Fourth Sunday of Advent,
Cycle C
Celebrant: Like the Virgin Mary,
let us pray now, trusting that the Lord's promises to us will be fulfilled.
Deacon/Lector:
That the Church of Jesus Christ
may always be joyful in proclaiming His coming, we pray to the Lord...
That Christ, the Shepherd of all
nations, will guide world leaders and their peoples in the ways of peace and
justice, we pray to the Lord...
That as Mary helped Elizabeth, so
we may help those who are pregnant to care for their unborn children, we pray to
the Lord……
That the sick and the dying may
not be neglected by those around them, but loved and strengthened, we pray to
the Lord...
That those who have died may be
welcomed into the life that never ends, we pray to the Lord...
Celebrant:
Father, your Son Jesus Christ offered Himself for our sake.
Grant us salvation in Him, who is
the answer to all our prayers,
and who is Lord forever and ever.
Amen.
Bulletin Insert
Messiah and Lord
At midnight Mass of Christmas, we
hear the glorious announcement that a Savior has been born for us. From the
beginning of time, prophets announced that the Messiah of the Lord would come.
"Messiah," or "Christ" means "Anointed one." God anointed many people to carry
out special missions for him.
On Christmas, this prophecy was
fulfilled in a surprising way, because the angels did not simply announce that
Jesus was the Messiah of the Lord. They said the newborn child was
Messiah AND Lord. God did not just send a Messiah. He came himself.
This Child is the God who made us all. And by coming in this way, he joined
every human life, born and unborn, to Himself. Christmas is, indeed, the feast
of the dignity of every human life.
Homily Hints
Mi 5:1-4a
Heb 10:5-10
Lk 1:39-45
A selection of Advent-Christmas
reflections, in general and also related to pro-life themes, can be found at
www.priestsforlife.org/preaching/advent-christmas.htm. This material
can be helpful for preaching on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
In today’s readings, we see that
Christmas is linked to Easter. Christmas is the Feast of the Incarnation (not
only of the event of his birth), and Christ takes on a human body precisely so
as to offer the sacrifice of that body that saves the world. In fact, his
sacrifice is not limited to Calvary. It begins even in the womb. “A body you
have prepared for me … I come to do your will.” Even as an embryo, Jesus was
offering himself to the Father, in obedience to his will and for our salvation.
“A Savior is born for you.” He is a savior precisely because he bears our human
nature, and has a human body like we do – a body offered on the cross and in the
Eucharist.
As we see in the first reading
and the Gospel, the details of his birth are carefully planned by God and
foretold by his prophets. His birth is all about hope fulfilled and hope
inspired. That hope outlasts his birth, and extends to us today as we work to
build a world in harmony with the vision of peace, life, and love that Christmas
inspires.
Liturgical Resources
