LIDE Learning Center, Inc.

Isabel, Leyte

Third Week of Advent

-JOY-
-December 16, 2019-
I.Introduction:

The third week of Advent reminds us the gift of Joy we have in Christ. We remember the joy that Mary
felt when the angel Gabriel told her that a special child would be born to her - a child who would save
and deliver all people. Joy is the gift we all receive from the unconditional love Christ has for us.

God wants us all to have joy. The angel who announced to the shepherds that Jesus had been born
told them: "Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people - for to you is born
this day, in the City of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord." As we light this candle, we
remember that Christ came to bring true and everlasting joy to all people. As we light this candle, we
are reminded that Christ came to save all people.

II. Lighting of the first, second and third candles of the Advent Wreath.

Commentator: Lord, open my lips.

Assembly: And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Commentator: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit

Assembly: As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever. Amen.

Commentator: Let us sing our Entrance Hymn: O Come, Divince Messiah

Entrance Hymn: O Come, Divine Messiah

OPENING PRAYER
Leader :
Antiphon- Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Psalm 95

Come, let us sing to the Lord

and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving
and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

The Lord is God, the mighty God,

the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him,
the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship,

bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people,
the flock he shepherds.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:

Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
in the wilderness,
when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me,
Although they had seen all of my works.

Forty years I endured that generation.

I said, “They are a people whose hearts o astray
and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger,
“They shall not enter into my rest.”

Leader: Glory be to the Father...

Assembly: As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever. Amen

Antiphon : Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Commnentator: Please be seated. Let us now listen to the readings.

A.First Reading ( Isaiah 56:1-3. 6-8)

Leader: A reading from the Book of the prophet Isaiah.

This is what the Lord says:

“Maintain justice
and do what is right,
for my salvation is close at hand
and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
Blessed is the one who does this—
the person who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,
and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”

Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say,

“The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”
And let no eunuch complain,
“I am only a dry tree.”

And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord

to minister to him,
to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.”
 The Sovereign Lord declares—
he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather still others to them
besides those already gathered.”

Leader: The word of the Lord.

Assembly: Thanks be to God.

Commentator: Please stand to honor the Holy Gospel.

B. Gospel Reading (John 5:33-36)

Leader: A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.

Jesus said to the Jews, "You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. Not that I accept
such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining
lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a testimony greater than John's.
The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my
behalf that the Father has sent me."
Leader: The Gospel of the Lord.
.
Assembly: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection:

St. Paul believed that rejoicing was a basic disposition that we all should try to maintain, even when
things don’t go our way. In his short Letter to the Philippians, in fact, he spoke about rejoicing fifteen
times. And let’s not forget that Paul was in prison when he wrote the letter! He was not going to let his
circumstances rob him of his joy.

We will all encounter times of trial and suffering, but Jesus asks us to rejoice whether or not the sun is
shining on us. He especially wants us to rejoice as we prepare for Christmas. If Paul were here, he
would urge us to keep things in perspective—to look at our lives through the lens of God’s love. He
would urge us never to let anxiousness rule our lives, but to strive to keep our sense of peace at all
times. He would urge us to pray through the tough times and to find reasons to rejoice.

In the gospel reading today, the image of the lamp shines out in the centre of this passage, along with
words that speak of light: burning, shining, light. Jesus thus point out the direction we have to take,
the point on which to set our gaze. There is one sure light, a fire burning, in our night too. The lamp,
that is the prophets who are the witnesses to the Christ, the lamp that is John the Baptist particularly,
especially at this time of Advent, has the task of leading us to the true light, that enlightens every
human being, the light that never fades , the light that is life itself: Jesus.

Then there is a sign, a sure proof that the Lord offers us: In this light, that comes from the Father, joy
comes to life. All we have to do is look inside, stand before him in openness and sincerity, and also
before ourselves, before our life, to see if we can see the signs of this joy.

Jesus has done so much for us. Let’s repay him by rejoicing in his love—and sharing that joy with the
people around us.

Intercessions Week 3
Commentator: In prayer, we now approach God and Father who has power and authority over all
things and unload the burden that weigh us down.

“ Come, Lord Jesus.”

Leader: That those who exercise authority in the Church may be filled with gentleness, humility, and
love. Let us pray to the Lord.

Assembly: Come, Lord Jesus.

Leader: That those who are in authority may be guided in making decisions by wisdom based on love,
justice, and truth.Let us pray to the Lord.

Assembly: Come, Lord Jesus.

Leader: That parents may, by their authority in the home, seek more to love and be loved, than to
create an atmosphere of repression and fear. Let us pray to the Lord.

Assembly: Come , Lord Jesus.

Leader: That the sick may find healing and consolation through God’s Word and the sacraments.
Let us pray to the Lord.

Assembly: Come, Lord Jesus.

Leader: That the dead may be brought safely home in heaven. Let us pray to the Lord.

Assembly: Come, Lord Jesus.

Leader: Let us have a moment of silence for our own personal intentions. (1 minute)

Leader: Gathering our prayers together let us pray the Our Father....

D.Closing Prayer:

Commentator: Let us pray. Loving God, we thank you for the joy you bring us. Help us prepare our
hearts for the Lord’s coming by helping us see that Christ came for every person we meet wherever we
go. We ask this in the name of the one born in Bethlehem, Jesus our Lord.

Assembly: Amen.

E. Commentator: Let us now sing our closing Hymn “ O Come, O Come Emmanuel”

F. Commentator: Mother Mary and St. Joseph... Pray for us.

St. John Baptist de la Salle.....Pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts... Forever.