God of love, help us to hear your knock on the door to our hearts so that we may not fail to be invited to your eternal banquet. Amplify in us the spirit of courage and love so that we may surrender our tendencies toward moral dysfunction and prideful self-indulgence. Give us the wisdom we need to face the problems of our world, our families, ourselves with radical honesty and appropriate sensitivity. Keep our heads from the sands so we may address the real improprieties we find around us. Let us work to heal at least one wound this Advent. Amen.
(Thomas Merton)

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
Psalm 33 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Amos 7:10-17 – Revelation 1:9-16 - Matthew 22:34-46

Come, dear Refreshment of those who languish; Come, Star and Guide of those who sail amidst tempests. You are the Haven of the tossed and shipwrecked. Come now, Glory and Crown of the living, as well as the Safeguard of the dying.
Come, Sacred Spirit; Come, and make me fit to receive You.
St. Augustine

1 Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
not one of them does good!
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
if anyone seeks God.
3 But no, all have turned away;
all have become corrupt.
No one does good, not a single one!
4 Will those who do evil never learn?
They eat up my people like bread
and wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord.
5 Terror will grip them,
for God is with those who obey him.
6 The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
but the Lord will protect his people.
Psalm 14 New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Amos 7:1-9 – Revelation 1:1-8 - Matthew 22:23-33

O Lord, awake us from the comfortable existence in which we too often may be safely cocooned, and challenge us to accept the call of our baptism. Afflict us with your grace so that we take seriously our efforts to aid the poor, to comfort the sad and lonely, to let our light shine as a beacon to all who may need our help. Allow us to serve also as a wake-up call to our brothers and sisters whose companionship in Christ we share. Amen.
(Thomas Merton)

1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
let my cry for help come to you.
2 Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.
3 For my days vanish like smoke;
my bones burn like glowing embers.
11 My days are like the evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.
12 But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever;
your renown endures through all generations.
13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her;
the appointed time has come.
Psalm 18 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Amos 5:1-17 – Jude 1-16 - Matthew 22:1-14

Teach me to feel another's woe,
To hide the fault I see;
That mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me.
-- Alexander Pope

1 I love you, Lord;
you are my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.
4 The ropes of death entangled me;
floods of destruction swept over me.
6 But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry to him reached his ears.
Psalm 18 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Amos 4:6-13 – 2 Peter 3:11-18 - Matthew 21:33-46

Lord Jesus, assuage our blindness and activate our hearts during this Advent, so that we may find your presence hidden in ourselves. May we unveil the mystery of Christ-with-us and work toward the true restoration of the whole world in your image. Let your light shine in our hearts so that we may always know the truth of your love. Amen.
(Thomas Merton)

1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
3 Our God comes and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.
4 He summons the heavens above,
and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 "Gather to me my consecrated ones,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness,
for God himself is judge.
Psalm 50 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Amos 3:12-4:5 – 2 Peter 3:1-10 - Matthew 21:23-32

I entreat you, O Lord, holy Father, everlasting God, command the way of your truth and the knowledge of you to be shown to your servants who wander in doubt and uncertainty amid the darkness of this world; that the eyes of their souls may be opened, and they may acknowledge you, the One God, the Father in the Son, and the Son in the Father, with the Holy Spirit, and enjoy the fruit of this confession, both here and in the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gregorian according to Pamelius

1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalm 90 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Amos 3:1-11 – 2 Peter 1:12-21 - Matthew 21:12-22

May God the Father, and the eternal High Priest Jesus Christ, build us up in faith and truth and love, and grant to us our portion among the saints with all those who believe on our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray for all saints, for kings and rulers, for the enemies of the Cross of Christ; and for ourselves, we pray that our fruit may abound and we be made perfect in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Bishop Polycarp, 69-155 AD

1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.
2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God.
3 All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt;
there is no one who does good, not even one.
4 Will evildoers never learn—
those who devour my people as men eat bread
and who do not call on the LORD ?
5 There they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous.
Psalm 90 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Amos 2:6-16 – 1 Peter 1:1-11 - Matthew 21:1-11