4 ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Drop-down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just Weekly Parish Newsletter One; let the earth be opened and bring forth a Saviour. (Is 45:8) Bollettino Parrocchiale Settimanale A reading from the Book of Micah (5:2-5a) A reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Hebrews (10:5-10) Volume 9 - Issue 46th “Year C” 20th December 2015 The Lord says this: “You, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are Brethren, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come offerings thou hast not desired, but a body hast thou prepared for FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast taken no pleasure. The Parish Community of St. Brigid and St. Mark from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them Then I said, ‘Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God,’ as it is written of 378 Nicholson Street— North Fitzroy 3068 VIC Member of Central Deanery [email protected] up until the time when she who is in travail has brought forth; me in the roll of the book.” When he said above, “Thou hast neither then the rest of his brethren shall return to the people of Isra- desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt of- We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people, the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we stand. We pay our respects to them for their care of the land. May we walk gently on this land. el. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the ferings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), Lord in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And then he added, “Lo, I have come to do thy will.” He abolishes the Mercy: the purpose of Jesus’ coming Misericordia: lo scopo della venuta di Gesú they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends first in order to establish the second. And it is by God’s will that we Friday night the Door of Mercy was Venerdí scorso in questa chiesa fu aperta la of the earth. And this shall be peace.” have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus opened in our church – let us walk through it Porta della Misericordia – entriamo e scopriamo Christ once for all. This is the Word of the Lord. This is the Word of the Lord. and discover the Merciful Lord who “has come il Dio Misericordioso che “é venuto a salvare e Alleluia, alleluia! “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it to save and give life to the full”. Pope Francis dare la pienezza di vita”. Papa Francesco, nell’ in announcing the Jubilee Year of Mercy annunciare l’anno giubilare della Misericordia, Responsorial Psalm: be to me according to your word.” Alleluia! (Lk 1:38) wrote: scrive: Response: God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine The mission Jesus received from the Father La missione che Gesú ha ricevuto dal Padre é on us and we shall be saved. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Luke(1:39-45) was that of revealing the mystery of divine stata quella di rivelare il mistero dell’amore Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of love in its fullness. “God is love” (1Jn 4: 8.16), divino nella sua pienezza. “Dio é amore” (1 Gv. O shepherd of Israel, hear us, shine forth from your cherubim John affirms for the first and only time in all of 4: 8.16), afferma per la prima e unica volta in throne. O Lord, rouse up your might, O Lord come to our help. Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Eliza- beth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe the Holy Scripture. This love has now been tutta la Sacra Scrittura l’evangelista Giovanni. R./ made visible and tangible in Jesus’ entire life. Questo amore é ormai reso visibile e tangibile in leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit God of hosts, turn again, we implore, look down from heaven and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among wom- His person is nothing but love, a love given tutta la vita di Gesú. La sua persona non é altro and see. Visit this vine and protect it, the vine your right hand en, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted gratuitously. The relationships he forms with che amore, un amore che si dona gratuitamente. has planted. R./ me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, the people who approach him manifest something entirely unique Le sue relazioni con le persone che lo accostano manifestano qualcosa when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my and unrepeatable. The signs he works, especially in favour of di unico e di irripetibile. I segni che compie, soprattutto nei confronti dei May your hand be on the man you have chosen, the man you sinners, the poor, the marginalized, the sick, and the suffering, are peccatori, delle persone povere, escluse, malate e sofferenti, sono womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there have given your strength. And we shall never forsake you all meant to teach mercy. Everything in him speaks of mercy. all’insegna della misericordia. Tutto in Lui parla di misericordia. Nulla in would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” again: give us life that we may call upon your name. R./ Nothing in him is devoid of compassion.” (n.8) Lui é privo di compassione.” (n.8) The Gospel of the Lord. “In the parables devoted to mercy. Jesus reveals the nature of “Nelle parabole dedicate alla misericordia, Gesu’ rivela la natura di Dio COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called God as that of a Father who never gives up until he has forgiven come quella di un Padre che non si dá mai per vinto fino a quando non the wrong and overcome rejection with compassion and mercy. ha dissolto il peccato e vinto il rifiuto, con la compassione e la misericor- Emmanuel. (Is 7:14) We know these parables well, three in particular: the lost sheep, dia. Conosciamo queste parabole, tre in particolare: quelle della pecora the lost coin, and the father with two sons (cf. Lk. 15: 1-32). In smarrita e della moneta perduta, e quella del padre e i due figli (cfr. Lc. Entrance: Offertory: Communion: DO YOU HAVE A ROOM? Final these parables, God is always presented as full of joy, especially 15: 1-32). In queste parabole, Dio viene sempre presentato come colmo LIGHT ONE CANDLE The Angel Gabriel They journeyed far, A weary pair, MAGNIFICAT They sought for shelter From the cold night air. when he pardons. In them we find the core of the Gospel and of di gioia, soprattutto quando perdona. In esse troviamo il nucleo del Van- Light one candle for hope, from Heaven Came Some place where she Could lay her head, My soul proclaims our faith, because mercy is presented as a force that overcomes gelo e della nostra fede, perché la misericordia é presentata come la One bright candle for hope. The angel Gabriel Where she could give Her Babe a quiet bed. the Lord my God. everything, filling the heart with love and bringing consolation forza che tutto vince, che riempie il cuore di amore e che consola con il He brings hope to every heart rom heaven came Was there no room? No corner there? My spirit sings His praise. through pardon… He does not limit himself merely to affirming his perdono… Egli non si limita ad affermare il suo amore, ma lo rende visi- He comes. He comes. His wings as drifted snow He looks on me, In all the town a spot someone could spare? love, but makes it visible and tangible. Love, after all, can never bile e tangibile. L’amore, d’altronde, non potrebbe mai essere una pa- Light one candle for peace, His eyes as flame Was there no soul come to their aid? He lifts me up, be just an abstraction. By its very nature, it indicates something rola astratta. Per sua stessa natura e’ vita concreta: intenzioni, at- One bright candle for peace. "All hail" said he A stable bare was where The family stayed. And gladness fills my days. concrete: intentions, attitudes, and behaviours that are shown in teggiamenti, comportamenti che si verificano nell’agire quotidiano… "thou lowly maiden Mary, He brings peace to every heart [Chorus] All nations now daily living… As the Father loves, so do his children. Just as he is Come ama il Padre cosí amano i figli. Come é misericordioso Lui, cosí Most highly favoured lady," He comes. He comes. Do you have room for the Saviour?, will share my joy. merciful, so we are called to be merciful to each other.” (n.9) siamo chiamati ad essere misericordiosi noi, gli uni verso gli altri.” (n.9) Gloria! Light one candle for joy, And do you seek Him anew? His gifts He has outpoured.