Eternal Light, shine into our hearts,Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil,Eternal Power, be our support,Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance,Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us;that with all our heart and mind and soul and strength we may seek thy face and be brought to your infinite mercy to thy holy presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. -Alcuin of York 735-804 AD

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,
and I will observe it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36 Turn my heart to your decrees,
and not to selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
which is for those who fear you.
39 Turn away the disgrace that I dread,
for your ordinances are good.
40 See, I have longed for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life.
Psalm 119 - New Revised Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
Amos 8:1-14 - Revelation 1:17-2:7 - Matthew 23:1-12

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 To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, do not refuse to hear me,
for if you are silent to me, I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
2 Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to you for help,
as I lift up my hands towards your most holy sanctuary.*
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors, while mischief is in their hearts.
7The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts;
so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
8 The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9O save your people, and bless your heritage; be their shepherd, and carry them for ever
Psalm 28 - New Revised Standard 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

Yesterday's Pain
Some of us walk into Advent
tethered to our unresolved yesterdays
the pain still stabbing
the hurt still throbbing.
It's not that we don't know better;
it's just that we can't stand up anymore by ourselves.
On the way to Bethlehem,
will you give us a hand?
Ann Weems, “Kneeling in Bethlehem”

Ambrose, Bishop of Milan

O God, you enabled your servant Ambrose to humble the pride of princes, to win the learned, and to teach the simple: Grant that we in our turn may walk humbly before you and resist iniquity in high places, glad to sing your praises before the whole assembly of your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns in you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
(Horace Finn Tucker)

5For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
8‘Come,’ my heart says, ‘seek his face!’
Your face, Lord, do I seek.
11Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
Psalm 27 - New Revised Standard Version

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 - Matt. 22:23-33

If we listen closely, we can hear the labor pained cry of the whole creation in the howl of the coyote at a full moon on a clear winter night or in the hum of the hummingbird's wing on a still summer day.
If we listen closely to the restlessness within ourselves, we will hear it there.
All these cries are in essence the same cry for that which only God can provide - that which goes by names like wholeness, healing, redemption and salvation.
Each Advent, we sit in the pregnant tension between what we groan for and the hope of its coming that we cannot yet see.
Take some time today to patiently sit within this tension. What does God want to birth anew in you this season?
Rev Mark Sloss, Christ Lutheran, Kokomo, IN.

John of Damascus

Confirm our minds, O Lord, in the mysteries of the true faith, Set forth with power by your servant John of Damscus; that we, with him, confessing Jesus to be true God and true Man, and singing the praises of the risen Lord, may, by the power of the resurrection, attain to eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for evermore.

14The Lord is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
15There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
‘The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
16 the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.’
17I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18The Lord has punished me severely,
but he did not give me over to death.
19Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
Psalm 118 - New Revised Standard 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

Francis Xavier, Missionary

Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your Servant Francis, whom you called to preach the Gospel to the peoples of Asia. Raise up, we pray, in this and every land heralds and evangelists of your kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

8As we have heard, so have we seen
in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in the city of our God,
which God establishes for ever.
9We ponder your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
10Your name, O God, like your praise,
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with victory.
11 Let Mount Zion be glad,
let the towns of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments.
Psalm 48 - New Revised Standard 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)

1Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord.
2Happy are those who keep his decrees,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways.
4You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
5O that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
Psalm 119 - New Revised Standard 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

Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon

Grant, we pray you, Almighty God, that we, remembering your deacon Nicholas Ferrar and his household, and their detachment from the ambitions of this world, may be weaned from all that may hinder us from union with you; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Oxford Centenary Supplementary Missal

1Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments. 2Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures for ever. 4They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous. 5It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice. 6For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered for ever.Psalm 112 - New Revised Standard 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