Creighton University's Online Ministries

Second Sunday of Advent
Daily Advent Prayer

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


Entrance Antiphon:
People of Zion, behold,
the Lord will come to save the nations,
and the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard
in the joy of your heart.

Collect:
Almighty and merciful God,
may no earthly undertaking hinder those
who set out in haste to meet your Son,
but may our learning of heavenly wisdom
gain us admittance to his company.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

Today's Readings

Daily Meditation:
On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse ...
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.

Isaiah 11

We begin this second week of our Advent journey
with this wonderful proclamation of the end of violence
and a promise of justice and peace.
And, we hear John, the preparer, announce the special mission of Jesus.
I can let my heart continue to welcome his coming
with eager anticipation.

Let us experience today what it will be like to be
freed from the power of injustice, conflict and division.
Our longing, our desire: that we might be set free.

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever. Psalm 72

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3

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:
Dear Lord,
Through the darkness, I look for your wisdom.
I want my heart to be open to you.
But sometimes in these days, it seems that
so many things come between us.

Help me to be awake and aware
of the radiance you bring to my life.
Help me to be grateful each day
for the blessings of family and friends.
Let me be a peacemaker
in my own life, and in the world.
Let me pray especially for this difficult world
and those who are so in need of an end to violence.
My heart begs for this as my Advent prayer today.

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


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Daily Advent Prayer
Second Week of Advent
“Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

Collect:
May our prayer of petition
rise before you, we pray, O Lord,
that, with purity unblemished,
we, your servants, may come, as we desire,
to celebrate the great mystery
of the Incarnation of your Only Begotten Son.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever 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.


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Daily Advent Prayer

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
“Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

Collect:
O God, who have shown forth your salvation
to all the ends of the earth,
grant, we pray,
that we may look forward in joy
to the glorious Nativity of Christ.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

Today's Readings

Daily Meditation:
Though the grass withers and the flower wilts,
     the word of our God stands forever

Our God comes with power to save us.
Each of us can name what it is we long to be saved from.
Today, let's imagine ourselves freer.
Throughout the day, let's picture new ways of responding
to challenging relationships, habitual sins,
and other ruts we are in.
As we envision our freedom we experience
how much our God desires to save us.

It is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost.

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
To Jesus Christ our Lord, the light of the world,
    let us cry out with joy:
    Come Lord Jesus! 

Dispel our darkness with the light of your presence,
- and make us worthy of your gifts.

Save us, Lord our God,
- that we may praise your holy name this day.

Enkindle in our hearts the flame of your love,
- and make us long to be united with you.

You bore our infirmity,
-aid the sick and those who are to die this day.

Closing Prayer:
Almighty God,
I hear it over and over: you are coming to me.

I feel my heart stir in anticipation,
and I sense that you are inviting me
to enter more deeply
into the mystery of your birth.

Help me to feel renewed patience settle in my heart,
and to lift my face in joy.

I have been like a lost lamb,
but I hear your voice calling me
and I feel how deeply you want me to return.
Somehow I know that you rejoice in my desire to find you.

Help me not to be afraid to say out loud, to believe:
Here is God, coming into my life.

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



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Daily Advent Prayer
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

Collect:
Almighty God, who command us
to prepare the way for Christ the Lord,
grant in your kindness, we pray,
that no infirmity may weary us
as we long for the comforting presence
of our heavenly physician.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
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.


 


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Daily Advent Prayer
Second Week of Advent

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

Collect:
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready
the paths of your Only Begotten Son,
that through his coming
we may be found worthy to serve you
with minds made pure.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of 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

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

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 knowledge that with you,
nothing is impossible.

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


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Friday
Daily Advent Prayer
“Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

Collect:
Grant that your people, we pray, almighty God,
may be ever watchful for the coming of your Only Begotten Son,
that as the author of our salvation himself has taught us,
we may hasten alert and with lighted lamps
to meet him when he comes.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
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.

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


Creighton U. Online Ministries Home Page | Praying Advent Home Page|Site Index



Daily Advent Prayer
“Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

Collect:
May the splendor of your glory dawn in our hearts,
we pray, almighty God,
that all shadows of the night may be scattered
and we may be shown to be children of light
by the advent of your Only Begotten Son.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
*

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 Elijah's 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:
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.

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


Creighton University Online Ministries Home Page | Praying Advent Home Page|Site Index


* New English translation according to the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal. 2010,
Copyright International Commission on English in the Liturgy.