Liturgical Leaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

11 December 2022 3rd Sunday of Advent Year A

Rejoice! The Lord Is Coming!

O
n this Third Sunday of Advent – “Gaudete Sunday” – St.
Paul invites us to rejoice and remove from our hearts all
anxiety, for the Lord is near. The prophet Isaiah tells us
that the Lord is about to perform wonderful things for all those
who are afflicted in any way.
In the Gospel, Jesus reassures John the Baptist and us that
he is, indeed, the expected Messiah, for he has been performing
the works of healing and liberation that the prophet Isaiah had
announced.
These wonders the Lord will do also for us this coming
Christmas by bringing about in us the radical renewal we are
yearning for.

heal the broken-hearted.

Christ, have mercy!
All – Christ, have mercy!
P – Lord Jesus, you came to
Entrance Antiphon proclaim liberty to those 1st Reading Is 35:1-6.10
(To be recited only when no Entrance who are slaves of sin. Lord, The desert will bloom with
Hymn is sung.) have mercy! flowers, the eyes of the blind will
Rejoice in the Lord always; All – Lord, have mercy! see . . . . Things deemed impossi-
again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the ble do happen when the Lord in-
P – May almighty God have tervenes. Such is the heartening
Lord is near. mercy on us, forgive us our sins, message of the prophet Isaiah as
and bring us to everlasting life. he contemplates the return of the
Greeting All – Amen! exiles to their beloved homeland.
P – Blessed be the Lord who in-
vites us to rejoice in Him. May His Collect (Opening Prayer) R – A proclamation from the
grace and peace be with you all! Book of the Prophet Isaiah
All – And with your spirit! P –O God, who see how your
people faithfully await the feast The desert and the parched
of the Lord’s Nativity, enable us, land will exult; the steppe will
Penitential Act rejoice and bloom. They will
we pray, to attain the joys of so
P –As we prepare to celebrate great a salvation and to celebrate bloom with abundant flowers,
the sacred mysteries on this third them always with solemn wor- and rejoice with joyful song.
Sunday of Advent, let us call to ship and glad rejoicing. The glory of Lebanon will be
mind our sins. (Pause) Through our Lord Jesus given to them, the splendor of
P –Lord Jesus, you came to Christ, your Son, who lives and Carmel and Sharon. They will
bring glad tidings to the reigns with you in the unity of see the glory of the Lord, the
poor. Lord, have mercy! the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and splendor of our God.
All – Lord, have mercy! ever. Strengthen the hands
P – Lord Jesus, you came to All – Amen! that are feeble, make firm the
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knees that are weak. Say to it until it receives the early and see? Someone dressed in fine
those whose hearts are fright- the late rains. clothing? Those who wear fine
ened: Be strong, fear not! Here You, too, must be patient. clothing are in royal palaces.
is your God, he comes with Make your hearts firm be- Then why did you go out? To
vindication; with divine rec- cause the coming of the Lord see a prophet? Yes, I tell you,
ompense he comes to save you. is at hand. Do not complain, and more than a prophet. This
Then will the eyes of the brothers and sisters, about one is the one about whom it is writ-
blind be opened, the ears of the another, that you may not be ten: ‘Behold, I am sending my
deaf be cleared. Then will the judged. Behold, the Judge is messenger ahead of you; he will
lame leap like a stag, then the standing before the gates. Take prepare your way before you.’
tongue of the mute will sing. as an example of hardship and Amen, I say to you, among
Those whom the Lord has ran- patience, brothers and sisters, those born of women there has
somed will return and enter the prophets who spoke in the been none greater than John
Zion singing, crowned with name of the Lord. the Baptist; yet the least in the
everlasting joy. They will meet The Word of the Lord! kingdom of heaven is greater
with joy and gladness, sorrow All – Thanks be to God! than he.”
and mourning will flee.
The Gospel of the Lord!
The Word of the Lord! Gospel Acclamation Is 61:1
All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus
All – Thanks be to God! All – Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ!
The Spirit of the Lord is
Responsorial Psalm Ps 146 upon me, because he has Homily
R – Lord, come and save us! anointed me to bring glad
tidings to the poor. Profession of Faith
Alleluia! Alleluia! (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed)
Gospel Mt 11:2-11 All –I believe in one God, the Fa-
“Is Jesus the awaited Mes- ther almighty, maker of heaven
siah?” Such was the question and earth, of all things visible
asked by John the Baptist. Jesus and invisible.
answered it by mentioning some I believe in one Lord Jesus
* The Lord God keeps faith of the miracles he had been per- Christ, the Only Begotten Son
forever, secures justice for the forming. They were signs that he of God, born of the Father be-
oppressed, gives food to the was, indeed, the Messiah who fore all ages. God from God,
hungry. The Lord sets captives heals and gives hope to the af- Light from Light, true God from
free. R. flicted. true God, begotten, not made,
P –The Lord be with you! consubstantial with the Father;
* The Lord gives sight to the through him all things were
blind; the Lord raises up those All –And with your spirit!
P – A proclamation from the made. For us men and for our
who were bowed down. The salvation he came down from
Lord loves the just; the Lord holy Gospel according to
Matthew heaven, (bow)* and by the Holy
protects strangers. R. Spirit was incarnate of the Vir-
All – Glory to you, O Lord!
* The fatherless and the gin Mary, and became man.*
widow he sustains, but the way When John the Baptist For our sake he was crucified
