4th Sunday of Advent December 20, 2020

Pre-Mass Meditation

We know of God’s faithfulness and Mary’s obedience to that faith. How do we react to our own “annunciations?” We may not be visited by an angel, but we know when God is calling us. We can feel God stretching us to God’s expectations. This liturgical season invites us to embrace God in heart and mind, to say yes, to become a bearer of Christ like Mary, to answer God’s call to transform this dark world.

Entrance Hymn: Emmanuel (BB 56)

Come, come, Emmanuel! Son of God, appear. Heaven and earth, rejoice!Salvation is drawing near. Salvation is drawing near.

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Come, come, Emmanuel! Son of God, appear. Heaven and earth, rejoice!Salvation is drawing near. Salvation is drawing near.

Blessing of Advent Wreath

Leader: Mary gives Advent a quality of confidence. She said “Yes,” not “I’ll think about it,” not “I’ll try” or “OK, but only until it gets hard.” Mary said “Yes.” We share in giving birth whenever we say “Yes” and offer ourselves for healing, for delight, for transformation and for peace. Mary knew in her whole being that hope is found when a person is faithful and listening to God. Twenty centuries after God’s call to Mary, we must cling to this same tension and vision. Liberation comes not from the powerful but through a young Jewish girl and her Son whose “reign will have no end.” God’s task of guiding our feet into the way of peace remains unfinished. But do not be afraid, nothing is impossible for God.

(Light four candles)

Candle Lighting Song: Christ, Be Our Light (BB 587)

Christ be our light, shine in our hearts, shine through the darkness.Christ be our light, shine in your Church, gathered today.

Penitential Act

I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters,That I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words,In what I have done and in what I have failed to do,

Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;Therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints,And you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.Amen

God have Mercy

You come to heal the contrite. God, have mercy. God, have mercy.You come to call sinners. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.You plead for us at the right hand of the Father. God, have mercy. God, have mercy.

May almighty God have mercy on us,forgive us our sins,and bring us to everlasting life.Amen

Collect

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

First Reading 2Samuel &:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

A reading from the second Book of Samuel

When King David was settled in his palace, and God had given him rest from all his enemies on every side, the king said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent." Nathan answered the king, "Go, do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you."

But that night God spoke to Nathan and said, "Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the Most High: Should you build me a house to dwell in?

"It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place, without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, since the time I

first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also reveals to you that a house will be established for you. And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you and your kingdom shall be made firm. I will be a parent to Israel, and Israel shall be my child. Your house and your reign shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.' "

The word of our God.Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. Forever I will sing, sing your praises.(Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. Forever I will sing, sing your praises)

I will sing of your steadfast love, O GodWith my mouth I’ll proclaim your faithfulnessAnd be glad that your love is forever, as firm as the heavens.

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. Forever I will sing, sing your praises.

Your kindness shall always be with meThrough your name I shall be exalted.I shall always call you my God for you are my Savior.

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. Forever I will sing, sing your praises.

Happy all who rejoice in your name, Who walk in the light of your love.You are their strength and their glory, and they praise you forever.

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. Forever I will sing, sing your praises.

Second Reading Romans 16:25-27

A reading from Paul to the people of Rome

Brothers and sisters,

To the one who can strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,

according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God,

made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,

to the only wise God through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever! Amen.

The Word of our God.Thanks be to God.

Alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord;May it be done to me according to your will.”

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Gospel Luke 1:26-38

The Lord be with you.And with your Spirit.A reading from the holy Gospel according to LukeGlory to you, O Lord.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.

And coming to her, Gabriel said, "Hail, full of grace! the Most High God is with you!"

But she was greatly troubled at what was said, and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever; and of his reign there will be no end."

But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"

And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Most High; let it be done to me according to your word."

And the angel departed from her.

The Good News of SalvationPraise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily (take a moment to reflect on the readings - what word or phrase stood out to you?)

Universal Intercessions

Response: Waiting God, hear our prayer.(Waiting God, hear our prayer.)

