Eighth Day
SUGGESTED READING: Isaiah 7:10-14 
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, "Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." But Ahaz said, " I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test." And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary people, that you weary may God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel." 


SUGGESTED READING: Daniel 7:1,9,10,13,14 
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, and told the sum of the matter. 
As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was Ancient of Days took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court stood in judgment, and the books were opened. 
I saw in the night visions, and behold with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. 


SUGGESTED READING: Matthew 5:1-12 
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain. And when he was seated his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them: 
"How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of God is theirs. 
Blessed are the gentle: they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they who mourn: they shall be comforted. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for holiness: they shall have their fill. 
Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them. 
Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognized as children of God. 
Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of justice: the kingdom of God is theirs. 
Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you." 


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. 
"Our Lady of the New Advent: The Burning Bush"