General Intercessions
Celebrant: God's word tells us to patiently await
all the good things that the Savior brings. With confidence, we make our needs
known to Him.
Deacon/Lector:
That the Church may teach the world the patience
it needs to await the coming of the Lord of justice, peace, and life, we pray to
the Lord...
That world leaders may prepare the way for the
coming of the Lord by fostering harmony, authentic dialogue, and sincere concern
for their people, we pray to the Lord...
That through the prayers of Our Lady of
Guadalupe, patroness of all America, our land may be protected and blessed, we
pray to the Lord...
That the joy of the Lord's coming may strengthen
all pregnant mothers to welcome and nurture the new life God has entrusted to
them, we pray to the Lord…
For those who are impaired by blindness,
deafness, or other infirmities, that the promise of Christ's coming may give
them strength and joy, we pray to the Lord...
That all who have died may experience the renewed
life brought by the coming of the Savior, we pray to the Lord...
Celebrant:
Father,
as you hear our prayers,
give us patience
and lead us to the joy
of eternal salvation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bulletin Insert
Advent and Pregnancy
As we enter the second half of Advent, the
liturgy focuses more specifically on the Incarnation and birth of Jesus at the
first Christmas. We think about Mary's initial fear and uncertainty in the face
of her unexpected pregnancy. Then, in every Church in the world, believers
spiritually rush to her side to eagerly await with her the birth of the Savior.
The best way for a parish to celebrate Christmas
is to rush physically to the side of those in the community who, like Mary, are
uncertain and afraid about their pregnancy. We are to accompany them through
their pregnancy with support and encouragement, and help them experience the
fact that every birth reflects the joy of the birth of Christ.
Nationwide, pregnancy centers providing
alternatives to abortion can be reached through the “Option Line,”
1-800-395-HELP, or at
www.pregnancycenters.org.
Homily Suggestions on Pro-life Themes
Is 35:1-6a, 10
James 5:7-10
Mt 11:2-11
The themes of joy, hope and a steady heart flow
from the message of today’s readings that the coming of the Lord is close at
hand. The Church wants the natural joy that comes with the approach of Christmas
to be illumed and lifted up by the spiritual joy that comes with the approach of
Christ.
This spiritual joy is rooted in hope and leads to
a steadiness of heart expressed in all three of today’s readings. Isaiah
declares, “Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are
weak; say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is
your God – he comes…” James says, “Make your hearts firm, because the coming of
the Lord is at hand.” In the Gospel, Jesus points out that John had a steady
heart. “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?”
Steadiness of heart is what is needed as we
adhere to the hope of the Gospel amidst a culture of death. The reason for this
hope and steadiness is what the psalm today declares: “The Lord…secures justice
for the oppressed…The Lord sets captives free.” These themes, of course, are
what Jesus identified as the core of his mission when he quoted Isaiah in his
first sermon (see Luke 4). He comes, in other words, to save us, and to
accomplish through us, the flowering of justice in the world for all human
beings whose rights – starting with the most fundamental right, life itself –
are denied and trampled.
When we have a “steady heart,” we are able to
face evil without minimizing it, and at the same time see that God is stronger
than the evil, and will work through us to conquer it.
Because of this hope, a steady heart does not
resort to immoral means to achieve good ends. A steady heart keeps everything in
perspective, does not lose patience, and is able to work hard each day to bring
into the world the fruit of the Spirit, and to help others do the same.
