Presider: Fr. Justin Lopina
Parish: Sacred Heart and Saint Matthew
Choir: St. Charles Schola Cantorum

TEXT FROM THE GOSPEL AND HOMILY

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit.

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you o Lord.

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of Christ he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you see and hear: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me." As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written. Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

So for our joyful Sunday together I want to focus on one aspect of joy. Because joy takes many forms. The one I want to draw your attention to today is the word 'relief.' because Jesus grants sight to the blind, the deaf hear, the lepers are cleansed, he is restoring people after a struggle and we all have our struggles, don't we? So relief is that moment where your struggle has come to an end, even if it's only a temporary end. You know how people use that figure of speech, if we could just get to this point, we'll all breathe a little easier. That literally happens. I've only had that experience once in my life. We were going through some stuff, I was still living at home, and you know we hit that point where the struggle was over, we didn't have to worry about this thing anymore and that night, I layed down on my bed and I literally breathed easier. It was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders and my lungs. And it was such a pleasant feeling. And I thought, how long has that been burdening me? And you know, you've either had an experience like that, you know exactly what I'm talking about, or you don't. That's the best I can express it. But that's relief. When people get that all clear from the doctor. Congratulations the cancer is in remission. Like that is a feeling of relief at that moment when you no longer have to deal with an extremely difficult coworker or you finally have some relief from chronic pain or just some stressful situation has come and gone. That is a joyful moment and during Jesus' earthly ministry he gives moments like that to people. He cures them and he doesn't just cure them physically. Physical heals are always, always, always, paired with a spiritual healing. Of some sort. So on this rose colored, joyful day as we're so close to Christmas, I wish you all especially those in need, a spirit and sense of relief that the joy of the holy spirit may enter into you when you need it the most.

Entrance: Ready the Way
Text: Based on Isaiah 40:3, 4a. Text and music © 2004, Curtis Stephan. Published by Spirit & Song®, a division of OCP. All rights reserved.

Psalm 146: Praise the Lord My Soul
Text © 1969, 1981, 1997, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Music © 2016, Sarah Hart. Published by OCP. All rights reserved.
Preparation: Drawn To You
© 2019, 2020, Sarah Hart. Published by Spirit & Song®, a division of OCP. All rights reserved.

Communion: Remembrance of You
© 2019, 2020, Sarah Hart and Fiat Music, LLC. Published by Spirit & Song®, a division of OCP. All rights reserved.

Sending Forth: Come, Come, Emmanuel
Text: Refrain, Steve Angrisano; verses based on ‘O’ Antiphons. Music and refrain text © 2004, Steve Angrisano. Published by OCP. All rights reserved.

Mass Setting: Mass of Saint Mary Magdalene
Text: Verses 1 & 5 © 1970, 1997, 1998, 2002, CCD. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Verses 2–4
© 1969, 1981, 1997, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Music: Mass of St. Mary Magdalene; Sarah Hart, b. 1968; arr. by Rick Modlin, b. 1966, © 2018, 2019,
Sarah Hart. Published by OCP. All rights reserved.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this liturgy obtained from ONE LICENSE, License No. A-718591.


www.HeartoftheNation.org

свернуть