Monday, Dec 1, 2008, 1st Week of Advent

Entrance Antiphon
Nations, hear the message of the Lord, and make it known to the ends of the earth: Our Savior is coming. Have no more fear.
(Jer 31:10; Is:35:4)
Opening Prayers
Lord our God, help us to prepare for the coming of Christ your Son. May he find us waiting, eager in joyful prayer. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, forever and ever.
Reading 1 (Is 2:1-5)
This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come, The mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: “Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
Responsorial Psalm (Ps 122:1-2,3-4b,4cd-5,6-7,8-9)
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD." And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your walls, prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you!" Because of the house of the LORD, our God, I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Gospel (Mt 8:5-11)
When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”

Prayer over the Gifts
Pray, brethren...
Father, from all you give us we present this bread and wine. As we serve you now, accept our offering and sustain us with your promise of eternal life. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Preface
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. When he humbled himself to come among us as a man, he fulfilled the plan you formed long ago and opened for us the way to salvation. Now we watch for the day, hoping that the salvation promised us will be ours when Christ our Lord will come again in his glory. And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord…
Communion Antiphon
Come to us, Lord, and bring us peace. We will rejoice in your presence and serve you with all our heart. (Ps 105:4-5; Is 38:3)
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray…
Father, may our communion teach us to love heaven. May its promise and hope guide our way on earth. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.