2nd Sunday of Advent A

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.

The gospel for the day
(a useful commentary on the reading here)
Some optional questions for reflection
Prayers of Intercession
Cluster Prayer
The gospel of the week ahead with questions

Matthew 3:1-12 The one who follows me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

In due course John the Baptist appeared;

he preached in the wilderness of Judaea and this was his message:

‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’

This was the man the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said:

A voice cries in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight.

This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather belt round his waist,

and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him,

and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins.

But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism

he said to them,

‘Brood of vipers, who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming?

But if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit,

and do not presume to tell yourselves,

“We have Abraham for our father,” because, I tell you,

God can raise children for Abraham from these stones.

Even now the axe is laid to the roots of the trees,

so that any tree which fails to produce good fruit

will be cut down and thrown on the fire.

I baptise you in water for repentance,

but the one who follows me is more powerful than I am,

and I am not fit to carry his sandals;

he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing-fan is in his hand;

he will clear his threshing-floor and gather his wheat into the barn;

but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.’w

This is the gospel of the Lord

Having used our prayer resources, you might want simply to reflect yourself on them and how that might flow into your coming week. Some people have found it very helpful to meet with others and share their thoughts.
If you are interested in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word from any of the resources you have watched please email us. cluster.alpha@outlook.com

As John says, we have been baptised with the Holy Spirit and with fire,

so let's show the evidence of that each day as we prepare for our Saviour's birth.

Share ideas about how we can be a living Advent calendar - opening our hearts each day through little gestures and acts of kindness towards those around us - and doing it with gratitude and joy!
What do you need to change so that others can learn from watching you that Christ walks among us?*

* All second questions © The Pastoral Center

Prayers of Intercession

In today's gospel we read of John the Baptist preparing a way for the Lord.

We pray for Pope Francis that, like a herald’s voice in the desert, he will continue to prepare a way for the Lord proclaiming what is true and just even when it is unpopular.

Maranatha R/ Come Lord Jesus Come

For nations in crisis, those at war, those suffering political turmoil.

Grant that the leaders of all nations may work together to attain peace with justice in our world

so that the basic needs of all will be met.

Maranatha R/ Come Lord Jesus Come

For refugees, asylum seekers and all who are far from home, seeking shelter.

May those who have the power to make a difference, be moved with compassion

and welcome them to our shores.

Maranatha R/ Come Lord Jesus Come

For those in our community who find the season of Advent a difficult time –

people on their own, who are lonely and those with difficult memories.

For parents anxious about the stresses of the Christmas season.

We pray for all who are cold and hungry because of fuel poverty, and for those who seek to help them.

May each one of us reflect the image of God in our locality

by the way we live our lives and generously share our resources.

Maranatha R/ Come Lord Jesus Come

For those who are ill in mind or body at home or in hospital,

and all those named in our Prayer foundation.

May they be comforted by the love and compassion of those who care for them.

Maranatha . R/ Come Lord Jesus Come

For those who have died recently and those who mourn them.

We remember especially Mary Thomson, James Waugh, Sadie McCole, Bridget Goonan, Nancy Barta, Miriam Rodriguez de Chanagá, Colm O'Brien, Molly Dobson, Joy Ellison... and all whose anniversaries occur at this time.

Grant them eternal peace

Maranatha R/Come Lord Jesus Come

Let's continue with our cluster prayer.

Prayer to be Missionary Disciples

Lord continue to bless our community
in this time of transition.
Help us on our journey
to grow from a maintenance church
to a missionary church.
Give us the courage
to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough
to receive all who need
human love and fellowship;
narrow enough to shut out
all envy, pride and prejudice.
Kindle in us the fire of your love
that all who come here
will find joy, peace and love.
Make this a house of prayer
and a gateway to your kingdom.
AMEN

Preparing for next week - Third Sunday of Advent A

Matthew 11: 2-11 "A greater than John the Baptist has never been seen."

John in his prison had heard what Christ was doing and he sent his disciples to ask him,

‘Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?’

Jesus answered, ‘Go back and tell John what you hear and see; the blind see again,

and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear,

and the dead are raised to life and the Good News is proclaimed to the poor;

and happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.’

As the messengers were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the people about John:

‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the breeze? No?

Then what did you go out to see? A man wearing fine clothes?

Oh no, those who wear fine clothes are to be found in palaces.

Then what did you go out for? To see a prophet?

Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet: he is the one of whom scripture says:

‘Look, I am going to send my messenger before you;
he will prepare your way before you.'

I tell you solemnly, of all the children born of women, a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.

Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

"No one could call John's message a gospel, good news; it was basically a threat of destruction. It took Jesus and his Cross to show to men the length, breadth, depth and height of the love of God... The man who has seen the Cross has seen the heart of God in a way that no man who lived before the Cross could ever see it. Indeed the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than any man who went before."

William Barclay, Scottish Biblical Scholar (with apologies for the lack of inclusive language)

When have you felt deeply God's love for you? Recall what triggered your thoughts and feelings.
Write a short prayer of praise and joy because of it. (Share with your group)
How do you prepare yourself to meet Christ in those around you?*