Advent reflections

Second Sunday of Advent: Sunday, December 4, 2022

Begin Reflections on: Monday, November 28

Readings:

Isaiah 11:1-10

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

Romans 15:4-13

Matthew 3:1-12

The overall theme of this week: Peace

From See No Stranger (p. 11):

“We are all indivisibly part of one another . . . We can look upon the face of anyone or anything around us and say– as a moral declaration and a spiritual, cosmological, and biological fact: You are a part of me I do not yet know.”

Following this practice is our hope for birthing peace into our world.

As I write these reflections, our 2022 mid-term elections are just around the corner. I find myself frightened, discouraged and sad for the vitriol that floods our landscapes, airways, media. I pray for a way forward which reaches across the divide of political parties, ideologies, and animosity. A month ago I had the fortune of reading the brilliant book See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love by Valarie Kaur.* She writes, “The future is dark . . . But what if - what if this darkness is not the darkness of the tomb but the darkness of the womb? What if our America is not dead but a country that is waiting to be born?” In these words, which are especially appropriate as we enter into the Advent season, journeying as we are through the darkest days to the birth of the one who came as God’s Love made flesh, I find hope for the future, a way forward to peace that brings joy, all achieved through revolutionary love.

The theme of darkness being a womb has influenced the reflections in this booklet. Advent is a time when daylight is shortened, and invites us to prepare for birth. The reflections offered are a way to guide our Advent journeys as we prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus. We are invited to prayerfully come to a fuller understanding of who this child is, and as such, come to a deeper understanding of God.

Because God is so much greater than our minds can even begin to comprehend, we can only know God through glimpses, through reflections. That is what these names for God and these prayers are: reflections. They are inspired by the traditional “O Antiphons,” different names and images for God used during the last week of Advent, December 17th through 23rd. They have been part of the Christian tradition since the 7th or 8th century, and are proclaimed in the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” I have included them in this booklet on their traditional days. The other images used are my creations inspired by scripture.

The Bible verses used have been chosen based on the weekly Revised Common Lectionary readings for Advent and Christmas, Year A. The reflections for the Sunday readings begin on the Monday before so that we will have the opportunity to reflect on these Bible passages before hearing them in worship. There is also a prayer to guide each day.

By using the first person plural we, I imagine the community of people using this resource to be united in prayer. I would welcome any of your thoughts, comments, suggestions or reflections as you journey through this Advent season. Please visit my Facebook page:

facebook.com/AdventReflections to leave and view comments, or email me at: reverendsusi@gmail.com.

As you take time with this booklet during the season of Advent, may your reflections deepen your relationship with God so that you may more fully experience the celebration of the coming of Christ.

In Christ’s peace,

Susi Kawolics

(12/23) O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

(12/17) O come, our Wisdom from on high,
And order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And cause us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

(12/18) O come, O come, our Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times gave holy law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

(12/19) O come, O Rod of Jesse's stem,
From ev'ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow'r to save;
Bring them in vict'ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

(12/20) O come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

(12/21) O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

(12/22) O come, Desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease,
Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Hymn # 31 from Lutheran Worship
Author: French Processional
Tune: VENI EMMANUEL, 1st Published in1854

(12/17) O come, O Wisdom who from dawning day

Creates and shapes a new world, a new way.

You at the gateways of our choices stand

And guide us with your dancing, loving hand.

Rejoice! Rejoice! O God amazing, wise,

May we each day be open to surprise.

(12/18) O come, O God of Ancient Israel,

Who with your people faithfully do dwell.

You’ve shown yourself in tablets of law,

And burning bush, and cloud that wand’rers saw.

Rejoice! Rejoice! O God of Ancient Days,

We trust and rest our hearts in you always.

(12/19) O come, O come,

O Flower of Jesse’s Tree.

No one believed a shepherd King would be.

You chose the humblest of his sons to reign

To show your ways are not our ways, again.

Rejoice! Rejoice! O Flower of Jesse’s Tree,

Bring birth and newness from the smallest seed.

(12/20) O come, O Key of David, open wide

Our locked-down hearts so peace may come inside.

Release the hold of grudges past
And tenderly toward hope lead us at last.

Rejoice! Rejoice! O Key of David, free

Our hearts from hatred that they healed might be.

