy Spirit,
ing to his baptism, he said to the Lord, the giver of life, who C – Let us pray in silence for our
them, “You brood of vipers! proceeds from the Father and personal intentions. (Pause)
Who warned you to flee from the Son, who with the Father Let us pray! R.
the coming wrath? Produce and the Son is adored and glori- P –God our Father, Source of
good fruit as evidence of your fied, who has spoken through all goodness and grace, purify
repentance. And do not pre- the prophets. our intentions and strengthen
sume to say to yourselves, ‘We I believe in one, holy, cath- our hearts, that all that we do
have Abraham as our father.’ olic and apostolic Church. I in this Advent season may be
For I tell you, God can raise confess one Baptism for the for Your greater glory and the
up children to Abraham from forgiveness of sins and I look greater good of our communi-
these stones. Even now the ax forward to the resurrection of ties.
lies at the root of the trees. the dead and the life of the world We ask this through Christ our
Therefore every tree that does to come. Amen! Lord.
not bear good fruit will be All – Amen!
cut down and thrown into the Prayer of the Faithful
fire. I am baptizing you with
water, for repentance, but the P –Challenged by St. John the
one who is coming after me Baptist to give evidence of our
is mightier than I. I am not determination to become better
worthy to carry his sandals. He persons, we feel the need to be
will baptize you with the Holy helped by the Lord in this very Preparation of the Gifts
Spirit and fire. His winnow- important undertaking. In all P – Pray, brethren . . .
ing fan is in his hand. He will sincerity, we pray: All – May the Lord accept the
clear his threshing floor and All – Lord, graciously hear us! sacrifice at your hands, for the
gather his wheat into his barn, praise and glory of his name,
but the chaff he will burn with C –That the whole Church may for our good and the good of all
unquenchable fire.” live this Advent in a spirit of his holy Church.
The Gospel of the Lord! conversion and show sincere
All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus efforts to make up for the past
wrongdoings of her members, Prayer over the Offerings
Christ!
let us pray! R. P –Be pleased, O Lord, with
C –That all the leaders of the our humble prayers and offer-
Homily ings, and, since we have no mer-
Profession of Faith Church may have the courage
its to plead our cause, come, we
(Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed) of John the Baptist to call their
pray, to our rescue with the pro-
flocks to conversion, and lead tection of your mercy.
All –I believe in one God, the Fa- them by their own example, let
ther almighty, maker of heaven Through Christ our Lord.
us pray! R. All – Amen!
and earth, of all things visible
and invisible. C –That all nations and fac-
I believe in one Lord Jesus tions at war may begin to take Preface of Advent I
Christ, the Only Begotten Son seriously the vision of harmoni-
of God, born of the Father be- P –The Lord be with you!
ous relationships outlined by the
fore all ages. God from God, All –And with your spirit!
prophet Isaiah in today’s First
Light from Light, true God from P –Lift up your hearts!
Reading, let us pray! R.
true God, begotten, not made, All – We lift them up to the Lord!
consubstantial with the Father; C – That all those who are sick P –Let us give thanks to the
through him all things were of HIV/AIDS may find spiritual Lord our God!
made. For us men and for our consolation and healing from All –It is right and just!
salvation he came down from people who are giving them care P – It is truly right and just,
heaven, (bow)* and by the Holy and assistance, let us pray! R. our duty and our salvation, al-
Spirit was incarnate of the Vir- ways and everywhere to give
C –That all those who are physi- you thanks, Lord, holy Father, al-
gin Mary, and became man.* cally handicapped may always
For our sake he was crucified mighty and eternal God, through
have the spirit and the determi- Christ our Lord.
under Pontius Pilate, he suf- nation in finding meaning in
fered death and was buried, and For he assumed at his first
their life and inspire others to coming the lowliness of human
rose again on the third day in better appreciate what they have,
accordance with the Scriptures. flesh, and so fulfilled the design
let us pray! R.
He ascended into heaven and is you formed long ago, and opened
seated at the right hand of the C –That our families and the for us the way to eternal salva-
Father. He will come again in groups to which we belong may tion, that, when he comes again
2nd Sunday of Advent (A)
in glory and majesty and all is Sign of Peace and hold firm to the things of
at last made manifest, we who heaven.
watch for that day may inherit Breaking of the Bread Through Christ our Lord.
the great promise in which now All – Amen!
All – Lamb of God, you take
we dare to hope. away the sins of the world: have
And so, with Angels and mercy on us. (2×)
Archangels, with Thrones and
Lamb of God, you take
Dominions, and with all the
away the sins of the world:
hosts and Powers of heaven, we P –The Lord be with you.
grant us peace.
sing the hymn of your glory, as All – And with your spirit!
without end we acclaim:
All –Holy, holy, holy Lord, God
Communion P –Bow your heads and pray
P –Behold the Lamb of God, for God’s blessing. (Pause)
of hosts. Heaven and earth are – May almighty God streng-
full of your glory. Hosanna in behold him who takes away the
sins of the world. Blessed are then and purify you with
the highest! His forgiveness.
Blessed is he who comes in those called to the Supper of the
Lamb. All – Amen!
the name of the Lord. Hosanna
in the highest! All –Lord, I am not worthy P – May He fill you with His
that you should enter under consolation and hope in this
my roof, but only say the word season of preparation for
Memorial Acclamation
and my soul shall be healed. Christmas.
P –The mystery of faith! All – Amen!
All –Save us, Savior of the Communion Antiphon
world, for by your Cross and P –May God make you stead-
Jerusalem, arise and fast in faith, joyful in hope,
Resurrection you have set us stand upon the heights, and and untiring in love all the
free! behold the joy which comes to days of your life.
you from God. All – Amen!
Prayer after Communion P – May almighty God bless
P –Replenished by the food of you: the Father, and the
All – Our Father . . . spiritual nourishment, we hum- Son, and the Holy Spirit.
P –Deliver us, Lord . . . bly beseech you, O Lord, that, All – Amen!
All –For the kingdom, the through our partaking in this P –Go in peace, glorifying the
power, and the glory are mystery, you may teach us to Lord by your life!
yours, now and for ever. judge wisely the things of earth All – Thanks be to God!

