Hymns for Mass – Press Here

FIRST READING (Jerusalem, God will show your splendor.)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Baruch (5:1-9)

Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever: wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.

Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God. Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones. For God has commanded that every loft y mountain be made low, and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground, that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God. The forests and every fragrant kind of tree have overshadowed Israel at God’s command; for God isleading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6)

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. (Ps 126:3)

When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. (R)

Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad indeed. (R)

Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the torrents in the southern desert. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. (R)

Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. (R)

SECOND READING (Show yourselves pure and blameless for the day of Christ.)

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians (1:4-6, 8-11)

Brothers and sisters: I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Lk 3:4, 6)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (R)

GOSPEL (All flesh shall see the salvation of God.)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (3:1-6)

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” —The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

“Prepare the way of the Lord!”

In most big cities – and here in Hong Kong is no exception – it seems that there are only really two seasons: the hot, rainy one, and the time for road and building construction. These days, the excitment of a weekend road trip is often tempered by the thought of detours and long lines of single-lane traffic.

Then there are the times of city marathons, or MTR blockages like last Thursday, or visits by special world leaders or guests that both prompt a repair of major roads, but also the closure of the same roads to regular traffic. We learn to plot alternate routes to avoid inconvenience or long delays. Such road repairs and conditions become a symbol of contemporary urban life.

Today’s readings invite us in a way to think of scenes of road construction. The prophet Baruch paints a poignant scene following years of exile where God is now calling the people back. A devastated Jerusalem is instructed to put aside its grief, to clothe itself in splendor, and to stand on the heights in order to see its scattered children streaming back home from exile. Baruch cries out, “Up- Jerusalem! Stand upon the heights; Look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and west… remembered by God.” Led away in shame by enemies decades earlier, the Israelites are now brought back in glory BY GOD. The road back home has been repaired for this great return. Impassable mountains have been brought low and ditches and gorges have been built up and smoothed over. And Israel enjoys the security that God’s providence furnishes.

In the Gospel, Luke alludes to a similar passage from the prophet Isaiah depicting a similar scene. In the original setting, the exiled people were told that God would lead them home, much as God had led their ancestors out of the slavery of Egypt, through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. The exiled people were assured that all obstacles (waters, deserts, famine, drought and dangers) would be removed from their path so that this could be accomplished. In the Gospel we just heard, Luke connects John the Baptist, who lived in the wilderness of Judea, with that “voice crying out in the desert.” By implication, if John the Baptist is the VOICE announcing the coming salvation of God, then JESUS is the ONE WHO WILL LEAD THE PEOPLE BACK HOME.

The readings do not focus on a story of Jesus coming TO US as some would expect for Advent. Instead, they want us to think of Jesus’ coming WITH US . The Lord does not just secure salvation for us; he himself will be the one to lead us to that salvation. It is because there will be obstacles in our path then road construction or reform is necessary. This is not a sort of repair work that we can avoid by taking a detour or alternate route, or by waiting until the work is completed. We are called to become involved in the reconstruction work of this road, moving carefully on our way, repairing the road as we go along.

What obstacles might we encounter on this journey that must be removed? That is the call of Advent. As individuals, we might have to overcome deep-seated resentment, or persistent fault-finding in others, or an unwillingness to really forgive another; or removing dishonesty in the way we deal with others, or a sense of superiority or bullying towards are relatives, neighbours or work colleagues. Our life may be ruled by pride, or by lust or an insatiable desire to possess. There are many obstacles on this road of life that can prevent us from hearing God’s CALL or RESPONDING to it.

Then there are groups to which we belong that can also set up obstacles. As a society we may have to work to dismantle unfair or unjust housing policies, employment disparity, economic injustice, or ethnic biases. We might be called to be more active in opposing violence, or exploitation of women and children, or the general disregard for the integrity of creation or of the dignity of each person. RENEWAL is a fact of Christian life.

The image of a restored Jerusalem that was held out to the people of Israel in exile encouraged them as they began the long and difficult journey back home. The city they loved so dearly was now clothed in the “splendor of glory from God… wrapped in the cloak of justice.” This image offered to us today is no less resplendent. It is the journey to the New Jerusalem, the new city of peace and justice, the reign of God on earth. The journey toward that city may be tedious, and the obstacles we encounter on the way may seem overwhelming at times, but God leads us just as he led the Israelites. Our responsorial psalm reminds us that it was God “who brought back the captives of Zion.” And “just as the Lord has done great thigs for them,” so too “the LORD has done great things for us.” Our faith assures us of this, and St. Paul reminds us in the 2nd reading when he reassures us that “the one who began the good work in you will continue to complete it.”

Last week, we welcomed a new group of adult catechumens who began their own journey to God a few months ago. Two of them will be baptized at Christmas and the rest – God-willing – at Easter this coming year. We pray that the Lord, who began the good work of Calling each of them by name will bring this work to completion. And for our community, what in your own personal life still presents an obstacle on the path to salvation? Can we be a light and help to our new catechumens on their own journey? Yes indeed we can, Because “The Lord has done great things for us!.

Prayers

Celebrant: John the Baptist proclaimed that “All mankind will see the salvation of God.” Therefore, we pray confidently for the needs of all God’s children.

READER: That the Catholic Church may be pure and blameless in all her members, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For our newly-installed Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan, S.J. that God will grant him wisdom, courage and good health, so as to lead us, his flock, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: That people without faith may discover that the Lord has done great things for us, and be filled with joy. (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For thanksgiving for newly born babies in our parish and for w3expectant couples and newly-married couples that their hopes and dreams be fulfilled as the Lord leads us to Christmas, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: [SMC ONLY For the deceased members of the Tsoi and Edwards families for whom today’s Mass is offered, and] For the intentions we carry in our hearts that we remember now in silence. (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

CELEBRANT: Almighty and merciful God, for you all things are possible; fulfill our hopes and intentions, as we confidently pray to you, through Christ our Lord. (all) AMEN.