(12/21) O come, O Dayspring, in our darkest night

With your bright stars and moon disperse our fright.

Weave light through shadows, make all things new

And bring a wholeness only found through you.

Rejoice! Rejoice! O God of Radiant Light
And put the darkness in our lives to flight.

(12/22) O come, Uniter of the Nations, hold
All on this earth in your close, loving fold.

Heal wounds and mend together broken hearts.
Bring universal peace from varied parts.

Rejoice! Rejoice! O God of Unity,
Grant that your realm of love might come to be.

(12/23) O come, O come, Emmanuel,
Be birthed again that all earth be made well.

Inspire us all to make your presence known
By tending seeds of justice you have sown.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall through and in us once more come and dwell.

Monday, November 21

Antiphon - O Holy Word, Come

Scripture: Isaiah 2:3b For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of God from Jerusalem.

Prayerful Reflection

O Holy Word, Come~

Instruct us today.

Your prophets have been speaking your word

to your people since ancient days.

Your child came to embody your word

to the world millennia ago.

You call us to enflesh your holy word

among your children today.

Open our ears to hear that word,

our hearts to embrace that word,

our mouths to proclaim that word:

Justice for those who are oppressed;

Good news for those who are poor;

Hope for those in despair.

Anchor us in your word of hope,

your promise of peace,

your love for all people.

Make us conveyors of hope for our world.

Amen.

Tuesday, November 22

Antiphon: O Just Judge, Come

Scripture: Psalm 122:5 There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.

Prayerful Reflection

O Just Judge, Come~

Make us humble in our judgments

of people and situations.

Remind us that each person we meet

has been created by you,

and is loved by you.

Open our minds to the wonder

of each and every human being.

Grant us faith to trust you as ultimate judge,

to know you as just judge,

to believe in you as merciful judge.

Let any judgments in our hearts be guided by

your wisdom and love,

that through our humility and wonder,

we may bring the hope for peace

into our world.

Amen.

Wednesday, November 23

Antiphon: O Transformer of Weapons, Come

Scripture: Isaiah 2:4b . . . they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

Prayerful Reflection

O Transformer of Weapons, Come~

Grant us hope in your vision

of a transformed, rebirthed world:

A world in which

different races relate to

rather than retaliate against each other,

distinct religions respect

rather than denigrate each other,

diverse nations feed

rather than fight each other.

Use our resources to nourish and build

rather than to starve and break down.

Companion us in creating

the world we hope for,

a world which no longer learns war.

Amen.

Thursday, November 24

Antiphon: O Lord of Light, Come

Scripture: Isaiah 2:5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of God.

Prayerful Reflection

O Lord of Light, Come~

Give us hope in the darkness

as we journey further into Advent,

and the nights become longer.

Enkindle us to be a light

to those living in the despair

of poverty, homelessness, hunger,

of war, danger, natural disaster,

of loneliness, grief, illness.

Fill our hearts with the burning love of Christ, whose fiery compassion brought new life.

Grant that, through acts of mercy,

prayers of petition, and words of care,

we may offer this light as hope

to the cold, dark places in our world.

Amen.

Friday, November 25

Antiphon: O Waker of the Sleeping, Come

Scripture: Romans 13:11 Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep.

Prayerful Reflection

O Waker of the Sleeping, Come~

Awaken our bodies

as well as our souls this day.

Keep us from sleep-walking through our days

with their predictable patterns,

well-worn weariness,

dry, dismal doldrums.

Grant us eyes to see beyond the peripheral,

minds to imagine beyond boundaries,

hearts to love beyond measure.

Open us to your new ideas, images, visions

that will bring your Dominion to earth.

Rouse us, energize us, inspire us

that your hopes and dreams for our world

may be birthed into life.

Amen.

Saturday, November 26

Antiphon: O Unexpected Caller, Come

Scripture: Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor God’s Child, but God only.

Prayerful Reflection

O Unexpected Caller, Come~

Open us to recognize you

in the surprising ways you appear to us.

Open our eyes to see you

in the faces of those who despair.

Open our ears to hear you

in the pleas of those who seek help.

Open our hearts to recognize you

in the yearnings of those on the margins.

Open in us an awareness of your presence

in unexpected people and places,

that we may understand and respond

to all the ways you call us

to bring hope to the hopeless

and good news to the poor.

Amen.

