Year 35 No.
23 2nd Sunday of Advent (C) — Violet
Catholic Handicapped Day/ National AIDS Sunday
A Voice that Leads
V oices. A cacophony of
voices. Two months before
the official campaign period for
the 2022 elections, our ears are
already bombarded by so many
voices asking for our attention
and votes, and the strategies
they employ are inexhaustible
just to take our attention.
The Gospel today tells us of
voices we must heed so that we
may discern the voice of a true
leader. Luke presents John as a
voice in the wilderness against
the background of the political
and religious leadership of his
time. He enumerates the political
leaders with their title and
areas of power (their bailiwicks
perhaps?): Tiberius Caesar, the
emperor, has the Roman empire;
Pontius Pilate, the governor, has
Judea; Herod, son of Herod the
Great, is tetrarch of Galilee;
Philip, another son of Herod
the Great, is tetrarch of Ituraea
and Trachonitis; and Lysanias
is tetrarch of Abilene. On the
other hand, the religious leaders
Annas and Caiaphas, by lineage,
connection, and position, have
the high priesthood.
In contrast to the political and
religious leaders, John comes as
one divinely called: “The word
of God came to John” (Lk 3:2).
But mind you, these days, many
will claim they are anointed
by God. By closely listening
to our other readings, we can
separate the gold from the dross.
John, preaching forgiveness
and repentance (Lk 3:3), knows
his tradition. Luke further says
of John’s voice resounding:
“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.”
Prophet John is certain that all
the peoples, “from the east and
the west,” as Baruch says in the
First Reading, “are remembered
by God” (Bar 5:5), enumerating
all other actions of God to
Jerusalem until “God is leading
Israel in joy by the light of his
glory, with his mercy and justice
for company” (Bar 5:7). This
certitude is further echoed by
Paul who as a prophet proclaims
to his beloved Philippians out
of joy, affection, and gratitude:
“I am confident of this, that the
December 5, 2021
by Br. Hansel Mapayo, SSP
one who began a good work in
you will continue to complete
it until the day of Christ Jesus”
(Phil 1:6).
We learn two things as we
discern these voices. The voice
that leads is God’s. In the recesses
of our conscience and heart, we
are therefore confident that the
voice that leads does not come
from those who flaunt their
egos in their power, position,
and purse. The motivation for
gathering people is the indicator.
The voice that leads is one that
guides us to the Voice and total
salvation, tilting the balance for
justice and mercy as the primary
motivation.
And John’s voice teaches us
another thing: he lives out what
he has heard and learned. John,
in his simplicity and humility,
lived in the desert and, having
been called, went throughout
the region of Jordan to make
people hear the message of
God (Lk 3:3-4). He is a voice
that, despite his frugal ways and
simplicity, leads us to certitude
in our choices, hopefully to
make us proclaim in the spirit
of Advent, “The Lord has done
great things for us; we are filled
with joy” (Ps 126).

THE INTRODUCTORY RITES
Entrance Antiphon
(Cf. Is 30:19, 30)
(Recited when there is no opening song.)
O people of Sion, behold, the
Lord will come to save the
nations, and the Lord will make
the glory of his voice heard in
the joy of your heart.
Lighting of the Advent Candle
(The lighting of the second candle of
the Advent wreath may be made after
the entrance song, with the following or
similar prayer:)
P—Father, as we journey on this
Season of Advent, we relight the
candle of hope, and we light the
candle of peace. Grant us the
courage to make peace: peace in
our hearts, peace in our homes,
and peace in our country.
All—Amen.
Greeting
(The sign of the cross is made here.)
P—Grace to you and peace
All—Lord, have mercy.
P—You came to call sinners:
Christ, have mercy.
All—Christ, have mercy.
P—You are seated at the right
hand of the Father to intercede
for us: Lord, have mercy.
All—Lord, have mercy.
P—May almighty God have
mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
All—Amen.
(During Advent, the Gloria is omitted.)
Collect
P — Let us pray. (Pause)
Almighty and merciful God,
may no earthly undertaking
hinder those who set out in
haste to meet your Son, but
may our learning of heavenly
wisdom gain us admittance to
his company.
Who lives and reigns with
you in the unity of the Holy
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 lofty
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 is
leading Israel in joy by the light
of his glory, with his mercy and
justice for company.
—The word of the Lord.
All—Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm (Ps 126)
R—The Lord has done great
things for us; we are filled
with joy.
Mark Alegre

 = 80
Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
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from God our Father and the
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    
All — Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ. 
All—And with your spirit. The

Introduction Liturgy of the word

(These [or similar words] may be used  
 
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E B/D♯ A/C♯ A/B
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2

to address the assembly.)

First Reading (Bar 5:1–9) (Sit) 
P—The Second Sunday of Lord has done great

Advent reminds us that the The prophet Baruch por trays

Jerusalem as a mother longing

  
Bsus B E
ancient promises are going
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3

to be fulfilled here and now.

to gather her children from exile.  
Jerusalem is invited to stop
Together with John the Baptist, mourning because God will make things for us;
let us be ready and prepare her children return to her.
the way of the Lord. May we  
A Bsus B E

