Fourth Sunday of Advent B

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.

  • The gospel for the day
  • Commentary on the readings
  • Some optional questions for reflection
  • Prayers of Intercession
  • Cluster Prayer
  • The gospel of the week ahead with questions

Luke 1:26-38  'I am the handmaid of the Lord'


The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.


This is the gospel of the Lord.

Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com.

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved.


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

Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

God brings new life to the barren wife and the unprepared young girl because in the words of the angel: "for nothing is impossible to God".

What wonders could God perform through us if we accept him fully into our lives?

  1. In your faith journey this last year, what did you do/say that surprised you for its boldness
    to accept a challenge even if it did not work out as you had planned?
  2. How do you open your heart to what God wants for you?
    How do you follow the pathway that leads to happiness?    *

* All second questions © The Pastoral Center

Prayers of Intercession


In today’s Gospel, Mary responds with a ‘Yes’ to what is asked of her, the unseen and unimaginable. This is the model of faith to which God calls each of us.

May we experience a renewed sense of wonder at the imminent birth of our Saviour and be always open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, however mysterious and surprising they may seem.

Maranatha

Come Lord Jesus, come

 

For the church throughout the world, that it becomes a beacon for God’s light and love, and awakens Christ in people’s hearts with the true joy of Christmas, as we celebrate the dignity of each human life.

Maranatha

Come Lord Jesus, come

 

As we think back to Bethlehem 2000 years ago, we acknowledge and lament the present devastating violence in Palestine and Israel. May the Spirit of God surround and uphold all who are suffering, grieving, and living in fear, and may the arms of comfort and compassion overwhelm the arms of war.

Maranatha

Come Lord Jesus, come

 

For world leaders, that, through a conversion of their hearts towards a fairer society, babies born now will experience the peace of Christ and not an environmental catastrophe.

Maranatha

Come Lord Jesus, come

 

For those in our communities for whom Christmas is a time of anxiety because of the ever increasing cost of living. May we continue to play our part in sharing the many gifts with which we have been blessed.

Maranatha

Come Lord Jesus, come

 

For all expectant parents and for mothers, fathers, grandparents, caregivers, and everyone entrusted with our children’s lives. May they find strength in these uncertain times to carry out their vocation with love and tenderness.

Maranatha

Come Lord Jesus, come

 

For all who are sick at this time in mind or body. May they find strength and compassion in the hands of those who care for them. We include all on the Prayer Foundation List.

Maranatha

Come Lord Jesus, come

 

For those who have died and those suffering a loss. May they rest in the peace of the lord.

Especially…….

Maranatha

Come Lord Jesus, come


Let us now say together our prayer to be missionary disciples.

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 -  The Holy Family B

      Luke 2: 22-40     My eyes have seen your salvation


When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.
Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:
‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,
just as you promised;
because my eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared for all the nations to see,
a light to enlighten the pagans
and the glory of your people Israel.’
As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’
There was a prophetess also, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. She came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.
When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.

This is the gospel of the Lord.


Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com.

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved


Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

Both Simeon and Anna could recognise greatness in what was, to all intents and purposes, just an ordinary poor Jewish couple coming to the temple with their new-born son.

God never undervalues the ordinariness of life - from which comes incomparable value.

  1. Recall an experience, such as that of Simeon, in which you could see the value of another person and the good that person was bringing about.
  2. What does your family do to honour and respect its oldest members? *

 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center