Sunday, November 27

Prayer for the First Sunday of Advent

O Come, God of our Hope~

We invite your word into our hearts,

that it may awaken us,

and alert us

to your presence in our lives,

to your hope for our world.

Call us out of our apathy

as we seek to live as people

who unite, rather than divide,

who build up, rather than destroy,

who spread light, rather than darkness.

Make your vision and hope

for this world become our own,

and grant us the wisdom, courage

and strength

to create that world with you.

In the name of Jesus, our Hope,

Amen.

Monday, November 28

Antiphon: O Spirit of Understanding, Come

Scripture: Isaiah 11:2 And the Spirit of God shall rest

upon this branch, the spirit of wisdom and

understanding, the spirit of counsel and might . . .

Prayerful Reflection

O Spirit of Understanding, Come~

Take hold of our hearts

when we simply cannot understand

the thoughts, the actions,

the motivation of another.

Make us wonder at the amazing uniqueness

of each person.

Give us your spirit of understanding

to be patient, to truly listen deeply,

to hear beyond the spoken word

into the wounds of the past,

into the longings of the heart.

Reveal to us some connection,

that we might come to

a peaceful understanding and

an acceptance of each other.

Amen.

Tuesday, November 29

Antiphon: O Little Child, Come

Scripture: Isaiah 11:6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.

Prayerful Reflection

O Little Child, Come~

Give us a child-like spirit

to love and welcome Jesus,

and a child-like heart

to trust in the vision of

your peaceable kingdom.

Fill us with a spirit of innocence,

a belief in the possibility of the impossible,

an openness to

the acceptance of differences.

Open our hearts to strive for resolution to conflict

as we seek to live

as your peaceful children

this day and always.

Amen.

Wednesday, November 30

Antiphon: O Abounding Peace, Come

Scripture: Psalm 72:7 In those days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more.

Prayerful Reflection

O Abounding Peace, Come~

Co-create with us the world you long for.

Fill us with your vision, your hope,

your deepest yearning for peace on earth.

Align our hearts with yours,

that the desires of your heart may become

the desires of ours as well.

Grant us your wisdom,

guidance, and strength

as we rise to the challenge

of building a world

with justice and equity for all.

Labor alongside us to pave a way

for righteousness to flourish

and peace to abound.

Amen.

Thursday, December 1

Antiphon: O Refreshing Rain, Come

Scripture: Psalm 72:6 May the ruler be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!

Prayerful Reflection

O Refreshing Rain, Come~

Our souls thirst for your refreshment,

our hearts long for your wellspring of love,

our bodies crave your soothing touch.

Like the rain that refreshes

the sun- and wind-parched earth,

soak us with your grace,

deep into the ground of our being.

Shower us with your compassion,

till it permeates our very core.

Drench us with your expansive love

that embraces all people.

May we, thus refreshed and renewed,

saturate the world with your peace.

Amen.

Friday, December 2

Antiphon: O Welcoming Host, Come

Scripture: Romans 15:7 Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Prayerful Reflection

O Welcoming Host, Come~

Open the doors of our hearts

to receive strangers in peace,

be they person, idea, or belief.

May we invite in with wonder

that which brings us discomfort,

or jars us from our certitude.

Open our eyes, ears and minds,

to recognize your presence in all.

Enable us to embrace

at the core of each and every person,

the holiness, which runs deeper

than any differences between us.

Move us to become

peace-filled, Christ-like welcoming hosts.

Amen.

Saturday, December 3

Antiphon: O Voice in the Wilderness, Come

Scripture: Matthew 3:3 . . . the voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make the paths of the Lord straight.”

Prayerful Reflection

O Voice in the Wilderness, Come~

Call us out of our relentless, rugged routines,

our hectic, harried schedules,

our bustling, brimming surroundings.

Lead us into a barren wilderness

devoid of distractions and noise.

Bring us to a simple site

of peaceful solitude, serenity and calm.

Thus quieted, fill our imaginations

with dreams of peace and justice,

for our own lives, and for the world.

Give us the courage to prepare that path

straight to your heart of love.

Amen.

Sunday, December 4

Prayer for the Second Sunday of Advent

O Come, God of Peace~

Break us open.

Open our souls to receive the love you shower upon your thirsting people,

Open our ears to hear and understand those different from us,

Open our hearts and wills

to strive for the peace you envision for our divided, war-torn world.

