Who Am I When I Come to the Stable?
Mary Mother of Jesus at Sun City Center
Dec 3 2015
La Posada Figure
"The glory of God is a person fully alive."
Adapted from Saint Irenaeus
All:
In the name of God, Source of our Being, our Brother Jesus Prince of Peace
and Sofia Holy Spirit, Amen.
Opening Prayer All
O God, the long-awaited day is coming when your Eternal Word becomes one of
us in Jesus. O Holy Womb of God, birth each of us into your image and
likeness that Christ may again reveal your love and concern to our world.
May every child born into this world incarnate your Word- that the good news
of your life with us and in us may be relived in every time and every age,
today and forever. We pray in the name of Jesus our brother. Amen.
Readings:
First Reading Elizabeth Johnson
(Consider Jesus: Waves of Renewal in Christianity, p30)
"Jesus Christ comes into existence as God's own self-expression in time,
himself genuinely human, with the divine glory veiled. If we do not think
of God literally as three different people but rather as the triune mystery
of self-giving love, then it becomes possible to see Jesus existing as the
Word of God in time who, in his humanness, embodies the self-emptying of the
God of love."
This too is the Word of God All: Thanks be to God.
Psalm Response: Women recite bold, men respond.
Come o Wisdom, Sophia's Child and Mary's too
Bring us back to you.
Come O Adonai, Child of Ancient Israel
Set us free of fear, despair, and misogyny.
Come O Flower of Jesse's tree, uproot our hatreds.
Wash us clean in just-reign waters
Plant us deep in thee.
Come O Key of David, Open heaven's gate.
Unlock, unblock, this captive Church
Too long enthralled with (power).
Come O Radiant Dawn, dispel death's dark shadow.
Light the way of all who long
To preach, to teach, to consecrate heavenly hosts
Of God's indwelling.
Come O Emmanuel, God's gladsome "with us" news,
Strengthen weary arms, steady trembling knees.
Bring surcease of sorrow.
All: Come O Advent Light, pierce December gloom,
Quicken our waiting world with life's fresh blessed tomorrow.
Bring joyful tidings of God's new birth.
Come through the labor of a woman, borne
So all know well Emmanuel. Amen
Sr. Chris Shenk,
10/98 based on the O Antiphons)
Second Reading:
"Advent is always a new beginning. It is actually a beginning and an
ending. We are beginning a new life with Christ at the center, a life that
is full with Christ. We are leaving and ending an old life. This must be
so. There must be this movement...We need to relinquish and empty
ourselves, so that the newness Christ brings can enter and have a place to
stay. We as Advent pilgrims on the way to the manger---to the great newness
that the child brings-must allow ourselves to pass through the desert where
John is preaching. (Paul Harkness, "Our Journey to the Cradle.")
This too is the Word of God. All: Thanks be to God.
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11
After Jesus' birth---which happened in Bethlehem of Judea, --astrologers
from the East arrived in Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the newborn ruler of
the Jews? We observed his star at the rising and have come to pay
homage."...The star which they had observed at its rising went ahead of them
until it came to a standstill over the place where the child lay. They were
overjoyed at seeing the star and upon entering the house, found the child
with Mary, his mother. They prostrated themselves and paid homage. Then
they opened their coffers and presented the child with gifts of gold,
frankincense and myrrh.
Luke 2: 6-10' 16-18
(While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem) the time came for her delivery.
She gave birth to her firstborn, a son; Mary put him in a simple cloth
wrapped like a receiving blanket, and laid him in a feeding trough for
cattle, because there was no room for them at the inn.
There were shepherds in the area living in the fields and keeping night
watch by turns over their flock. The angel of God appeared to them, and the
glory of God shone around them; they were very much afraid...The angel said
to them, "You have nothing to fear! I come to proclaim good news to you-news
of a great joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in David's city a
savior-the Messiah has been born to you...
The shepherds said, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see this event that
God has made known to us. They hurried and found Mary and Joseph, and the
baby lying in the manger. Once they saw this, they reported what they had
been told concerning the child. All who heard about it were astonished at
the report given by the shepherds.
(Neither John nor Mark have an infancy narrative but start with Jesus'
baptism in the Jordan.)
Reader: The Good News of our salvation.
All: Glory and Praise to our Prince of Peace.
Reflection "Who am I at the stable of Jesus' birth December 2015?"
Sharing
Prayers of the People of God:
Our response is "God present within us, hear our prayer."
Offertory:
Blessed are you, God of all creation, through your goodness we have this
bread to offer which earth has given and human hands have made. We meet
Jesus at the stable and in our souls; this bread is our community, your
presence amongst us and our meeting you in others. As a community we
respond to Jesus' call to be peace and healing compassion for the world.
This will become for us the bread of life.
All: Blessed be God forever.
Blessed are you, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this
juice to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. This drink is our
joy at remembering your birth in a stable and finding you in our midst and
our souls. This fruit of the vine will become our spiritual drink.
All: Blessed be God forever.
My sisters and brothers let us pray together that these gifts may be
acceptable to our God of evolution, our Creator of all that exists.
All: May God accept these gifts from our hands, for the praise and glory of
God's name, for our good and the good of all the people and evolving life on
earth.
Presider: Ever gentle God, Jesus lived our human journey to share with us
his Presence, eternal life and Sofia his Spirit of Compassion. Accept our
gifts and our worship. By offering ourselves may we be filled with your
Spirit of peace and love. May we with you build the Peaceable Garden for all
the children of the world. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our brother.
All: Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer from sheet
The bread is broken.
All: This is the Lamb of God, our Prince of Peace, God with us. Jesus born
in a stable you are our brother. May this bread we eat from one loaf nourish
our hope for healing and peace throughout the world. How blessed are we who
are called to find Jesus in the stable of our hearts.
Passing the bread "We are the Body of Christ." Passing the wine "We are the
Blood of Christ" After Communion: A time of thanksgiving.
Closing Prayer: All
We meet you in the stable of our souls each day. In joy and gladness we give
praise to you, O God, for you come to share life with us. Come and assist
us to see your loving care in the midst of our daily struggles. May you
continue to grant us peace and joy that surpasses all understanding. We ask
these gifts in the mystery of our God, Source of all life. Amen.
Extend your hand in blessing
All: May the blessing of God our Creator, our Brother Jesus the Word, and
the Holy Spirit come down on us and remain with us forever. Let us go in
peace to love and serve God and one another as we celebrate the holidays
with family and friends. In the name of God, Source of All Being, Prince
of Peace and Holy Spirit. Amen. Alleluia.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your families!
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nativity-jesus.jpg> Black silhouette nativity scene and shepherds Stock
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The O Antiphons
The Roman Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the
eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat
canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent
theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes
of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not
only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of
the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.
December 17
O Wisdom of our God Most High,
guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge!
December 18
O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
December 19
O Root of Jesse's stem,
sign of God's love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!
December 20
O Key of David,
opening the gates of God's eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!
December 21
O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the
shadow of death.
December 22
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
December 23
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God! --From
Household Blessings & Prayers"
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