AD SENSE

Christmas - Liturgical Prayers

 Greeting (See Second Reading)

    In our own time God has spoken to us
    through his own Son,
    the radiant light of God's glory
    through whom he made everything.
    May this Son, Jesus the Lord, be with you. 
    R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant


Many times in the course of history God spoke and his Word was effective and liberating. He spoke, and the world was made. He spoke, and man and woman were created. He spoke, and he created the free nation of Israel, his Chosen People. But Israel refused to listen to God in the prophets and the gloom of sin over the world settled also over his people. God did not give up on humanity. He spoke his definitive Word, Jesus, and Jesus came and was born a child of people. He came to save us. Do we listen to his Word? Do we give him our word of acceptance and love?

Penitential Act

  We hear God's Word in the Good News
    and in the life of Jesus.
    Do we respond to Jesus' message?
    Let us examine ourselves.
    (PAUSE)
    Lord Jesus, you have brought to all nations
    God's justice and truth and love:
    Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
    Jesus Christ, we sing a new song to you,
    we sing out our joy at your coming:
    Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
    Lord Jesus, we acclaim you as our Lord
    for you have worked wonders among us:
    Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
    Be merciful to us, Lord,
    and speak your Word that sets us free from sin.
    Lead us to the joy of everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

    Let us pray
    that God's Word may be alive in us today
    (PAUSE)
    Our Faithful God,
    you make yourself known
    and speak to us through Jesus Christ,
    your image and your living Word.
    Open our ears and hearts,
    that we may receive your Word and keep it.
    Let your Word become flesh among us
    also in our words of peace and truth
    and in our deeds of justice and love,
    of friendship and self-effacing service.
    May this be the way by which people recognize
    that your Son is alive among us today,
    and may they praise you for ever. R/ Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction: The Good News of Liberation. God announces liberation to his people in captivity. This liberation is brought to us today by Jesus.

Second Reading Introduction: Now God Speaks To Us Through His Son. God has often spoken to people, but since the coming of his Son on earth, he speaks to us his definitive word, Jesus. In him we see what God means and who God is.

Gospel Introduction: And the Word Became Flesh. The evangelist John speaks to us of the mystery of Jesus: he is the image of the Father, his Word became a man, his light in our darkness, God living among us. Do we accept him as he is?

General Intercessions

God speaks to us his living word, Jesus. Let us now speak our fumbling words to Jesus, our Lord and brother, as we say. R/ Speak your word to us, Lord.

    - Jesus, for all who speak to the People of God the liberating words of your Good News, that they themselves may be filled with it and out of this fullness proclaim it with conviction and warmth, we pray: R/ Speak your word to us, Lord.
    - Jesus, for all who hear your living word, that they may receive it, treasure it in their hearts, and let it bear fruits of justice and love, we pray: R/ Speak your word to us, Lord.
    - Jesus, for all who do not yet know you, that the lives of many convinced Christians may open their eyes to you, the true light of the world, we pray: R/ Speak your word to us, Lord.
    - Jesus for those who speak words of bitterness and cry out their loneliness and misery, that we may speak to them comforting words of hope, we pray: R/ Speak your word to us, Lord.
    - Jesus, for your body on earth, our communities, that we may live in peace with God and each other, and that we may be of one heart and soul, we pray: R/ Speak your word to us, Lord.

Lord Jesus, you entered our world and know our needs and desires. Do not always give what we ask but what we really need and stay with us, now and forever. 
    R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts

    Our loving God and Father,
    you let Jesus speak his mighty word
    and these gifts of bread and wine
    become his flesh and blood
    for the life of the world.
    Let your Son also speak to us
    from heart to heart,
    that he may fill our empty words
    with the power of integrity and truth
    and that he may change us, timid as we are,
    into people of peace and courage,
    who live without compromise
    the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

    Break into shouts of joy together, for the Lord has come to save his people. We thank and praise the Father in heaven for the gift of his Son to us and to the world.

Invitation to the Lord's Prayer

    God will hear our stammering words if we pray to him with Jesus: R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us

    Deliver us, Lord, from the darkness
    of sin, of our fears, of all evil.
    Open our eyes to the light
    of your forgiveness and love,
    that your peace may be with us.
    Make us free for anyone who needs us,
    that together we may be your new people
    who build up in hope and joy
    your world and your kingdom.
    Lead us to our future in you
    through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

Prayer for Peace

    Lord Jesus Christ,
    you entered our world
    as the Father's Word of peace.
    Give your people and every nation
    a peace based on justice and truth.
    Dispose us to offer to one another
    signs of reconciliation
    and to speak words of welcome and peace.
    Unite us in the peace of your kingdom
    where you live forever and ever. R/ Amen.

Invitation to Communion

    This is Jesus, God's living Word,
    the true light that shines on all people.
    Happy are those who receive him,
    for he makes them children of God. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion

    Lord God, almighty Father,
    you have filled us with the Word
    and the body of Jesus your Son.
    You have entrusted your Son to us;
    may his word of Good News be on our lips
    to tell it to one another
    and may we give shape and life to it
    by building up his community of justice and love.
    Let us become with him
    your word and your gift,
    and your sign of hope to the world.
    We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing 

    God has spoken to us here today
    not in mere promises
    but in the living person of his own Son.
    He came as the light brightening our darkness.
    How could we still be in the dark?
    He has made us children of God.
    Do we live as sons and daughters of God?
    He came to bring light and life
    to all the world.
    Have we spread his light?
    In the joy of Christmas,
    let us not forget our task
    to give him to the world.
    And may God bless and keep you all: 
    the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

    Go in the peace of Christ 
    and bear witness to his love. 
    R/ Thanks be to God.