Give us the courage

to leave our comfort zones,

the desire

to spend time with you in the quiet,

that we may truly hear your call.

Grant us the wisdom, courage and strength to go where you lead us,

building your realm of peace and justice.

In the name of Jesus, our Peace,

Amen.

Monday, December 5

Antiphon: O Allayer of Fears, Come

Scripture: Isaiah 35:4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will

come . . .”

Prayerful Reflection

O Allayer of Fears, Come~

Take away our fears of danger,

of loss, of scarcity.

Fill us with a trust in

your promise of care.

Remove our worries of rejection,

unworthiness and loneliness.

Assure us of your unconditional love.

Remind us that you walk

each step of life’s journey with us,

that you accompany us

with your abiding presence.

Believing in that promise,

grant us joy of heart and peace of mind,

that we may be strong and secure,

living without fear.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 6

Antiphon: O Reviver of Deserts, Come

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus, it shall blossom abundantly . . .

Prayerful Reflection

O Reviver of Deserts, Come~

Refresh our bone-dry world in all the places

where gladness is absent,

where compassion is scarce,

where peace is nowhere to be found.

Enter in with your transforming love,

delighting our hearts,

bringing the gift of joy.

Remind us of the power

of an encouraging word, a gentle touch,

of a listening ear, a consoling gesture,

that we may plant the seed of your love

for joy to blossom and grow

in the desolate deserts of our world.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 7

Antiphon: O Lifter of Burdens, Come

Scripture: Psalm 146:8 God opens the eyes of those who are blind. God lifts up those who are bowed down; God loves the righteous.

Prayerful Reflection

O Lifter of Burdens, Come~

Grant us the wisdom to recognize

that which weighs us down,

and the humility to give

those burdens to you.

Summon us to lift up those

bowed down with the weight

of hardship and trouble;

those bent low with the load

of heartache and fear.

Give us a heart to lighten

the burdens of others,

so that they may walk

with eyes, hearts and souls up-lifted,

and know the joy you intend for us all.

Amen.

Thursday, December 8

Antiphon: O Rewarder of Patience, Come

Scripture: James 5:8 . . . so you also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Prayerful Reflection

O Rewarder of Patience, Come~

Teach us to live in patient hope.

Too often we seek the immediate answer,

the quick fix, the spontaneous response.

We are unwilling to wait for the wisdom

that comes from the pause, from the quiet,

from the listening to you.

Too often we give up hope

when the answers do not come swiftly,

when relationships are not mended instantly,

when our plans move backward,

or stand still.

Help us to take the long view, the eternal view,

and give us patient trust to wait for you

in joyful hope.

Amen.

Friday, December 9

Antiphon: O Compassionate Healer, Come

Scripture: Matthew 11:5 . . . those who are blind receive their sight and those who are lame walk; people with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear . . .

Prayerful Reflection

O Compassionate Healer, Come~

Mend our hurting world.

You came in the person of Jesus,

offering healing to broken and bruised

bodies and souls.

You call us to be the compassionate

Body of Christ in the world.

May we offer a glimpse of your love

to eyes that do not see your presence;

words of your hope

to ears that do not hear your loving call;

a way of wholeness and meaning

to feet that search for direction.

Make us instruments of your healing and joy

in this world.

Amen.

Saturday, December 10

Antiphon: O Caring Creator, Come

Scripture: Psalm 146:5-6 Happy is the one whose help

is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in God . . .

who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them . . .

Prayerful Reflection

O Caring Creator, Come~

Fill us with wonder as we praise you

for bringing into being the cosmos:

the unfathomable heavens above,

and the earth beneath our feet.

All creatures depend on you

for their every breath, for their very lives.

And yet, incomprehensible God,

you desire to know each of us intimately,

and you tenderly call each one of us by name.

The loving compassion you show to every person

is almost too wondrous for us to bear.

For this amazing love and care,

our hearts overflow with gratitude and joy.

Amen.

Sunday, December 11

Prayer for the Third Sunday of Advent

O Come, God of our Joy~

Our hearts open in gratitude

for the joy in your created world,

for the incredible love you show

each and every one of us.

Lift our burdens, allay our fears,

grant us trust in your abiding presence.

