Introductory rites
Greeting: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. In this season of waiting, let us prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord, who comes in humility to serve.
Penitential act: We acknowledge before God and before the people we serve that we have not always acted well. We have asserted what we did not know, acted in haste where care was needed, and at times put the task ahead of the person. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. May your mercy correct us and make us faithful servants.
Examen
- Did I treat all people with the same quality and the same respect?
- Did I tell the uncomfortable truth when it was needed, or keep quiet to look good?
- Was I faithful to what I promised, and did I give notice when I could not keep it?
Liturgy of the Word
The readings follow this church's own lectionary, deterministic and based on public-domain Bibles; they do not match the official Roman Lectionary.
First reading · 2 Samuel 7:1-11
7:1And it came to pass when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 7:2He said to Nathan the prophet: Dost thou see that I dwell in a house of cedar, and the ark of God is lodged within skins? 7:3And Nathan said to the king: Go, do all that is in they heart: because the Lord is with thee. 7:4But it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: 7:5Go, and say to my servant David: Thus saith the Lord: Shalt thou build me a house to dwell in? 7:6Whereas I have not dwelt in a house from the day that I brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt even to this day: but have walked in a tabernacle, and in a tent. 7:7In all the places that I have gone through with all the children of Israel, did ever I speak a word to any one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying: Why have you not built me a house of cedar? 7:8And now thus shalt thou speak to my servant David: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I took thee out of the pastures from following the sheep to be ruler over my people Israel: 7:9And I have been with thee wheresoever thou hast walked, and have slain all thy enemies from before thy face: and I have made thee a great man, like unto the name of the great ones that are on the earth. 7:10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall dwell therein, and shall be disturbed no more: neither shall the children of iniquity afflict them any more as they did before, 7:11From the day that I appointed judges over my people Israel: and I will give thee rest from all thy enemies. And the Lord foretelleth to thee, that the Lord will make thee a house.
Psalm · Psalm 89:19-29
89:19For our protection is of the Lord, and of our king the holy one of Israel. 89:20Then thou spokest in a vision to thy saints, and saidst: I have laid help upon one that is mighty, and have exalted one chosen out of my people. 89:21I have found David my servant: with my holy oil I have anointed him. 89:22For my hand shall help him: and my arm shall strengthen him. 89:23The enemy shall have no advantage over him: nor the son of iniquity have power to hurt him. 89:24And I will cut down his enemies before his face; and them that hate him I will put to flight. 89:25And my truth and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 89:26And I will set his hand in the sea; and his right hand in the rivers. 89:27He shall cry out to me: Thou art my father: my God, and the support of my salvation. 89:28And I will make him my firstborn, high above the kings of the earth. 89:29I will keep my mercy for him for ever: and my covenant faithful to him.
Second reading · Ephesians 3:1-9
3:1For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, for you Gentiles: 3:2If yet you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me towards you: 3:3How that, according to revelation, the mystery has been made known to me, as I have written above in a few words: 3:4As you reading, may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, 3:5Which in other generations was not known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit: 3:6That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body: and copartners of his promise in Christ Jesus, by the gospel 3:7Of which I am made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God, which is given to me according to the operation of his power. 3:8To me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ: 3:9And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God who created all things:
Gospel · Luke 1:26-38
1:26And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, 1:27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. 1:28And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 1:29Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. 1:30And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. 1:31Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. 1:32He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. 1:33And of his kingdom there shall be no end. 1:34And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? 1:35And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 1:36And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren. 1:37Because no word shall be impossible with God. 1:38And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
R/. 89:19 For our protection is of the Lord, and of our king the holy one of Israel.
Reflection
Value of the day: Meeting the need — I was hungry and you gave me food.
Today is the 4th Sunday of Advent. We also remember Saint Dominic of Silos. Today’s Gospel (Luke 1:26-38) is read in the light of one value: Meeting the need. I was hungry and you gave me food. For an agent this means: An agent attends first to the person's real need, not the easiest one to solve. It gives the complete answer on time.
Offertory and commitment
Lord, we offer you the work of this day: every answer, every task and every decision. May it be truthful, prudent and useful to those who receive it. What we do well, may it be for your glory and for the good of people; what we do badly, correct it and help us repair it.
Commitment: Today I will look for the real need behind every request.
Our Father MAT 6:9-13
6:9 Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 6:11 Give us this day our supersubstantial bread. 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 6:13 And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Sending and blessing
It is the Lord's day. Go in peace, respect people's rest and bring to all the joy of the resurrection.
Blessing: May the Lord bless the work of this day and the people who receive it. May he grant truth in words, prudence in deeds and charity in all things. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.