of the wicked he thwarts. The heard in prison of the works under Pontius Pilate, he suf-
Lord shall reign forever; your of the Christ, he sent his dis- fered death and was buried, and
God, O Zion, through all gen- ciples to Jesus with this ques- rose again on the third day in
erations. R. tion, “Are you the one who is accordance with the Scriptures.
to come, or should we look for He ascended into heaven and is
2nd Reading Jas 5:7-10 another?” Jesus said to them in seated at the right hand of the
Patient waiting for the ful- reply, “Go and tell John what Father. He will come again in
fillment of God’s promises is the you hear and see: the blind glory to judge the living and the
virtue we should learn both from regain their sight, the lame dead and his kingdom will have
the farmers and the prophets of walk, lepers are cleansed, the no end.
old. The Lord will never renege deaf hear, the dead are raised, I believe in the Holy Spirit,
on his promises, we are assured and the poor have the good the Lord, the giver of life, who
in this brief passage. news proclaimed to them. And proceeds from the Father and
blessed is the one who takes no the Son, who with the Father
R – A proclamation from the offense at me.” and the Son is adored and glori-
Letter of James As they were going off, fied, who has spoken through
Brothers and sisters: Jesus began to speak to the the prophets.
Be patient until the coming crowds about John: “What did I believe in one, holy, cath-
of the Lord. See how the farm- you go out to the desert to see? olic and apostolic Church. I
er waits for the precious fruit A reed swayed by the wind? confess one Baptism for the
of the earth, being patient with Then what did you go out to forgiveness of sins and I look
11 December 2022
forward to the resurrection of Prayer over the Offerings P –Deliver us, Lord . . .
the dead and the life of the world All –For the kingdom, the
to come. Amen! P –May the sacrifice of our power, and the glory are
worship, Lord, we pray, be of- yours, now and for ever.
Prayer of the Faithful fered to you unceasingly, to com-
plete what was begun in sacred Sign of Peace
P –As we look confidently mystery and powerfully accom-
to the fulfillment of the Lord’s plish for us your saving work.
promises, let us submit to Him Breaking of the Bread
Through Christ our Lord.
some of the most pressing prob- All – Amen! All – Lamb of God, you take
lems of these days. Trusting fully away the sins of the world: have
in His omnipotent love, we say: Preface of Advent I mercy on us. (2×)
All – Father of all consolation, Lamb of God, you take
P –The Lord be with you!
hear us! All –And with your spirit! away the sins of the world:
grant us peace.
C –For the Catholic faithful all P –Lift up your hearts!
over the world: May the obser- All – We lift them up to the Lord! Communion
vance of the Advent season be P –Let us give thanks to the
P –Behold the Lamb of God,
for them a source of grace and Lord our God!
behold him who takes away the
hope. Let us pray! R. All –It is right and just!
sins of the world. Blessed are
C –For the Holy Father and all P – It is truly right and just, those called to the supper of the
other spiritual leaders: May they our duty and our salvation, al- Lamb.
ignite in us the fire of confidence ways and everywhere to give All –Lord, I am not worthy
and optimism as we strive to an- you thanks, Lord, holy Father, al- that you should enter under
swer the many challenges of our mighty and eternal God, through my roof, but only say the word
times. Let us pray! R. Christ our Lord. and my soul shall be healed.
C –For all those who are not For he assumed at his first
able to see meaning in what they coming the lowliness of human Communion Antiphon
do or suffer: May our unfeigned flesh, and so fulfilled the design (To be recited only when no
charity give them the enlighten- you formed long ago, and opened Communion Hymn is sung.)
ment they need. Let us pray! R. for us the way to eternal salva- Say to the faint of heart: Be
tion, that, when he comes again strong and do not fear. Behold,
C –For all those who are fol- in glory and majesty and all is our God will come, and he will
lowing the false messiahs of at last made manifest, we who save us.
profit, popularity, pleasure, watch for that day may inherit
and power: May they realize the great promise in which now Prayer after Communion
that only Jesus can fully satisfy we dare to hope.
their deepest aspirations. Let us And so, with Angels and P –We implore your mercy,
pray! R. Archangels, with Thrones and Lord, that this divine sustenance
C –Let us pray in silence for our Dominions, and with all the may cleanse us of our faults and
intentions and needs. (Pause) hosts and Powers of heaven, we prepare us for the coming feasts.
Let us pray! R. sing the hymn of your glory, as Through Christ our Lord.
without end we acclaim: All – Amen!
P –God our Father, look with
compassion at the many forms All –Holy, holy, holy Lord, God
of suffering and oppression that of hosts. Heaven and earth are
afflict mankind today. May the full of your glory. Hosanna in
healing presence of Your Son the highest!
Jesus bring us hope, for he lives Blessed is he who comes in P –The Lord be with you.
and saves for ever and ever! the name of the Lord. Hosanna All – And with your spirit!
All – Amen! in the highest! P –May almighty God bless
you: the Father, and the
Memorial Acclamation Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All – Amen!
P –The mystery of faith! P –Go in peace, glorifying the
All –Save us, Savior of the Lord by your life!
world, for by your Cross and All – Thanks be to God!
Preparation of the Gifts Resurrection you have set us
P – Pray, brethren . . . free.
All – May the Lord accept the
sacrifice at your hands, for the
praise and glory of his name,
for our good and the good of all
his holy Church. All – Our Father . . . Word & Life Publications

