Fourth Day
SUGGESTED READING: 1 Samuel 16:4-13 
Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. 
When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before him." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as people see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one. And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here? And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, "send and fetch him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and he was handsome. And the Lord said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is he." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward." 


SUGGESTED READING: Psalm 89:19,20,3,4,15,17,18 
Once you spoke in a vision,
to your faithful prophet you said,
'I have given strength to a warrior,
I have raised up a man chosen from my people.
I have found David my servant
and anointed him with my holy oil.
I have made a covenant with my Chosen One, 
sworn an oath to my servant David:
I have made your dynasty firm forever,
built your throne stable age after age.
My constancy and faithful love will be with him,
in my name his strength will be triumphant.
How blessed the nation that learns to acclaim you! 
They will live, O Lord, in the light of your presence.
You are the flower of their strength,
for to the Lord belongs our shield,
to the Holy One of Israel our king.


SUGGESTED READING: Revelation 22:1-5,16,17,20 
Then the angel showed me the river of life, rising from the throne of God and of the Lamb, and flowing crystal clear. Down the middle of the city street, on either bank of the river were the trees of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, one for each month, and the leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations. 
The curse of destruction will be abolished. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city; his servants will worship him, they will see him face to face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And night will be abolished; they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them. They will reign for ever and ever... 
I Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the sake of the churches. I am the spring from the root of David and the bright morning star... The one who attests these things says: I am indeed coming soon. Amen; come, Lord Jesus. 


HOMILY OR GROUP REFLECTION 


Prayer to Our Lady of the New Advent
O Lady and Mother
of the One who was and is and is to come,
dawn of the New Jerusalem,
we earnestly beseech you,
bring us by your intercession
so to live in love
that the Church, the Body of Christ,
may stand in this world's dark
as fiery icon of the New Jerusalem.
We ask you to obtain for us this mercy
through Jesus Christ, your Son and Lord,
who lives and reigns
with the Father in the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Amen. 


Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give use this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. 


Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 


Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son , and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 


CLOSING HYMN: O Come, O Come Emmanuel 


1. O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God Appear. 


Refrain: REJOICE! REJOICE! EMMANUEL SHALL COME TO THEE, O ISRAEL! 


2. O come, Thou Wisdom from, on high, Who ord'rest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go. 


3. O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height In ancient times didst give the law, In cloud and majesty and awe. 


4. O come, Thou rod of Jesse's stem, From ev'ry foe deliver them That trust thy mighty pow'r to save, And give them vict'ry O'er the grave. 


5. O come, Thou key of David come, And open wide our heav'nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path of misery. 


6. O come, Thou dayspring from on high And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadow put to flight. 


7. O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all human kind; Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, And be Thyself our Prince of Peace. 
"O Key of David"