  
4

acknowledge our sinfulness A reading from the Book of      

and our pride, and be pure
and blameless for the day of
the Lord is near at hand.
We also pray, in this Mass, for
all our handicapped brethren
and those who are suffering
because of AIDS. May the
Lord be their sure hope and
consolation in their affliction.
Penitential Act
P—Brethren (brothers and
sisters), let us acknowledge our
sins, and so prepare ourselves to
celebrate the sacred mysteries.
(Pause)
P—You were sent to heal the
contrite of heart: Lord, have
mercy.
the Prophet Baruch
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
we are filled with joy.
1. 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)
2. 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)
3. Restore our fortunes, O
LORD,/ like the torrents in
the southern desert./ Those
who sow in tears/ shall reap
rejoicing. (R)
4. Although they go forth
weeping,/ carrying the seed
to be sown,/ They shall come
back rejoicing,/ carrying their
sheaves. (R)
Second Reading
(Phil 1:4–6, 8–11)
The apostle Paul encourages the
Christians of Philippi to be “pure
and blameless for the day of Christ.”
The Christian faith, lived in joy and
faithfulness, is the best preparation
for Christ’s coming.
A reading from the Letter of
Saint Paul to the Philippians
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.
All —Thanks be to God.
Alleluia (Lk 3:4, 6) (Stand)
All—Alleluia, alleluia. Prepare
the way of the Lord, make
straight his paths: all flesh
shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel (Lk 3:1–6)
P—A reading from the holy
Gospel according to Luke
All—Glory to you, O Lord.
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.
All—Praise to you, Lord Jesus
Christ.
Homily (Sit)
Profession of Faith (Stand)
All—I believe in one God,
the Father almighty, maker of
heaven and earth, of all things
visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus
Christ, the Only Begotten Son of
God, born of the Father before
all ages. God from God, Light
from Light, true God from
true God, begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were
made. For us men and for our
salvation he came down from
heaven, (at the words that follow, up
to and including and became man,
all bow) and by the Holy Spirit
was incarnate of the Virgin
Mary and became man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate, he suffered
death and was buried, and
rose again on the third day in
accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and
is seated at the right hand of
the Father. He will come again
in glory to judge the living and
the dead and his kingdom will
have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life, who
proceeds from the Father and
the Son, who with the Father
and the Son is adored and
glorified, who has spoken
through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic,
and apostolic Church. I confess
one Baptism for the forgiveness
of sins and I look forward to
the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to
come. Amen.
Prayer of the Faithful
P—Longing for the Lord’s
coming, let us now turn to our
Heavenly Father to help us
prepare the way of the Lord.
Full of confidence, we pray:
R—Lord, graciously hear us.
C—For Church leaders and
missionaries: may they have
the zeal and courage to go
out of their comfort zones and
reach out to those who are in
the peripheries. We pray: (R)
C—For government officials and
those who are in public office:
may they shun corruption and
their selfish interests, and
promote peace, justice, love,
and equality instead. We pray:
(R)
C—For the victims of the
Covid-19 pandemic: may
they find healing and spiritual
nourishment from the true healer,
Jesus Christ, our savior. We pray:
(R)
C—For our handicapped
brethren and those who are
suffering from AIDS: may they
have recourse and consolation
in our God who is always with
us and in us. We pray: (R)
C—For our departed brothers
and sisters: may they enjoy
the company of Christ with
his angels and saints in God’s
Kingdom. We pray: (R)
C—Let us pray for the urgent
concerns of our community
and our personal intentions
(pause). We pray: (R)
P—Heavenly Father, level the
mountains of our pride and hate
so that love and forgiveness
may truly reign in our hearts as
we await the coming of Christ
your Son and our Lord.
All—Amen.
Liturgy of
the eucharist
Presentation of the Gifts
(Stand)
P—Pray, brethren…
All—May the Lord accept the
sacrifice at your hands for the
praise and glory of his name,
for our good and the good of
all his holy Church.

Prayer over the Offerings

P—Be pleased, O Lord, with our
humble prayers and offerings,
and, since we have no merits
to plead our cause, come, we
pray, to our rescue with the
protection of your mercy.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
Preface I of Advent
(The two comings of Christ)
P—The Lord be with you.
All—And with your spirit.
P—Lift up your hearts.
All—We lift them up to the Lord.
P—Let us give thanks to the
Lord our God.
All—It is right and just.
P—It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give
you thanks, Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.
For he assumed at his first
coming the lowliness of human
flesh, and so fulfilled the design
you formed long ago, and
opened for us the way to eternal
salvation, that, when he comes
again in glory and majesty and all
is at last made manifest, we who
watch for that day may inherit
the great promise in which now
we dare to hope.
And so, with Angels and
Archangels, with Thrones and
Dominions, and with all the
hosts and Powers of heaven, we
sing the hymn of your glory, as
without end we acclaim:
All—Holy, Holy, Holy...(Kneel)
Acclamation (Stand)
All—When we eat this Bread
and drink this Cup, we proclaim
your Death, O Lord, until you
come again.
THE COMMUNION RITE
The Lord’s Prayer
All—Our Father…
P—Deliver us, Lord…
All—For the kingdom, the
power and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Invitation to Peace
Invitation to Communion
(Kneel)
P—Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away
the sins of the world. Blessed
are those called to the supper
of the Lamb.
All—Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under
my roof, but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.
Communion Antiphon
(Bar 5:5; 4:36)
Jerusalem, arise and stand upon
the heights, and behold the joy
which comes to you from God.
Prayer after Communion
(Stand)
P—Let us pray. (Pause)
Replenished by the food
of spiritual nourishment, we
humbly beseech you, O Lord,
that, through our partaking in
this mystery, you may teach
us to judge wisely the things
of earth and hold firm to the
things of heaven.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
THE CONCLUDING RITES
P—The Lord be with you.
All—And with your spirit.
Solemn Blessing
P—Bow down for the blessing.
(Pause)
Turn your people to you
with all their heart, O Lord,
we pray, for you protect even
those who go astray, but when
they serve you with undivided
heart, you sustain them with
still greater care.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
P — And may the blessing of
almighty God, the Father, and
the Son, + and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain
with you for ever.
All—Amen.
Dismissal
P—The Mass has been offered.
Go in peace, glorifying the
Lord by your life.
All—Thanks be to God.