Heal our woundedness, restore our hope,

open our hearts to you and to others.

Give us the wisdom, courage and strength to bring the joy

of your love, compassion and mercy

to transform the earth.

In the name of Jesus, our Joy,

Amen.

Monday, December 12

Antiphon: Shepherd of Israel, Come

Scripture: Psalm 80:1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock!

Prayerful Reflection

O Shepherd of Israel, Come~

Be our gentle shepherd,

as you were to your people in ancient days.

Lead us beside still waters in this time

of busyness, of chaos, of noise.

Restore our weary souls.

Find us in our wanderings,

and guide us back to the arms

of your tender embrace.

Bless us with your goodness and mercy

to follow us and accompany us

every step of our way.

Bring us to know peace and rest,

that we might dwell in your heart of love

now and forevermore.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 13

Antiphon: O Giver of Signs, Come

Scripture: Isaiah 7:13-14 Hear then, O house of David! God will give you a sign: a young woman shall conceive and bear a child, whom she shall call Immanuel.

Prayerful Reflection

O Giver of Signs, Come~

Reveal yourself to us again this day.

So often we search for you in big miracles,

and we miss the small signs

of your presence which surround us .

May we catch glimpses of you

in the beauty of creation,

in the presence of friends and family,

in the tender acts of love we witness,

in the peace and comfort of your word.

Open our eyes to see

and our hearts to recognize

the multitude of ways

you reveal your love in our lives.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 14

Antiphon: O Merciful Savior, Come

Scripture: Matthew 1:21 She will bear a child whom you will name Jesus, for that child will save the people from their sins.

Prayerful Reflection

O Merciful Savior, Come~

Save us from our sins,

from all that we have done

and have failed to do.

Save us from our selfishness,

from all that we want and all that we waste.

Save us from our discrimination

by race, gender, orientation, religion.

Save us from our divisiveness,

and our failure to grasp

our deep connection to each other.

Save us from our apathy,

our aimless wandering, our inaction.

As we celebrate your coming into the world,

may your gift of salvation lead us

to repentance and to love for all people.

Amen.

Thursday, December 15

Antiphon: O Restorer of Lives, Come

Scripture: Psalm 80:19 Restore us, O Lord, God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Prayerful Reflection

O Restorer of Lives, Come~

Let your face shine upon us.

In those times when it feels like

the world is conspiring against us,

seeking to destroy us,

casting a dark cloud over us,

give us a twinkling of hope.

Grant us a ray of light,

a glimpse of joy,

a glimmer of renewal,

that we might know you are with us

all along life’s journey.

Light our way, warm our hearts,

restore our joy

with belief in the promise of

your love and salvation.

Amen.

Friday, December 16

Antiphon: O Bestower of Grace, Come

Scripture: Romans 1:7a To all God’s beloved in Rome who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God . . .

Prayerful Reflection

O Bestower of Grace, Come~

Fill us with your spirit,

your passion, your love for your people

as you have filled your saints

throughout the ages.

Through your grace,

open us to generous service,

to abundant sharing, to selfless caring

that we may imitate your Child.

As Jesus came to minister

to those around him,

so lead us to be like him,

that the love he enfleshed

may once again be born into our world through our love and service to others.

Amen.

Saturday, December 17

Antiphon: O Wisdom of God, Come

Scripture: Matthew 1:20 But as Joseph considered this, behold, an angel of God appeared to him in a dream . . .

Prayerful Reflection

O Wisdom of God, Come~

Make your voice heard in our world.

You have been present since

the dawn of creation.

Your wisdom ordered all things,

and still speaks in our world today.

Grant us the desire to listen for your voice

and to hear it however it comes to us:

through scripture, through prayer,

through people, through angels,

through dreams, through ideas.

May your voice within us never be silenced,

and may we be guided by your wisdom

in our thoughts, words and deeds

to make your love real in this world.

Amen.

Sunday, December 18

Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

O God of Love, Come~

O Lord of Ancient Israel, Come~

You led our spiritual ancestors

from enslavement to freedom,

giving them signs of your presence

along their journey.

Lead us and make yourself known to us

this day.

Fill us with your spirit of understanding, your wisdom, your grace,

that our words and actions

may bring joy to you,

and love to the world.

May your love be made flesh

in each of us and all people,

that it may be born into this world

again and again.

