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Thank You sweet Jesus for coming to our rescue. For seeking us out when we are lost. For bringing us back home where we belong with You.

Thank You heavenly Father for Your great love for us. When we turn back to You; in Your loving mercy You wipe us clean leaving no trace of our transgressions, our heinous sins.

Thank You Holy Spirit for teaching us and guiding us on the eternal Word of God. Thank You for steering us away from sin. Thank You for filling us with the grace needed to walk the narrow path in the light of our Saviour. For enabling us to share our faith with others.

All 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

FIRST READING
Isaiah 40:1–11

GOSPEL
Matthew 18:12–14

Jesus said to his disciples:
“What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety–nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety–nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”

In Your wisdom, mercy and love Lord, You gave us Your mother to love honour and cherish. Who will love us as her own, be with us in our need and lovingly intercede for us.

Yet many take this truths for granted or reject them in part or whole. Born without the stain of original sin through Your loving Grace O Lord our God, You gave Mary our mother a choice to bear Your Son our Lord and Saviour. Though she still could choose to sin, she chose instead a life of purity worthy of You. Her self giving yes was the spark which would lead to our restoration.

In the traditions and the culture she was born into, it is easy to recognise her role You had for her thereafter. She was and is to be a Queen Mother, to sit by her son in honour and to intercede on behalf of the people. Especially the needy the poor, the infirmed.

We thank you heavenly Father for Mary our mother. She is so loving, so thoughtful and so kind. She is a role model for us for all time.

Dearest mother, we love you and want to honour you by being obedient to Your Son. We ask you to continue to intercede for us Obtain for us the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we may be wise with your wisdom,understand with your understanding,know with your knowledge,prudent with your prudence,patient with your patience,courageous with your fortitude and desire justice ardently for everyone with the all consuming desire of the Sacred Heart of Jesus your son. Amen

Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

GOSPEL
Luke 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.