Friday, December 25 

Antiphon

 O Blessed Hope, Come

Scripture

 Titus 2:13 . . . we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayerful Reflection

O Blessed Hope, Come~
We began this Advent journey in hope,
which has now been fulfilled by your coming.
Blessed be your name, Holy One.
You have fulfilled our longings by
releasing us from the bondage of sin,
redeeming us from the depths of despair,
rescuing us from the doom of death.
On this day we celebrate your unending gifts
of hope, peace, joy and love
which you have so generously given.
Send us forth in grateful response
to offer these blessings,
to bring forth the healing of our world.
Amen.

Thursday, December 24

 Antiphon

 O God of Many Names, Come

Scripture

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born . . . One whose name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Mother, Prince of Peace.”

 Prayerful Reflection

O God of Many Names, Come~
As you came to make yourself known to us in Jesus so long ago,
make yourself known to us again today.
In your myriad manifestations,
show us your vast depth of care.
Guide us with your wisdom,
O Wonderful Counselor.
Strengthen us with your power, O Mighty God.
Ground us in your eternal compassion,
O Everlasting Father and Mother.
Calm our anxious spirits, O Prince of Peace.
Open our hearts and minds to recognize you
in the endless ways you reveal yourself
in our lives and in our world.
Amen.

Wednesday, December 23

Antiphon

   O Emmanuel, Come

Scripture

 Titus 2:11  For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all.

 Prayerful Reflection

 O Emmanuel, Come~
Bring your grace to bear upon us all.
Save us from loneliness,
hopelessness, despair.
You have appeared,
and you continue to appear
and to reveal yourself to all who seek you.
Give us faith to trust
that you have come to us,
that you abide among us,
that you never leave us.
You are “God with us,” our Emmanuel.
Be born in our world today and always
as we seek both to receive and to reveal
your ever-present grace in our world.
Amen.

Tuesday, December 22

Antiphon

     O King of All Nations, Come

 Scripture

 Psalm 96:3  Declare God’s glory among the nations, God’s marvelous works among all people!

 Prayerful Reflection

 O King of All Nations, Come~
We all began in you, and shall all return to you.
Remind us that we are all, every one of us,
connected to each other,
through our dependence on this planet,
through our shared human condition,
through our having been created in your image.
Open our eyes to see our commonality
rather than our divisions.
Open our hearts to care for each other,
to care for our earth, to care for our future.
Do your marvelous work and unite us
into a worldwide family,
filled with kindness and compassion
for one another,
living in your love-filled, all-inclusive embrace.
Amen.

Monday, December 21

Antiphon

     O Radiant Dawn, Come

Scripture

Isaiah 9:2  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.

Prayerful Reflection

O Radiant Dawn, Come~
Our hearts long for the light on this,
the darkest day of the year.
Our worries overwhelm us,
our isolation strains us, our anxiety unsettles us.
Hold us tightly, tenderly,
until sunrise, when the dawn breaks
with the promise of light,
the promise of a new day.
As we start anew this morning,
trusting in your mercy and love,
make your face shine upon us
and your light radiate from us,
that we may serve you with gladness this day.
Amen.

Sunday, December 20

 Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

O God of Love,
O Key of David, Come~
Unlock in us
a powerful potential for peace,
a large capacity for love,
a deliberate seeking
of unexpected grace,
a mind open to your wisdom,
your vision of surprising possibilities.
Widen the doors of our hearts
that we might receive
your light and love
and generously share
with our broken, hurting
and need-filled world.
We ask this through Christ,
our Savior and our Love.
Amen.

Saturday, December 19

 Antiphon

     O Flower of Jesse’s Stem, Come

Scripture

2 Samuel 7:8  . . . thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the God of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel.

Prayerful Reflection

O Flower of Jesse’s Stem, Come~
Long ago you led David
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.
Instill in us 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,
and to believe that you will guide us
into becoming all
that you lovingly created us to be.
Amen.

Friday, December 18

Antiphon

     O Lord of Ancient Israel, Come

Scripture

 Psalm 89:1-2a  I will sing of your steadfast love,  O God, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. I declare that your steadfast love is established forever . . .

 Prayerful Reflection

 O Lord of Ancient Israel, Come~
Your people have proclaimed your steadfast love
and mercy throughout their sacred history.
They remind us of your faithfulness
to a people distressed, to a people oppressed,
to a people downcast.
You led them to freedom,
you fulfilled your promise of salvation,
you healed their brokenness and gave them hope.
You have done the same for us, again and again,
throughout our own life journeys.
Make us joyful witnesses to
your constant presence, great faithfulness
and abiding love.
Amen.

Thursday, December 17

 Antiphon

      O Wisdom of God, Come

Scripture

 Romans 16:27  To the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ!  Amen.

 Prayerful Reflection

 O Wisdom of God, Come~
Stand with us at the crossroads
of life situations, of life decisions,
and guide us in our discernment.
Humble us to accept that
what we often think is wise
is foolishness in your sight.
Though your wisdom is much higher
than our minds can ever reach,
open us to see glimpses, to hear whispers,
to feel nudges of your insight,
so that we may begin to understand your ways,
and seek to live accordingly.
Lead us with your loving spirit to
walk in the ways of your wisdom.
Amen.

Wednesday, December 16

Antiphon

    O Merciful Helper, Come

Scripture

 Luke 1:54  God has helped God’s servant Israel, in remembrance of God’s mercy. . .

 Prayerful Reflection

 O Merciful Helper, Come~
We are in need of your boundless grace.
The nights are long, the days are cold,
the season of winter feels endless,
and we just want to isolate ourselves
from the world.
We confess that we have ignored
the cries of those who are poor,
the longings of those who are lonely,
the injustices of those who are oppressed.
Help us to move
from inertia to action,
from apathy to love
from despondency to hope.
In your mercy, forgive our dispassion,
and strengthen us to live as your
your good and faithful servants.
Amen.