Readings for Sunday, December 15, 2024 - Third Sunday of Advent. Year C (EPISODE: 509)

Readings for Sunday, December 15, 2024 - Third Sunday of Advent. Year C (EPISODE: 509)
FIRST READING: Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6. "Cry Out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and holy one of Israel"
SECOND READING: Philippians 4:4-7
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 3:10-18). Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he sent me to bring the Good news to the poor. Alleluia!
GOSPEL: Luke 3:10-18

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/rJPira9rQSynlXriMSQp?ru=Paul-Evangelion 

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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Third Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 15, 2024, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-advent-2/s-fQ65pViw6Ij  (EPISODE: 509)
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There's something really reassuring and pleasant about today's Gospel. In the readings this weekend, the tone of Advent lightens, particularly. There's a theme of gladness in the air.

 

The readings speak of rejoicing. The approaching birth of the Lord brings joy. Even the name for this Sunday of Advent is traditionally known as "Rejoice Sunday."

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In this time of Advent reflection, there's building excitement for the imminent celebration of the birth of our Lord. When we look at the readings, it's interesting to note that the reason why we should rejoice and be glad is not that everything is going well, although good fortune and success are even further causes for joy and thanksgiving, but in the Scripture, we rejoice and are glad because God is near. No matter what is happening, success or failure, sickness or health, freedom or oppression, God is near to us.

 

God is always with us, very, very near to us. In our hearts and minds, our God comes to us to sustain us, save us and grant us forgiveness and hope. Also, God gives us peace in answer to our prayers.

 

Saint Paul refers to this when he writes, don't worry, but if you need anything at all, ask for it and God will grant you his peace. That's really important. The first response God offers us, no matter what our prayers or requests is, God gives us peace.

 

And by implication, God's peace is everything we need to cope with whatever is happening. The mark of a civilised nation is surely to be found in how it cares for and protects its most vulnerable members. I'm thinking of children, the young and all vulnerable adults, the elderly, the frail.

 

Let's continue to build a safer and non-violent society that particularly and absolutely values life and protects all its members, especially the young and vulnerable. So let's continue to pray for people suffering the effects of hatred, violence, destruction and war. May those who die from senseless acts of violence be taken to the place of peace and rest in the compassionate arms of our Lord.

 

Let's pray and work together, inspired by these prayers, that the world will find new and better ways to put an end to this kind of violence and devastation and bring peace and safety to all people's lives. It's their right. It's what they need.

 

It's what God desires for them. The world has been blessed by God's gift of inspiration and genius to so many people of goodwill, to so many people of love who are working constantly to create a better world, who are reaching out to those especially in need. God has lovingly inspired people who desire to fill in the valleys of prejudice and hatred, to level the mountains of ignorance, selfishness and pride, and to straighten the paths of hatred and violence.

 

So, let us pray that these minds and hearts of love and peace will prevail. John the Baptist today is getting everyone prepared for the coming of the Messiah. He tells everyone, repent of your sins, turn around, change your ways, because the Lord is near.

 

And the people of all different vocations and stations in life all ask some natural questions in response to this. Okay, if we are to change, what must we do? This is a question we all ask. Lord, show us what we have to do to make the changes you desire in our lives.

 

John shows us those changes. He says, share your food and material goods with those who have nothing. Act fairly, justly and honestly with others.

 

Never act with intimidation or threat. Avoid disgruntlement, envy, dissatisfaction, jealousy and criticism or negativity. And we could add so many other wonderful practical actions and attitudes that show the reverence we have to our God of justice and mercy, of love and kindness and practical charity.

 

And all of these beautiful things flow through to how we treat one another. God our Father knows that we're not perfect and that only with his grace can we respond daily to his love. Every new day our Father raises us up and invites us to again trust in him, to seek his help, so that we can grow deeper in practical ways in faithfulness and love.

 

I think of Mary, the mother of God, who although she doesn't feature expressly in today's gospel, she does feature in the readings over the coming week. Mary treasured all these things in her heart. Mary treasured or pondered the things that were happening to her, even when some of those events that were occurring were not exactly happy times.

 

Mary treasured things in her heart that were confusing and alarming, disorientating, all sorts of things. She treasured everything because she utterly trusted in God's love and care and treasured and pondered on everything that was happening in her life. Mary constantly pondered the fact that God was near to her and was faithful to her.

 

Let's rejoice and take heart that the nearness of the Lord always, particularly at his coming at Christmastime, will sustain and strengthen us in good times and in bad. We're promised peace from God. We're promised that God is near to us as we stay attentive to God's ways and active in justice and compassion.

 

God's inner peace does not necessarily promise that everything's going to go well in our environment or our world, but God's inner peace will sustain us and guide us in times of both tranquility and also, just as importantly, this peace will guide us and sustain us in times of outer turmoil. God's peace will be given to us in our constant combination of prayer and thanksgiving. God's grace will lift us up in times of joy and celebration and also God's grace will sustain us and help us and carry us through in times of trouble.

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References:

Homily by Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit:

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Third Sunday of Advent. Year C (Sunday, December 15, 2024) (EPISODE: 509)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Good wishes to you all.}}
In the Name of the Father (+) and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Lord be with you.

We continue on our Advent journey. We now light the third Advent candle. The "Shepherd's Candle" - reminding us of the Joy the world experienced at the birth of Christ.

(The Presider/helper lights the third candle)

O Lord and leader of Israel. Come and save us with your mighty power. Lord Have mercy.

O Stock of Jesse, Come to deliver us, without delay. Christ, Have mercy.

O Key of David and sceptre of Israel, Come to free those who sit in the valley and shadow of death. Lord, Have mercy.

*(no Gloria in Advent)*

COLLECT:
 Let us pray,
O God, who see how your people
faithfully await the feast of the Lord's Nativity,
enable us, we pray,
to attain the joys of so great a salvation
and to celebrate them always
with solemn worship and glad rejoicing.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit. God, forever and ever.

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Prayer after Communion

Let us pray, 
We implore your mercy, Lord,
that this divine sustenance may cleanse us of our faults
and prepare us for the coming feasts.
Through Christ our Lord.

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DISMISSAL:
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
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Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6. "Cry Out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and holy one of Israel"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 3:10-18). Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he sent me to bring the Good news to the poor. Alleluia!

Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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PREFACE: Advent II
EP III
Communion side. pwk: LH
(theme variation: v2 )
(pre+post variation: v1-lshort)
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{May God's grace strengthen your love and hope and faith, and may God's love surprise you even in the trials and challenges of the week.}

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

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Archive of homilies and reflections: homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks 

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection " - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

"O Come. Lord. (Advent) " - In Memory of Paolo Mario (Paul) Giacomantonio (1968-2020).
By Paul W. Kelly. Based on the Ancient church "O Antiphons " of Advent.
Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics, By Stefan Kelk, 2020.

[ Production - KER - 2024]

May God bless and keep you.

{extra text : unspoken for Advent -

Roman Missal, 3rd edition, 2010, (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA.

"The Psalms " by The Grail - 1963, 2009.

Prayers of the Faithful - Robert Borg "Together we pray " - (1993) }

Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.

Microphones: - SHURE MOTIV MV5

Editing equipment: NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[ Production - KER - 2024

May God bless and keep you.
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