In the name Jesus, our Love,

Amen.

Monday, December 19

Antiphon: O Flower of Jesse’s Stem, Come

Scripture: Luke 2:4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

Prayerful Reflection

O Flower of Jesse’s Stem, Come~

Inspire us to see with your eyes.

Long ago you led David from weakling to hero,

from pasture to palace,

from shepherd to king.

You see beyond the surface of our lives,

past the constraints of our circumstances,

further than the future of our imagining.

Plant in us the seeds

for a wider, broader, deeper vision

for our own lives, for the lives of others,

for our country, and for our world.

Inspire us to live into our potential,

to trust in your guidance as we blossom

into becoming all that you created us to be.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 20

Antiphon: O Key of David, Come

Scripture: Isaiah 62:10 Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples.

Prayerful Reflection

O Key of David, Come~

Unlock the gates

so we may go through:

the gates of fear,

the gates of injustice,

the gates of prejudice,

the gates of judgment,

and come out the other side.

Open with your keys of love, grace and mercy

our minds, our spirits, our hearts,

so that we might prepare a path,

clearing the obstacles that block the way

to the entrance of your Dominion

in heaven and on earth.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 21

Antiphon: O Radiant Dawn, Come

Scripture: Psalm 97:11 Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

Prayerful Reflection

O Radiant Dawn, Come~

Our hearts long for the light on this,

the shortest, darkest day of the year.

The night looms long and laborious.

Our worries overwhelm us,

our fears overrun us,

our anxieties overtake us.

Soothe us, calm us, hold us tenderly

until the dawn comes

with the promise of light,

the promise of a new day.

May we rise with the sun, alight in

your promise of hope,

your gift of salvation,

your offering of amazing grace.

Let your face shine upon us

as we embrace this day.

Amen.

Thursday, December 22

Antiphon: O King of All Nations, Come

Scripture: Psalm 97:1 God reigns! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

Prayerful Reflection

O King of All Nations, Come~

Fill our hearts with gladness

that we may rejoice with the earth:

You reign! Your love reigns over us all!

Remind us again that under your Dominion,

we are, each and every one of us,

deeply, unconditionally and forever

loved by you.

Open our eyes to see your image

shining through all your children.

Open our hearts to care for each other,

as you do.

Reign in our lives, and shape us

into a worldwide family,

filled with kindness and compassion

for one another.

May we rejoice to live

in your love-filled, all-inclusive embrace.

Amen.

Friday, December 23

Antiphon: O Emmanuel, Come

Scripture: Titus 3:4-6 When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, we were saved . . . in virtue of God’s mercy . . . which God poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Prayerful Reflection

O Emmanuel, Come~

Save us again through

your goodness and loving kindness.

You have made yourself known through

your abundant mercy

your steadfast compassion,

your saving grace.

Fill us full of your spirit,

shine through our thoughts,

words and deeds,

that you may appear always and everywhere.

May all people know “God with us, Emmanuel”

as you are made flesh again and again

in our hearts and in our world.

Amen.

Saturday, December 24

Antiphon: O Herald of Peace, Come

Scripture

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, goodwill among people.

Prayerful Reflection

O Herald of Peace, Come~

Enter into the warring madness of countries,

into the hurtful conflicts of relationships,

into the anxious worries of our hearts.

We have prepared our hearts

during this Advent time

to hear and respond

as you proclaim your desire

for peace and goodwill among your people.

Open our eyes to a variety of viewpoints,

our ears to compassionate listening,

our mouths to respectful dialogue,

our hearts to deep connectedness.

May your profound love for all your children

and for the world flow through us

that we may strive to be

purveyors of peace in this world.

Amen.

Sunday, December 25

Antiphon: O Child of Mary, Come

Scripture

Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn child, whom she wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Prayerful Reflection

O Child of Mary, Come~

Fill us with gratitude for the gift of your birth.

Our hearts can scarcely take in

the love that you have shown us.

You so longed for communion with us,

so yearned to know us,

so desired for us to know you,

that in love you came as one of us.

You came to feel human joy, love, anger and fear,

to experience hunger, thirst,

comfort and pain,

to endure disgrace, rejection

and a violent death.

For your birth, life, death and resurrection,

we join with the heavenly host

to praise you in the highest on this joyful day.

Amen.