"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."

Entrance Antiphon:
People of Zion, the Lord will come
to save all nations,
and your hearts will exult
to hear his majestic voice.

Today's Readings

Daily Meditation:
Comfort, give comfort to my people,
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!

We begin this second week of our Advent journey
with this wonderful proclamation of the end of our exile.
Even in the wasteland of our lives,
there will be a smooth highway for our God.

Let us experience today what it will be like to be
freed from the power of our sins to hold us captive.
Our longing, our desire:
that we might be set free.

"Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths."

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
To the Lord Jesus Christ, judge of the living dead,
    let us pray:
    Come, Lord Jesus!

Lord Jesus, you came to save sinners,
- protect us in times of temptation.

You will come in glory to be our judge,
- show in us your power to save.

Help us to keep the precepts of your law with the strength
    of the Spirit,
- and to look forward in love to your coming.

You are praised throughout the ages; in your mercy help
    us to live devoutly and temperately in this life,
- as we wait in joyful hope for the revelation of your
    glory.

Closing Prayer:
Comforting God,
You have touched my heart
and told me not to fear.

Thank you for offering me your gentle love.
You speak tender words
to the darkness in my heart
and offer gentle care in warm arms
outstretched to welcome me home.

You know me so well,
and I feel my heart rise
in your familiar presence.
There is a flicker of hope.
Finally I will let my life be touched
by the strength of your courage
and I will rejoice in the news
that my savior is near.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

---

 Praying Advent Home

Daily Advent Prayer

"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."

Opening Prayer:
Lord,
free us from our sins and make us whole.
Hear our prayer,
and prepare us to celebrate the incarnation of your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
one God forever and ever.

Today's Readings

Daily Meditation:
Our God will come to save us!
What an incredible promise!
Each of these days uses images to help us
to imagine and become excited about the ways
our God has tried to prepare us, through the prophets
to be ready for the healing and restoration and love
that is offered us in Jesus.
For all in me that is feeble or weak or frightened
I can simply listen to these words:

Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense
he comes to save you. Isaiah 35

Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, ‘Rise and walk'? Luke 5

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
To Christ our Redeemer, who will come again to free from
    the power of death all those who return to him, let
    us humbly pray:
    Come, Lord Jesus! 

As we proclaim your coming, Lord,
- cleanse our hearts of every vain desire.

Lord, may the Church which you founded,
- proclaim your greatness to all peoples.

Your law is a light to our eyes,
- let it  protect those who trust in you.

You allow the joys of your coming to be foretold to us by
    your Church,
- may we receive you with eager devotion.

Closing Prayer:
God of Strength,
I need your courage.
You offer to make firm the knees that are weak.
Only you know how frightened I so often am.

And you do offer me strength.
There is the promise of your Son's coming
and knowing that you will save me.
I can't do this on my own
no matter how often I think I can.

Give me the humility to ask for your help
and open heart to accept
your healing and love in my life.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

Daily Advent Prayer

In the Americas, this is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Opening Prayer: All-powerful God, help us to look forward in hope to the coming of our Savior. May we live as he has taught, ready to welcome him with burning love and faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Opening Prayer: God of power and mercy, you blessed the Americas at Tepeyac with the presence of the Virgin Mary at Guadalupe. May her prayers help all men and women to accept each other as brothers and sisters. Through your justice present in our hearts may your peace reign in the world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Today's Readings

Daily Meditation:
I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good,
     and lead you on the way you should go.
In our self-reliant independence, we can easily forget that
our God really knows what is good for us, and calls us to that goodness.
In our rebellion, we sometimes cling to our freedom
to be self-destructive or to simply keep our life on a shallow level.
Let's let ourselves be drawn into the invitation to live our lives
touched by the grace of God-with-us.

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

Wisdom is vindicated by her works

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
Christ the Lord, Son of the living God, light from light,
    lead us into the light and reveal his holiness.
    With confidence let us make our prayer:
    Come, Lord Jesus!

Light that never fades, rise to dispel the mists about us,
- awaken our faith from sleep.

Guard us from all harm today,,
- may your glory fill us with joy.

Give us unfailing gentleness at all times,
- toward everyone we meet.

Come to creat a new earth for us,
- where there will be justice and peace.

Closing Prayer:
Jesus,  I can see your special love
of those who are so often invisible in this world.
You sent your mother to give hope to the poor
by appearing to Juan Diego.
Open my heart to fill with compassion
for those who are hungry and without dignity.
Grant me the ability to live simply
and to see you in the faces of those around me.

In the darkness of these Advent nights
let me be guided by the light of your word.
Give me the humility to be led by you
and the wisdom to learn from you.

I am grateful for the Savior who awaits us,
and eagerly await the time of rejoicing.
Let me look forward in hope
and turn to you with great trust,
knowing you will guide my steps
along the unknown path of this day.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

---

Praying Advent Home

Daily Advent Prayer

Opening Prayer:
All-powerful Father,
we await the healing power of Christ your Son.
Let us not be discouraged by our weaknesses
as we prepare for his coming.
Keep us steadfast in your love.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Today's Readings

Daily Meditation:
They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

Our Advent preparation is about growing in confidence
that our God can indeed save us.
So often our struggles make us very weary and tired.
When we really "get it" that the One who made us
truly desires to set us free,
we really begin longing at a new level
to know what it is to be restored to a new vitality.