3rd Sunday of Advent (A)

 “Rejoice, the Lord Is Near! He Will Save Us!”
Jess P. Balon

“R
ejoice in the Lord! I say of so much opposition and perse- ality, environmental degradation
it again: Rejoice!” pro- cutions. and the manipulation of human
claims today’s entrance embryos? . . .
antiphon, echoing the invitation ad- Can We Rejoice Now? . . . . In the face of all this, does it
dressed by the apostle Paul to the make sense even to think that we
Christians of Philippi about 2,000 Even today – almost 2,000 years should rejoice? For many “realis-
years ago. How could anyone after Paul wrote those words – many tic” people, the answer would be
realistically tell people to rejoice would still say that mankind has very a square “NO!” uttered without the
at a time when so many human little ground to rejoice and plenty of least hesitation.
beings, in the so-called “civilized reasons to cry bitter tears of despon- And yet, the Church, in to-
world” of the Roman Empire, were dency or even of despair . . . . day’s liturgy, repeats unasham-
slaves of a relatively small minority And indeed, how can we re- edly and with insistence: “RE-
which treated them as “things” or, joice when we know of the in- JOICE, I say it again: REJOICE!”
at best, as animals, without dignity justices and the brutalities that This is the message of one who
or rights? How could anyone re- are perpetrated in the wars being believes that the entire universe
joice in a society in which vices and fought today? How can we rejoice is in the hands of an omnipotent
perversions of all sorts were glori- in front of the collective madness and loving God. Such faith re-
fied, and a cruel Roman emperor fuses to give in to discourage-
delighted in having the bodies of ment and defeatism, and contin-
Christians covered with bitumen, ues to believe in the light even
set on fire to light up his immense in the darkest of nights. St. John
garden? the Evangelist, in the Prologue
Was Paul unaware of all these of his Gospel, states: “The light
things? For sure he was, for he shines in the darkness and the
knew all too well the world in which darkness has not overcome it”
he lived. And if he was aware of (Jn 1:5).
those horrible things, how could This is the main reason why the
he shout to the four winds, “Re- Church keeps inviting us to rejoice.
joice!” which sounded almost like The opposite of it would lead
a senseless battle cry? His reason to DESPAIR! And what advantage
was only one: “The Lord is near!” of governments of even poor coun- would there be in it? The posi-
That thought alone was enough tries, which spend two-thirds of tive answer of the Christian faith
for him to feel full of hope, in spite their budgets in buying and using stems from the certainty that God
of so much evil around him. arms in waging war or constructing wants a world living in justice and
It was enough to make him feel weapons of mass destruction that peace. Such is His plan. But that is
sure that better days were com- terrorize the world rather than pro- not all. He also wants that we BE-
ing when injustice, mourning, and moting education, healthcare and COME HIS PARTNERS in making
death would be wiped out forever, decent living conditions for their His plan a reality. His invitation to
and the peace which surpasses all people? rejoice is an exhortation to do our
human understanding and yearn- How can we rejoice when very best to transform His aspira-
ing would fill the hearts of all those we know that hundreds of thou- tion into a reality. God will surely do
who believe. sands of children and youths are his part but he also wants that we
The “nearness” which Paul had snatched from their families and be a part of it!
in mind was the “nearness” of the made into child-soldiers who are
Divine Judge who would make brainwashed into believing that it
right all wrongs and reward all is all right to hate, wound, and kill
good done. Such was the reason other human beings? How can we
for the unshakable certainty that rejoice when we learn about the
brought Paul and all the believers horrors of child prostitution, child
of the first century to rejoice and labor and moral perversions such
continue to hope, even in the midst as the glorification of homosexu- Every Saturday 5:00pm – 6:00pm

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