“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.
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
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.