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Hi
By: PNHS Date: December 13, 2020, 12:34 am
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Sunday December 13, 2020
Third Week of Advent Year B
Vestment: Violet
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery
Theme of the Sunday: Live in Joy! The first words of the second
reading of today set the theme for this Sunday. The Christian is
a cheerful person: he is happy because Christ has shown him the
meaning of life. Rich or poor, sick or healthy, the Christian is
always happy. The first reading states that the achievement of
happiness is an ongoing and demanding task, but is a gift that
God will give to all. The gospel teaches us that only those who
are happy listen to the Baptist, who let their minds and hearts
be opened to recognise the Messiah and welcome his light.
Entrance Antiphon Phil 4:4-5
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the
Lord is near.
Collect
O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the
Lord’s Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so
great a salvation, and to celebrate them always with solemn
worship and glad rejoicing. Through our Lord..
FIRST READING
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord.”
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1-2a.10-11)
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has
anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent
me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. I will greatly
rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has
clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me
with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself
with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes
what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD Will cause
righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Luke 1:46-48.49-50.53-54 (R. Is 61: 10b)
R. My soul shall exult in my God.
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. R.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is his name.
And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation. R.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy. R.
SECOND READING
“May your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless.”
A reading from the first Letter of saint Paul to the
Thessalonians (1Thessalonians 5:16-24)
Brethren: Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for
you. Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophesying, but
test everything; hold fast what is good, abstain from every form
of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and
may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is
faithful, and he will do it.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Cf. Luke4:18
Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has sent me to
preach good news to the poor. Alleluia
GOSPEL
“Among you stands one whom you do not know.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John
1:6-8.19-28)
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for
testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe
through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to
the light. And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent
priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He
confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the
Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He
said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
They said to him then, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for
those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I
am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the
way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” Now they had been
sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Then why are you
baptising, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the
prophet?” John answered them, “I baptise with water; but among
you stands one whom you do not know, even he who comes after me,
the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” This took
place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptising.
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Be happy at all times
PRIEST:
My brothers and sisters, The coming of Jesus Christ into our
human family is the source of our happiness. We pray to the
Lord, during Advent, to increase our faith and or personal
commitment to him
READER:
For the Pope, Bishops and Priests, (pause) that they may
proclaim with deep conviction what the coming of Jesus into our
world means not only for the Church, but for the whole world.
(pause) Lord, hear us; and give us your peace we pray Oh Lord.
For civic leaders everywhere (pause) that they may realize that
true happiness comes not so much from power, but from their
generous service of the whole community. (Pause) Lord, hear us;
and give us your peace we pray Oh Lord.
For those who are unhappy of depressed, or who find little
purpose in life, (pause) that we may by our concern for them, be
witnesses to speak for the light of Christ, which alone can
brighten their darkened world. (pause) Lord, hear us; and give
us your peace we pray Oh Lord.
For those who seek a clearer vision of the mystery of life,
(pause) that they may be drawn by God’s love to discover life’s
meaning in the spiritual freedom offered by the Way of Christ,
(pause) Lord, hear us; and give us your peace we pray Oh Lord.
PRIEST:
God wants our spiritual happiness and peace, and, in silence, we
pray for all we need
Father, We come to you in prayer because you not only want our
happiness but give us the means of achieving it. Through Christ
our Lord. Amen
Today's Reflections
Today is traditionally called “Gaudete Sunday”, a special day in
which we are reminded that Christianity brings joy to all
things. With less than two weeks to the proper celebration of
Christmas, this reminder is important to keep our minds focused
on the real things that matters in this season and the real
attitude we ought to embrace. Christianity is a vocation of Joy.
Hence, St. Paul, in the Second Reading, encourages the people to
rejoice always. But he added other responsibilities which could
be summarized as doing good and shunning evil. In doing that, we
will see that we will be spreading the joy of Christ’s coming to
the ends of the earth! May the joy of the Lord follow you all
the days of your life as you make your effort to follow Jesus
faithfully by doing good and shunning evil. Amen
Personal Devotional
Trust in th Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your
own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will
make straight your paths.... Proverbs 3:5-6
- Our Father, I come to you as your child; please save me from
all forms of attitude that makes me to pride about life.
- Guide me O Lord, with a humble and obedient spirit so that I
will always seek you in simplicity of heart and mind in Jesus
name.
Let Us Pray
Thanks be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits
which you have given me, for all the pains and insults which you
have borne for me. O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother,
may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow
you more nearly, day by day. Amen.
Personal Devotional,
MY SPIRITUAL CHECK-UP IN ADVENT
There is no better time than now to have a spiritual cheek-up
for our souls as we prepare for the coming of Our Lord this
Advent Season. The idea behind this exercise is to re-examine
ourselves, and make amends with God and put ourselves alright
with Him.
When you go through this, remember it is designed to expose grey
areas in our souls. This SPIRITUAL CHECK-UP IS ABSOLUTELY FREE
unlike your medical cheek-up.
This exercise will be within the four Sundays of Advent, kindly
avail yourself and your family of this opportunity.
USE THE FOLLOWING LISTS AS GUIDE TO EXAMINE YOUR LIFE BEFORE THE
LORD.
Please, take each one slowly and meditate on it carefully.
ENVY - Behind talk of other's failures and faults usually lurks
envy. Did you gossip and boast to exalt yourself at another's
expense? does it hurt to hear certain people praised? If you
have nursed this spirit of Hell, repent DEEPLY. (Job 5:2; Prov.
14:30; 27:4; Gal 5:25)
PRIDE - Pretending in thought or life to be more or less than
you really ARE. Do you pay more attention to your looks than
your soul? Is there a trouble-stirring spirit in your life?
These are the signs of pride. (Prov. 16:5; 12, 18: 21:4; 29:23;
Tit.3:9; I Cor. 1:26-31; 1 Pt. 5:1)
INGRATITUDE - How many times have others gone out of their way
for you, perhaps really sacrificed to help you - and you took
this all for granted? (2Tim.3:2; Mal. 3:8-11)
ANGER - Have you been bad-tampered? Did you shrug off
self-control and lose patience or gentleness with someone?
(Prov. 14:29; 15:8; 21:9; 22:24; Eccl. 7:9; Eph. 4:26; Col. 3:8)
DIAGNOSIS
If the Holy Spirit shows us our sin, we must go back to the
cross where the Lord first met us. We see the Lord Jesus once
crucified - for that sin - bearing our penalty. Our sin nails
Jesus to the cross all over again. We tear open His wounds and
make His redemption a mockery.
Walk out into the light of reality. Drop your self-deceit and
face this sin for what it really is. Turn from it, from your
heart. Take sides with God against it,- resolve in your heart
NEVER to go back into that sin again.
MEDICATION OR SURGERY NEEDED?
Note that, "If we confess our sins, He is FAITHFUL and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness."(1 Jn. 1:9) Will you go to your gracious and
loving Father as a little child and humbly ask His forgiveness?
The LORD is merciful and gracious...He has not dealt with us
after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities;
“For as the heaven is above the earth, so great is His mercy
towards them that fear Him; as far as the east is from the west,
so far hath He removed our transgressions from us." (Ps. 103:12)
Let Us Pray (Please go down on your kneels and pray for
forgiveness)
"Oh God, You know my foolishness, and my sin is not concealed
from You...please pardon my iniquity, for it is great...If you,
Lord, would mark iniquities, who shall stand? But there is
forgiveness with You, that You may be feared." (Ps. 69:5; 25:11;
130:3-4) look with pity on me, your humble servant, and have
mercy in Jesus name.
Mary my dearest mother pray to Jesus for me.
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