Church of the Sacred Heart
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR A) Weekend of 26, 27 November 2022
PRAYER OF BLESSING (of Advent Wreath)
Lord God,
your Church joyfully awaits the coming of its Saviour,
who enlightens our hearts
and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin.
Pour forth your blessings upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath;
may their light reflect the splendour of Christ,
who is Lord, for ever and ever.
R. Amen.
Collect
Let us pray.
Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God,
the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ
with righteous deeds at his coming,
so that, gathered at his right hand,
they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
First Reading Isaiah 2:1-5
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah.
The Lord will gather all nations together into the eternal peace to form the kingdom of God.
The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In the days to come
the mountain of the Temple of the Lord
shall tower above the mountains
and be lifted higher than the hills.
All the nations will stream to it,
peoples without number will come to it; and they will say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the Temple of the God of Jacob
that he may teach us his ways
so that we may walk in his paths;
since the Law will go out from Zion,
and the oracle of the Lord from Jerusalem.’
He will wield authority over the nations
and adjudicate between many peoples;
these will hammer their swords into ploughshares,
their spears into sickles.
Nation will not lift sword against nation,
there will be no more training for war.
O House of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
Response: Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 121(122):1-2,4-5,6-9
R. I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
I rejoiced when I heard them say:
‘Let us go to God’s house.’
And now our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
Jerusalem is built as a city
strongly compact.
It is there that the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord.
R. I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
For love of my brethren and friends
I say: ‘Peace upon you!’
For love of the house of the Lord
I will ask for your good.
R. I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
Second Reading Romans 13:11-14
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans.
Our salvation is near.
You know ‘the time’ has come: you must wake up now: our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon – let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the daytime: no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling or jealousy. Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ; forget about satisfying your bodies with all their cravings.
The Word of the Lord.
Response: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Ps84:8
Alleluia, alleluia!
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
and give us your saving help.
Alleluia!
Gospel Matthew 24:37-44
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Response: Glory to you, O Lord
Stay awake so that you may be ready.
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it be when the Son of Man comes. For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away. It will be like this when the Son of Man comes. Then of two men in the fields one is taken, one left; of two women at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left.
‘So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Response: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer Of The Faithful
Introduction: We turn in prayer to the Father who has promised to change us and our world into His kingdom of peace.
Response: Lord, graciously hear us.
1. For our Holy Father, our Bishop, and all Christian leaders, that they lead all people to the revelation of God and His peace. Lord, hear us, we pray.
2. For the world in which we live, that all may work together to put an end to war and hatred, oppression and injustice and to strive for peace, freedom and justice. Lord, hear us, we pray.
3 For the poor and the suffering, that through us, Christ may come to uplift the sick, to help the hungry, to liberate those unjustly deprived of their freedom, and to bring the good news to the lost. Lord, hear us, we pray.
4. For all of us here, that we may not be complacent in our faith as Christians but persist to seek Christ and His light by renewing ourselves and loving those around us. Lord, hear us, we pray.
5. We now pray in silence for other needs and intentions …
For these other needs and intentions, let us pray to the Lord.
Conclusion: Almighty God, we remember Your promise of a world at peace. Help us to prepare for that world by following the teachings of the Gospel. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.