Advent means a new call from the Lord. He knocks at the doors of the Church, at the doors of your heart. He wants to be born again in you, in the Church, in your family, in the world. Advent is "going out to meet the one who was, who is and who is coming". Because he was, we gratefully celebrate his memory. Because he is, we celebrate his liberating presence. Because he is coming, we prepare to receive him, we celebrate Advent.
- O God, come to my aid.
- Lord; make haste to help me.
- Glory be to the Father...
- As it was in the beginning. Alleluia
And he will come, and he will come
the Lord will come.
Light will shine in our land,
He will shine in the midst of the people.
The Lord will come.
He will use our tools,
he will wear our garments.
And he will come, and he will come,
the Lord will come.
From heaven to earth
He will come when we call upon him.
Silence to adore.
Psalm 25.
The worshipper turns to the Lord as to the only teacher on the journey. He remembers his sins and, remembering that the paths of the Lord are mercy and loyalty, he begs the Lord for forgiveness and deliverance from his sorrows, pains, enemies.... Christ is "the way" and the lamb that "takes away the sins of the world".
To you, Lord, I lift up my soul;
My God, in you I trust, do not fail me;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.
Come, Lord, do not delay.
For I know that those who hope in you
are not disappointed;
let those who turn away from you be ashamed.
Come, Lord, do not delay.
Lord, show me your paths that I may walk aright;
teach me that you are my God and my Savior:
All day long I wait for You.
Come, Lord, do not delay.
Remember, Lord,
that your tenderness and mercy are everlasting;
do not abandon the work of your hands.
Come, Lord, do not delay.
Lord, my eyes are upon you.
Enlarge my heart
that I may keep your covenant and your precepts.
Come, Lord; do not delay.
Keep my life and deliver me,
and my soul shall sing to you forever.
Come, Lord, do not delay.
Silence for meditation.
Reading.
The Church earnestly desires to make us understand that just as Christ came once into the world in the flesh, in the same way he is ready to return at any moment to dwell in us with the abundance of his graces, if we, on our part, remove every obstacle. Therefore, this Advent season teaches us to receive with a grateful heart this great benefit and to prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with as much care as if he were to come again into the world.
Silence for reflection
How do you prepare yourself for the coming of the Lord?
Do you call out to him with confidence from your poverty?
Are you committed so that his Kingdom of peace, justice and love may come upon the world?
Petitions for the coming.
O wisdom that sprang from the lips of the Most High....
Come and show us the way of salvation.
O Shepherd of the house of Israel...
Come and show us the way of salvation.
O shoot from the stem of Jesse...
Come and show us the way of salvation.
O key of David and scepter of the house of Israel ...
Come and show us the way of salvation.
O sun born from on high...
Come and show us the way of salvation.
O king of the nations...
Come and show us the way of salvation.
O Emmanuel, the hope and savior of the peoples...
Come and show us the way of salvation.
Our Father.
Prayer.
Lord, rich in mercy, lead us to meet your Son, that we may share fully in the splendor of his glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
End.
May the Lord bless us, keep us from all evil and lead us to eternal life.
Amen.