Sunday, Dec 7, 2008. 2nd week of Advent

Entrance Antiphon
People of Zion, the Lord will come to save all nations, and your hearts will exult to hear his majestic voice. (Is 30:19,30)
Greeting
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Prayers
God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reading 1 (Is 40:1-5, 9-11)
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:
Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins. A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Go up on to a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm (Ps 85:9-10-11-12,13-14)
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD—for he proclaims peace to his people. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. Justice shall walk before him, and prepare the way of his steps.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Reading 11 (2 Pt 3:8-14)
A reading from the Second Letter to Peter
Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out. Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire. But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Alleluia, alleluia
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths; all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia, alleluia
Gospel (Mk 1:1-8)
The reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark:
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Homily
Profession of Faith
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation…
Blessed be God forever.
Blessed be God forever.
Pray, brethren…
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his Church.
Prayer over the Gifts
Pray, brethren...
Lord, we are nothing without you. As you sustain us with your mercy, receive our prayers and offerings. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise.
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…
Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.
Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.
When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.
Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the Savior of the world.
Communion Rite
Our Father…
...for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever.
Sign of Peace
Breaking of the Bread
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.
Communion
This is the Lamb of God…
Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.
Communion Antiphon
Rise up, Jerusalem, stand on the heights, and see the joy that is coming to you from God.
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray.
Father, you give us food from heaven. By our sharing in this mystery, teach us to judge wisely the things of earth and to love the things of heaven. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen
Concluding Rite
Thanks be to God.

Source: http://www.usccb.org/nab/120708.shtml
Vatican ll Weekday Missal, Pauline Books & Media www.pauline.org