December 11
Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intention
9:00 AM – Intentions of Parish Rosary Group / Margaret Ingraham
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11
In those days, like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace. Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is equal to yours? You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with fiery horses. You were destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD, To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob. Blessed is he who shall have seen you and who falls asleep in your friendship.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19
R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Gospel Acclamation
Luke 3:4, 6
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths:
All flesh shall see the salvation of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Matthew 17:9a, 10-13
As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
“Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.”
Reflection
The focus of both John the Baptist and Elijah’s ministry was the need for repentance. Not only did these men call people to acknowledge their sinful ways and to be sorrowful for them, but also, they called people to turn from their evil ways, and reconcile with those they have estranged. This is at the heart of repentance, whether with God or with those around us.
Although the season of Advent is not primarily a season of repentance, Christ still calls us to prepare the way of the Lord. In doing so, we must realize that we are not able to prepare a place for the Christ child if we fail to repair the relationships that we have damaged through our own fault.
How do we go about this idea of repentance? By sincere acceptance of our guilt and making that sorrow known to those whom we have offended, including God. It is only through an examination of conscience that we are truly aware of our sins. It is from these that we need to repent and seek forgiveness. As we approach the Third Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Joy, let us experience the joy of forgiveness that only God can provide.
Peace,
Fr. John
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