Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent – December 22
Thank You, Lord!
Liturgical Cycle: B | Lectionary Cycle: I
Introduction
Today is a celebration of thanks to the Lord, who does great things to humble people who trust in God. In the Old Testament Hannah gives thanks to God because he has given her a son. She dedicates him to God. Samuel will be a very great prophet of the Lord. And Mary, a young, humble, unassuming girl, boldly sings out her joy and thanks to God who will upset the world’s values through Jesus, the Son to be born from her. With Hannah and Mary we sing out our joy and thanks to God.
Opening Prayer
God of the little ones,
with Mary we rejoice and give you thanks
that you let Jesus Christ become one of us
and let him bring us the dignity
of your sons and daughters.
May we live up to that dignity
and to the joy of knowing
that we are deeply loved by you.
Like you, may we also learn to care
for all that is little and brittle
and bring your justice to the poor
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Reading
When the child was weaned, Hannah took him with her along with a three-year-old bull, a measure of flour, and a flask of wine, and she brought him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. The child was still young.
After slaying the bull, they brought the child to Eli.
Hannah exclaimed: “Oh, my lord, look! I am the woman standing before you, praying to the Lord.
I asked for this child, and the Lord granted me the favor I begged of him.
I think the Lord is now asking for this child. As long as he lives, he belongs to the Lord.” And they worshiped the Lord there.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see 1a) My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The LORD puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich,
he humbles, he also exalts.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church;
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
And Mary said,
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit exults in God, my savior!
He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness,
and people, forever, will call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
Holy is his Name!
From age to age, his mercy extends
to those who live in his presence.
He has acted with power and done wonders,
and scattered the proud with their plans.
He has thrown down the mighty from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped Israel, his servant,
remembering his mercy,
according to the promise to our fathers,
to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for approximately three months before returning home.
Prayers of the Faithful
– For all the good things we have experienced in life we ask the Lord to accept our gratitude: Lord, all thanks to you.
– For all who have received from God many talents and goods, that out of gratitude they may share them with others, we pray:
– For our faith, for our brothers and sisters in our Christian communities and for the presence of Christ among us, we give thanks:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
we can bring before you no more
than the humble gifts of bread and wine,
which are, after all, gifts coming from your hand.
But do great things in them,
and let them become Jesus,
your Son among us.
Let him stay with us,
so that he too can do great marvels
in us and through us,
for he is our Lord now and for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, God of hope,
accept our thanks and joy
for your love and justice
that come to us, however poor we are.
Let your Son liberate us
from our selfishness and cold greed.
Weak as we are, let him give us the strength
to make love and service
the foundation of the new world
he wants to begin with us.
Thank you, Lord, for all this joy
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
With Mary we say: "The Almighty has done great things for us. Holy is his name." May almighty God keep blessing you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Luke 1:46-56
O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of people: Come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.
There is this true story in a country previously ruled by a dictator. The police interrogated the priest after the priest had read the Song of Mary (Magnificat) in the Mass. They asked the priest who wrote the text he had read because they wanted to arrest him for writing something subversive.
Yes, read the Magnificat again, and if you don’t find it subversive, I don’t know what is. It reverses world order not only in the present tense but in the present perfect tense, which signifies an action began in the past but continues until the present. The powers that be as well as the rich and the powerful will certainly dismiss it as unacceptable, as the Magnificat sings of the exaltation of the poor and the lowly by giving them their due place in the world.
Jesus, rightful Ruler of all, your coming brought joy to the world, come and give us strength that we may build with you a world according to God’s will. Amen.