They will soar as with eagles' wings;
     They will run and not grow weary,
     walk and not grow faint.

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
To Jesus Christ our Lord, who came among us in his mercy, let us constantly cry out
    with joy:
    Come Lord Jesus! 

You came from the Father to take on our human nature,
-now set free what was harmed in us by sin.

One day you will come again in glory to your chosen people,
-come to us today and help us sinners to recognize your mercy and tender love.

We glory in praising you, Lord Jesus,
-come and bring us your salvation.

Through faith you lead us into light,
-may we reveal your justice through our deeds.

Closing Prayer:
Loving and powerful God,
Some days I can only be in awe of your power and love.
You never tire of supporting me.
I constantly ask for help
knowing you will always be there.

From some place deep in my soul,
I hear you calling me by name
and I prepare with a joyful heart for your coming.

Grant me the gift of hope, patience and waiting in these Advent days
because I want the focus of my waiting to be on you.
I want to praise and glorify you with my life.
Let me live my gratitude to you, rejoicing!

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

---

Praying Advent Home

Daily Advent Prayer

"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."

Opening Prayer:
Almighty Father,
give us the joy of your love
to prepare the way for Christ our Lord.
Help us to serve you and one another.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Today's Readings

Daily Meditation:
The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain
The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

So often we are "afflicted and needy"
and we seem to "seek water in vain."
Today we listen to a refreshing promise
of how much our Lord desires to refresh us.
Each of us can fill in what we need the most
and ask, with trust, for our Lord to come and save us.

I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, "Fear not, I will help you." Isaiah 41

Whoever has ears ought to hear. Matthew 11

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
Let us pray to God our Father who sent his Son to save
    mankind:
    Show us your mercy, Lord. 

Father most merciful, we confess our faith in your Christ
    with our words,
- keep us from denying him in our actions.

You have sent your Son to rescue us,
- remove every sorrow from the face of the earth and
   from our country.

Our land looks forward with delight to the approach of
    your Son,
- let it experience the fullness of your joy.

Through your mercy makes us live holy and chaste lives in
    this world,
- eagerly awaiting the blessed hope and coming of Christ
    in glory.

Closing Prayer:
Lord, like a loving parent,
you offer me your comforting hand
and tell me not to be afraid.

Help me to wait for your coming with patience
and to listen to what you ask of me.

I want so much to be one of  "your people"
and to live my life in you.

Thank you for the way you bless my life.
Thank you for listening to my prayers
and for planting deep in my heart
the knowlege that with you,
nothing is impossible.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

---

 Praying Advent Home

Daily Advent Prayer

"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Today's Readings

Daily Meditation:
I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good,
     and lead you on the way you should go.

In our self-reliant independence, we can easily forget that
our God really knows what is good for us, and calls us to that goodness.
In our rebellion, we sometimes cling to our freedom
to be self-destructive or to simply keep our life on a shallow level.
Let's let ourselves be drawn into the invitation to live our lives
touched by the grace of God-with-us.

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

Wisdom is vindicated by her works

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
To Christ our Redeemer, who comes to save us from our
    sins, let us cry out with joy:
    Come, Lord Jesus!  

The prophets of old foretold your birth among us,
- now make virtue come to life in us.

We proclaim your saving work,
- now grant us your salvation.

You came to heal the contrite,
- heal the weakness of your people.

You came and saw fit to reconcile the world,
- when you come again in judgment, free us from the
    torments of punishment.

Closing Prayer:
Jesus,
in the darkness of these Advent nights
let me be guided by the light of your word.
Give me the humility to be led by you
and the wisdom to learn from you.

I feel your light in my life
and in the world.
I am grateful for the Savior who awaits us,
and eagerly await the time of rejoicing.
Let me look forward in hope
and turn to you with great trust,
knowing you will guide my steps
along the unknown path of this day.

Daily Advent Prayer

"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."

Today's Readings

Daily Meditation:
Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

God seems to like to prepare the way for our salvation.
We can experience prophets, even Elijahs on fire with God's word.
What are the messages, the stirrings, the signs of fire
that are preparing the way for the Lord to enter my life these days?
Can we make friends with these preparations for the Lord?

 Blessed is he who shall have seen you
     and who falls asleep in your friendship.

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
To Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, who will come again in
    glory with great power, let us make our humble prayer:
    Come, Lord Jesus! 

Lord Jesus, you will come with great power,
- look on our lowliness and make us worthy of your gifts.

You came to be the good news for mankind,
- may we always proclaim your saving work.

You are worthy of praises, for you have life and rule all
    things,
- help us to wait in joyful hope for the coming of your
    glory.

We long for the grace of your coming,
- console us with the gift of your own divine life.

Closing Prayer:
God of my heart,
Some days I just feel like I am stumbling
around in the darkness.
It is then - and only then - that I turn to you.

Soften my hardened heart,
open my closed-in spirit
and take away the darkness in my life.
If I just let myself feel
your glory dawning,
full of brightness,
I could look around to see myself
revealed in you.

Let me be a child of your light
and feel the fire of your love
and the glory of your words.
Most of all, let me be grateful to you.