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The Third Day of Christmas and Feast of St. John the Beloved Disciple
Light Christmas Candles and say or sing:
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Glory to God in the highest
~And peace to God’s people on Earth.
Invitation to Worship
Christ, the newborn, reveals the mystery
to the beloved disciple: Come, let us adore Him!
MORNING HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Christmas Morning Carol .
When Christ was born at Bethlehem The heedless world slept on
And only simple shepherds heard That God’s own Word had come.
But when the Savior comes again With thunder or with fire,
The cosmos will itself behold His splendor and his pow’r.
Then shall the pure of heart be blest; As mild he comes to them
As when upon the Virgin’s breast He lay at Bethlehem.
He gently came to those with faith But stronger now to save
For having felt the sting of death And having burst the grave.
Come, dwell in us, O Lord, that we may know you as our friend.
Come share with us beyond our pain The joy that cannot end.
O Abba, hear this song of hope Brought by your saving Son,
That in your Spirit we may live And praise you ever one.
Text: J. Anstice (1808-1836, English Hymnal 1906; freely adapted by Ralph Wright, OSB. Tune: CM
PSALMODY
Psalm 18/19a
Greatly to be honored is blessed John,
who during the Last Supper reclined on the breast of the Lord.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God,
and the firmament shows forth the work of God’s hands.
Day unto day takes up the story
and night unto night makes the message known.
No speech, no word, no voice is heard
yet their span extends through all the Earth,
their words to the utmost bounds of the world.
There God has placed a dwelling for the sun;
it comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent,
rejoices like a champion to run its course.
At the end of the sky is the rising of the sun;
to the furthest ends of the sky is its course.
There is nothing concealed from its burning heat.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before, so now and evermore. Amen
Greatly to be honored is blessed John,
who during the Last Supper reclined on the breast of the Lord.
READING I John 1: 1-2
This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked upon and our hands have touched–we speak of the word of Life.
Responsory
R. This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things * and we know that his testimony is true. R. It is John who reclined upon the Lord’s breast at table, and to him heavenly mysteries were revealed.*and we know that his testimony is true .
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
That disciple whom Jesus loved
said to Peter: “It is the Lord!” Alleluia!
Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,
Who visits this people to set us free
Raising for us a sign of salvation
In the house and family of David.
God promised throughout past ages
In words of holy prophets
To save us from our enemies,
And from the control of our oppressors.
Adonai favored our ancestors
And remembered the sacred covenant.
The pledge to Abraham and Sarah
Is now renewed for us;
That freed from the grip of our foes
We might worship without fear
And be both just and holy
For the rest of our days.
And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”
Will go ahead to prepare the way,
By teaching this people of salvation
Through forgiveness of their sins.
For the loving compassion of the Holy One
As the Rising Sun will shine upon us
To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow
To Guide our feet on the way of peace.
Glory to the ONE through the WORD
In the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
That disciple whom Jesus loved
said to Peter: “It is the Lord!” Alleluia!
Litany of Intercession
Lord Jesus, Son of the Most High, Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, Son of Earth, blossoming with justice,
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, Son of David, shepherd and king, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, Son of Mary, virgin and mother, Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Prayer of Jesus
Lord Jesus, you taught us to pray:
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One, Source of all light and life, you revealed the mysteries of your Word-made-flesh through the life and writings of John the apostle. May we who celebrate his memory on this third day of Christmas, practice each day the wisdom he taught: “we cannot love the God we cannot see—unless we love the neighbor we can see.” We ask this and all things in the name of Jesus, our Emmanuel.
~ Amen.
May the Word Made Flesh, + full of grace and truth, bless us and keep us.
~ Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace.
~And give thanks to God.