Fourth Sunday Advent. Year B - Sunday, December 24, 2023
(EPISODE: 453)
Readings for Sunday, 24 December 2023
FIRST READING: 2 Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 (diff)
Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27+29. "Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord."
SECOND READING: Rom 16:25-27
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 1:38). Alleluia, alleluia! I am the servant of the Lord. May his will for me be done.
GOSPEL: Luke 1:26-38
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1905407200 - ODESSA REGION, UKRAINE – JUNE, 25, 2018: Orthodox icon of the Mother of God.
Important information - Editorial Use Only.Photo Contributor: hramikona
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Fourth Sunday Advent. Year B - Sunday, December 24, 2023 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-fourth-sunday-of-advent-year-b-episode-453/s-QoHfngXTuDl
(EPISODE: 453)
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* Prologue – The wonderful news of the Annunciation to Mary occurred more than two thousand years ago. The message Mary received was the start of the fulfilment of God's promise, made to King David one thousand years before that. That timeline is so long that it is hard to comprehend. God has a very, very long memory. The people of Israel hoped and trusted in God's promise to King David. And as the years went on, (and there were many years); that hope was boosted, and then seemingly shattered, then rebuilt.
After all this time, (in the fullness of time), God's promise is fulfilled at the home of a humble maiden.
Here we can learn our response from Mary the right response to God's message: "Be it done to me according to your word." If only we could all learn to respond to the Lord in such a wonderful way as Mary did! May we more readily and with joy proclaim: "Be it done to me according to your word!"
Mary is the model for all of us who want to follow God's ways. She was a humble servant of God who was faithful to the Lord. In her lowliness, God chose her for the most important role: the mother of His Son.
This weekend's gospel, for the closing Sunday of Advent is all about the greatness of that word "YES" in Mary's life and in the lives of all of us who want to be Disciples of Christ. Mary's trust in God's promise is absolute. Mary continues to live according to God's ways, even when the events in her life are confusing and worrying and disorientating.
It would be a tragedy if Mary's "yes" was the last "yes" in human history! In fact, Mary's YES becomes the pattern for many more "Yesses."
The Hebrew word "Amen" means "yes," --That is, "let it be so." And we say this "yes/ Amen" every time we come forward for the Communion at Eucharist. We say yes, we will be the house where God, in Jesus, makes his home.
We are saying YES. we will take the divine life of God into our bodies, - by the body and blood of Our Lord. And we too say "Let it be done to us, according to your word." So, as amazing and wonderful as it seems, one of God's last known addresses is….within YOU!
One thing I find really striking and challenging. Mary's wonderful reply to the Angel was very down-to-earth and with no puffed-up pride. She answers: "I am God's servant !!" Mary is saying to God, "I am your servant. I am your humble slave; let it be done to me according to your word"?
Briefly put: We are here to do things God's way, not our way.
May this Advent bring us all closer to the Lord because He is always close to us. God loves us and sends His Son to save us. Mary intercedes for us as we learn from her complete trust in God's plan and learn to serve her Son, Jesus Christ the Lord.
We say YES to God's invitation to cooperate in the constant work of building up God's Kingdom, not only in heaven but here and now, in this life. May this coming Christmas celebration be a time of incredible renewal and peace as we allow God's grace to strengthen and build upon our YES. Inspired by Mary's great YES to God.
O Emmanuel,
king and lawgiver,
Desire of the nations,
Saviour of all people.
Come and set us free.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Celebrating the Gospels.
My Daily Visitor, Nov-Dec 2011.
Monastery Of Christ In The Desert. Abbot's Homily. http://christdesert.org
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1905407200 - ODESSA REGION, UKRAINE – JUNE, 25, 2018: Orthodox icon of the Mother of God. Important information - Editorial Use Only.Photo Contributor: hramikona
Fourth Sunday Advent. Year B (Sunday, December 24, 2023) (EPISODE: 453 )
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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{{May Our Lord's generosity inspire you.}} welcome everyone, we gather - To take time to reflect upon the meaning of God's word for our everyday lives. On this Fourth Sunday Advent. Year B
My friends in Christ, to worthily celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us first acknowledge our sins.
option two on the cards/ Have mercy on us, O Lord./ For we have sinned against you./ Show us, O Lord, your mercy. And grant us your salvation.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27+29. "Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord."
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 1:38). Alleluia, alleluia! I am the servant of the Lord. May his will for me be done.
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PREFACE: Advent II
Eucharistic Prayer I
Communion side. pwk:
(theme variation: 1 )
(post version: v1-long)
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{Thank you for giving generously of your time and prayer.}
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
"O Come. Lord. (Advent)" - In Memory of Paolo Mario (Paul) Giacomantonio (1968-2020).
By Paul W. Kelly. Based on the Ancient church "O Antiphons" of Advent.
Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics, By Stefan Kelk, 2020.
[ Production - KER - 2023]
May God bless and keep you.
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Extra Text : unspoken for Advent: -
Roman Missal, 3rd edition, 2010, (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA.
"The Psalms" by The Grail - 1963, 2009.
Prayers of the Faithful - Robert Borg "Together we pray" - (1993) .+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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