December 4th, 2011 - Year B - Second Sunday of Advent

December 4^th, 2011 - Year B - Second Sunday of Advent

“ PREPARING THE WAY FOR THE LORD “

INTRODUCTION TO THE MASS

In today’s liturgy we hear again the lonely voice of John the Baptist calling us to prepare a way of the LORD. This involves finding time in our busy lives and space in our busy hearts, for the LORD. Let us offer that time and space to the LORD now so that he can come to us in this Eucharist. [Pause]

One thing the LORD brings us is forgiveness. Let us confess our sins with confidence in his mercy.

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray [That nothing may hinder us from receiving Christ with joy]

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, for ever and ever. R: Amen.

FIRST

READING 1Is 40:1-5, 9-11

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins. A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Go up on to a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.

The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD? for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.

R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.

Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out. Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire. But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

Prepare the way for the LORD, make straight his paths: all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

GOSPEL:

Mk 1:1-8

V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you.

X A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

R. Glory to you, Lord.

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.

A voice of one crying out in the desert:

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”

John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Celebrant: Let us pray that we may so prepare a way for the LORD that the world may be flooded with the grace of his coming.

1. That those who minister to the flock of Christ may seek out the lost, bandage the wounded, and make the weak strong. [Pause] We pray to the LORD.

2. That political leaders may strive to level the mountains of injustice and fill in the valleys of poverty, and so bring about a just society. [Pause] We pray to the LORD.

3. That those in high positions may give opportunities to those below them to use their talents and gifts. [Pause] We pray to the LORD.

4. That Christ may come with his truth to guide those who have lost their way in life. [Pause] We pray to the LORD.

5. That the light of Christ may shine on those who live in the shadow of death. [Pause] We pray to the LORD.

6. That we may create a time and a space for God in our lives. [Longer Pause] We pray to the LORD.

7. That God may grant our own special needs. [Longer Pause] We pray to the LORD.

Celebrant: Almighty and ever-living God, your love surpasses all that we ask or deserve; open for us the treasures of your goodness, and grant us more even than we dare ask. We make our prayer through Christ our LORD. Amen.

We are nothing without you. As you sustain us with your mercy, receive our prayers and offerings.

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When he humbled himself to come among us as a man, he fulfilled the plan you formed long ago and opened for us the way to salvation.

Now we watch for the day, hoping that the salvation promised us will be ours when Christ our Lord will come again in his glory.

And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise: R. Holy. Holy. Holy.

You give us food from heaven. By our sharing in this mystery, teach us to judge wisely the things of earth and to love the things of heaven.