For a listening heart: that our hearts may be stilled and quieted so that we may hear the Word of God as it comes to us in word, event and experience each day, we pray…

For all believers: that we, like Mary, may ponder God’s invitations to us and give our full yes to all that God asks of us so that we may bring forth God’s saving presence in our world, we pray…

For all who have lost loved ones or have experienced illness this season, that God will guide us to compassion and solace in this time of isolation, we pray…

For all children and youth: that they may know they are loved and treasured and that each of them is made in the image and likeness of God, we pray…

In thanksgiving for the presence of a vaccine for Coronavirus, that we may wait in hope for the end to this pandemic, when we shall again be in Community, we pray…

For whom else shall we pray…

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

Offertory Hymn: Gabriel’s Message (BB 42)

The angel Gabriel from heaven came, His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;“All hail,” said he, O lowly maiden Mary,” “Most highly favored lady!” Gloria!

“For know a blessed Mother you shall be, All generations praise continually,Your Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers fore-told.” “Most highly favored lady!” Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head; “To me be as it pleases God!” she said.“My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name.” “Most highly favored lady!” Gloria!

Of her Emmanuel the Christ was born, in Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn,And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say, most highly favored lady. Gloria!

Preparation of Gifts

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.Blessed be God forever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.Blessed be God forever.

Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all his holy Church.

May the Holy Spirit, O Lord, sanctify these gifts laid upon your altar, just as he filled with his power the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

The Eucharistic Prayer (if you are watching the video or listening to the audio, please follow along and participate with Fr. Jack; and continue with the Communion Reflection Song below. If you are using this at home with your family, continue with the Spiritual Eucharist below)

Spiritual Communion Invite the Family to stand for the Our Father. Although without a Priest, we cannot offer the Mystery of Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross, we can join with the Church throughout the world in offering a Spiritual Communion until such time as we can again participate in the great Sacrifice of the Mass.

Our FatherLeader: At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

Family: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Leader: Deliver us Lord we pray from every evil, and grant us peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Family: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.

Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you; look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign forever and ever.

Family: Amen.

Leader: May the peace of the Lord be with us always.

Invite the family to kneel if practical. The following formula of prayers can be prayed together as a family, inviting Jesus spiritually into our hearts.

Leader: Together with the whole Church throughout the world, let us profess an Act of Faith in Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist.

All: O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen.

Leader: Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus made the ultimate act of love by offering himself as expiation for our sins. Let us now make our own act of love as we pray:

All: O Lord God, I love you above all things and I love my neighbor for your sake because you are the highest, infinite and perfect good, worthy of all my love. In this love I intend to live and die. Amen.

Leader: With a humble and contrite heart, we ask the Lord to come to us just as He would if we were able to receive the sacrament.

All: My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire you in my soul. Since I cannot at this moment 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.

Communion Meditation Song: Hail Mary: Gentle Woman (G 564)

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.Blessed are you among women, and blest is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of death. Amen

Gentle woman, quiet light, morning star, so strong and bright,Gentle Mother, peaceful dove, teach us wisdom, teach us love.

You were chosen by the Father; you were chosen for the Son. You were chosen from all women and for woman, shining one.

Gentle woman, quiet light, morning star, so strong and bright,

Gentle Mother, peaceful dove, teach us wisdom, teach us love

Blessed are you among women, blest in turn all women, too.Blessed they with peaceful spirits. Blessed they with gentle hearts.

Gentle woman, quiet light, morning star, so strong and bright,Gentle Mother, peaceful dove, teach us wisdom, teach us love

Prayer after Communion:

Let us pray:

Having received this pledge of eternal redemption, we pray, almighty God, that as the feast day of our salvation draws ever nearer, so we may press forward all the more eagerly to the worthy celebration of the mystery of your Son’s Nativity. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.Amen

Go in peace, Thanks be to God.

Song of Sending: Soon and Very Soon (BB 577)

Soon and very soon, We are going to see the King;Soon and very soon, We are going to see the King;Soon and very soon, We are going to see the King;Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We are going to see the King

No more crying there, We are going to see the King;No more crying there, We are going to see the King;No more crying there, We are going to see the KingHallelujah! Hallelujah! We are going to see the King