ADVENT: A JOURNEY OF TWO LOVES

Jess P. Balon

Sson of Advent to a journey toward the

piritual authors have compared the sea- shepherd-God to so many disappointments
and rejections. He did not have to subject
grotto of Bethlehem where we can behold Himself to those hardships. It was His divine
the radiant face of Baby Jesus. This is a beau- love for all human beings which impelled Him
tiful image that can be of great help to us to undertake that journey.
who wish to live this holy season with pur- It was the journey of God to Ur to look for
poseful intensity. But this is only half of the Abram and snatch him away from the claws
story. The greater and more important half of paganism; the journey that led the Lord
is the “better half” of God’s journey toward to cross the desert and look for Moses in or-
us. This is what has made Christmas a reality, der to wrest His oppressed people from the
for CHRISTMAS IS THE CONVERGING POINT slavery of Egypt. It was the journey of God’s
OF TWO JOURNEYS: GOD’S JOURNEY AND eternal Word into the limitations of human
OURS! nature when he became one of us – the jour-
God’s journey is the journey of the shep- ney of the God who is all-sufficient, cannot
herd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep in suffer and immortal, into the fetters of the
their safe pen and goes in search of the one human condition that is characterized by suf-
that got lost – a journey that started mil- fering, misery, and death.
lennia back in time and which exposed the But God’s long and pain-filled journeys
will not be beneficial to us, sinful human be- may even mean to step out of the darkness
ings, if we, too, do not journey toward Him. of a sinful existence and forge ahead into the
We must realize the wretched situation in radiance of a life lived in joyful obedience to
which we have thrust ourselves through our God’s law. In short, our life must be a jour-
unwise choices, our pride, our lust, our lack ney toward the rising Sun of God’s presence,
of honesty and of everything that is good seeking the light of His grace, the balm of His
and holy. And having realized that, like the forgiveness, the warmth of His embrace, the
prodigal son, we should rise and walk the
joy and peace of His friendship.
road of conversion that leads to the house of
As for those who may honestly feel that
the Father.
Our journey back to God means severing they are not great sinners, Advent has a chal-
our ties with the web of sinful habits that may lenge for them, too – the challenge to open
have enmeshed us, and aiming decisively to their hearts, in imitation of Mary Most Holy,
live the life of freedom as God’s children. and let the Holy Spirit mold in them the Word-
We must bridge the gap between our good made-flesh. This is the essential condition for
intentions and consequent actuations. We Christmas to happen, for Christ will be born
must turn our back on the fogginess of an only in the lives of those who open wide their
aimless and uncommitted existence, and hearts to him as Mary of Nazareth did. This
move toward a life of dedication to living is where the two journeys end and the great
the demands of our baptism. For some, this encounter/embrace begins.

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• Illustrations: A. Sarmiento, B. Cleofe • Circulation: R. Saldua