RICHARD: Although the Advent season has not begun yet, there is a strong Advent feel about our Mass today – gazing into the future and yearning for a different world! In a moment of history when there is so much conflict and turmoil, so much destruction of our planet, we listen to dramatic words from God … warning us to be constant in faith before the disasters that overwhelm us personally and afflict our world; to be a people of peace in the midst of every violence; to offer a witness of courage before a world that oppresses; to struggle for justice for all the excluded no matter the cost: let us come before our God with repentant hearts…
READER: For the times when our faith falters and crumbles
before the tragedies and crises of our life…
LORD HAVE MERCY…
For the times we give way to anger,
and hurt others by our words or our actions
instead of channeling our anger into love’s struggle for justice…
CHRIST HAVE MERCY…
For the times we ignore the injustices, oppressions
and denials of human rights in our world,
when we will not change our life-style to heal our planet
LORD HAVE MERCY…
RICHARD: May the God who comes…
fill our hearts with His compassion and mercy
for a world oppressed and wounded;
May Jesus, anointed to be bearer of God’s Peace to the earth…
touch us and the world’s victims with justice and freedom;
May the Spirit of God’s Fire…
purify our love and make us a prophetic people of courage,
bringing all the world the fullness of Life…
AMEN!