Blog
Advent Study Group #4
Fourth Sunday of Advent — December 20, 2020
As a community, we are doing a study of the Sunday Mass Readings to prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord at Christmas. This is something you can do as an individual, a family, or a small group.
There is an a short video to watch each week on FORMED. Here is the information to log in if you don’t yet have an account:
- Visit FORMED.org
- Click Sign Up
- Select “I Belong to a Parish or
Organization” - Find Our Lady of the Lake,
Lake Ozark or type 65049 in
for the zip code. - Enter your email.
For the Zoom group which meets Tuesdays at 6 PM beginning November 24th, all you need is internet access and audio on your computer or device. Video connection is optional.
Please email or call Kelly Hamrin to find out more or sign up:
573-365-2240 ext. 5 or olloffice2018@sbcglobal.net
Below are buttons for pdf’s of Week 2 to print for your studies:
Advent Study Outline Week 4
Opening prayer: PS 89:2-5, 27, 29.
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have conirmed your faithfulness.
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I conirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”
“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands irm.”
Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Commitment to Mission
As children of One Heavenly Father,
as brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ
united as a family of faith by the Holy Spirit,
we commit ourselves to the pastoral conversion of our parish.
We gladly accept the work the Lord entrusts to us
as laity and clergy working together in the vineyard.
We resolve to live as faithful stewards of God’s grace
in service of the evangelizing mission of the Church.
Charity and mercy will be the first response
we offer to those we encounter on the Way.
Fidelity to the Truth will light our path.
All to the praise and glory of God
with due honor to Our Blessed Lady of the Lake. Amen.
Introductions
Please state your name and one thing you will take away from this study.
Video – FORMED – Opening the Word
4th Sunday of Sunday of Adventure (Year B)
https://watch.formed.org/opening-the-word-1/season:2/videos/4th-sunday-of-advent-december-24-2017
Gospel Reading: LK 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
Lectio Divina Explanation
Lectio divina is an ancient Catholic prayer method for reading and praying with the Bible. We will be using the format described in the Advent Lectio document.
Lectio – Read the Gospel Aloud and Discuss
What is the context of this reading?
What is Luke saying about Mary and Jesus?
How does Luke’s writing differ from the other Gospel writers?
Meditatio – Read the Gospel again; silently answer the questions; then Discuss.
What is God saying to me today in this passage?
What word or passage stands out to me?
Oratio – Read the Gospel silently; then follow the instructions below.
What do I need to say to God? If you are struggling try using the ACTS form of prayer:
Adoration – Praise God’s Wonderfulness
Confession – Tell Him where you have missed the mark
Thanksgiving – Show gratitude for all He has provided
Suppliction – Ask for what you need from Him.
Contemplatio – Read the Gospel silently again; then follow the instructions below
Lord, what conversion of the mind, heart, and life are you asking of me? Listen for His answer.
Actio – Discuss
What can I do with this learned knowledge to bring forth God’s Kingdom?
Final Reflection and Closing Prayer
Second Reading ROM 16:25-27
Brothers and sisters:
To him who can strengthen you,
according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and,
according to the command of the eternal God,
made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ
be glory forever and ever.
Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit.
We have seen the Lord, and we want to bring others
to Him who is the Bread of Eternal Life.
Come, O heavenly Light.
Enlighten our minds so that we may know
your Holy Will for our parish.
Come Divine Advocate.
Bring to fulillment the plan you have entrusted to us for bringing the good news of salvation
to those who lack the light of faith.
Come, Divine Consolation.
Grant us the fullness of joy
as we profess, celebrate, live and pray our faith in You. Come, Giver of every Good Gift.
Teach us the way of stewardship,
afirm us in our vocations,
and strengthen our commitment to charity,
that others may come to know, as we know,
the mercy of God Our Father,
and the Truth revealed in Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.