Wednesday, December 25

Antiphon

     O Savior, Come

Scripture

     Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for I bring you good news of a great joy which will be to                    all the people; for to you is born this day . . . a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Prayerful Reflection

O Savior, Come~
Save us from our sins,
from all the ways we have failed you,
from all that we have failed to do.
Save us from our selfishness,
from all that we want
and waste.
Save us from our loneliness,
from our doubts that you are with us.
Save us from aimless wandering,
from our apathy and sin.
As we celebrate your coming into the world,
may your gift of salvation be born anew in us
this day and every day.
Amen.

Tuesday, December 24

Antiphon

     O Child of Mary, Come

Scripture

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

Prayerful Reflection

O Child of Mary, Come~
as you did so long ago.
Our hearts can scarcely take in
the love that you have shown us.
You desired a communion with us.
You desired to know us, and for us to know you.
In love you came as one of us,
to feel human joy, love, anger and fear,
to experience hunger, thirst, comfort, and pain,
to endure disgrace, rejection, and
a violent death for our sake.
For this, your greatest gift to us,
we join with the angels
and praise your holy name.
Amen.

Monday, 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~
Ransom all those held captive
by loneliness, hopelessness, despair.
Give us faith to trust that you are with us,
that you come to us,
that you abide with us,
that you will never leave us.
You are God with us, our Emmanuel.
Be born in our world today and always
through us:
through our goodness, our loving,
our kindness,
as we seek both to receive and to live out
your steadfast love here on earth.
Amen.

Sunday, December 22

Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

O Come, God of Love;  O Come, King of All Nations~
On this the last Sunday of Advent,
we seek to find love
amidst hatred
as we join our hearts and voices
with those across the world,
across time and space.
We rejoice in the fulfillment
of your promise of salvation
and celebrate the birth of your child.
May our reflections, our prayers,
our words and our actions
bring your love into this world.
Give us the wisdom, courage and strength to birth your love
on this earth once again.
In the name of Jesus, our Love,
Amen.

Saturday, December 21

Antiphon

     O Radiant Dawn, Come

Scripture

     Psalm 80:3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Prayerful Reflection

O Radiant Dawn, Come~
Our hearts long for the light on this,
the darkest day of the year.
The night looms long and difficult.
Our worries overwhelm us,
our anxiety is intensified,
our uncertainties loom ever-larger.
Hold us tightly, tenderly
until sunrise,
when the dawn comes
with the promise of light,
the promise of a new day.
As we start anew each morning
trusting in your mercy and love,
make your face shine upon us
and your light shine within us,
that we may serve you with gladness this day.
Amen.

Friday, December 20

Antiphon

     O Key of David, Come

Scripture

     Psalm 80:17 But let your hand be upon the one at your side, the one whom you made strong for yourself.

Prayerful Reflection

O Key of David, Come~
You, who are at God’s side,
you have unlocked and
opened the gates of heaven.
Unlock our hearts as well,
setting us free from resentment
and unforgiveness toward others,
setting us free from our own sins
through your mercy.
Close and lock the doors
on a past we cannot change,
and guide us as we walk your path.
Free us from hatred and ill-will
that we may serve your people with love.
Amen.

Thursday, December 19

Antiphon

     O Flower of Jesse’s Stem, 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 Flower of Jesse’s Stem, Come~
Just as you anointed David,
the youngest son of Jesse
and least likely to become the King of Israel,
so you surprised your people again
by choosing a young, poor, unknown virgin
to bear your King of Salvation.
You sent Jesus not as a mighty King,
but as a servant King,
ruling not by laying down the law,
but by laying down his life.
Teach us to imitate your Child
by serving others,
and giving generously of our own lives in love
as Jesus did.
Amen.

Antiphon

     O Lord of Ancient Israel, Come

Scripture

     Romans 1:2-3 . . . promised by God beforehand through the prophets in the holy scriptures, . . . descended                              from David according to the flesh.

Prayerful Reflection

O Lord of Ancient Israel, come~
You came to your people long ago.
appearing to Moses in the burning bush,
leading as a guiding cloud across the desert,
teaching through your commandments.
The prophets announced your coming
from the line of David,
and you fulfilled their hopes.
Throughout our sacred history
you have fulfilled your promises.
Grant us the passion
to fulfill our promises as well,
to love you, worship you and serve you
in all aspects of our lives,
now and forevermore.
Amen.

Tuesday, 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~
You have been present since
the dawn of creation.
Your word ordered all things then,
and still speaks in our world today.
Grant us the desire to listen for your voice
and to hear it in whatever way it comes to us
through scripture,
through prayer,
through people and angels,
through dreams and thoughts.
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 15

Prayer for the Third Sunday of Advent

O Come, God of our Joy-
Open our hearts in gratitude
for the joy we find
amidst despair.
Remind us that
you created the whole world,
yet still you hold each of us
in your gentle embrace.
Open our eyes to see
your care, your healing,
your grace
at work in our lives.
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.