Advent Meditations
Advent 2005 Meditations
Nov 26, 2005

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.  The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. - James 5:16

Pray During Advent That Christ Be Born Anew Within

Prayer needs to be a vital component in the life of every Christian.  James put this statement together in such a way that the result is a highly charged affirmation of prayer as both powerful and effective. Prayer is appropriate in the full range of life situations – in times of trouble and suffering, happiness and joy, and sickness (James 5: 13-14).

“Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you “ (I Thes. 5:17-18). 

We are to pray in faith. “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering” (James 1:6). Prayerlessness itself may be a demonstration of a lack of faith. One of the strongest obstacles to prayer is our need to feel like we’re doing something productive – a need that comes from our desire to be self-reliant and to take things into our own hands.

We pray in the name of the Lord -- that is to pray in submission to His lordship and all that His name represents. The focus of prayer is not prayer, but God.

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3). The purpose of prayer is that we get a hold of God, not just get a hold of whatever we want.

We pray in confession. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you double-minded … Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you” (James 4:8,10).

Prayer accomplishes much. Billy Graham once said, “Prayer is not the least you can do for someone, it is the most you can do for someone.”

William Bridges, a practical Puritan writer, wrote: “Reading without meditation is unfruitful; meditation without reading is hurtful; to meditate and to read without prayer upon both is without blessing.”

In his book, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald S. Whitney makes a strong connection between meditation and prayer. As he closed this section in his book, he asked three probing questions as follows:

Since prayer is expected, will you pray?
Since prayer is learned, will you learn to pray?
Since prayer is answered, will you persistently pray?

- adapted from Prayer and Meditation from Dr. Bill Mackey, 04/14/2004 

1st Tuesday in Advent

Jesus said, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."
- John 14:18

Jesus Christ is as real today as he was when he walked on this earth.  Even though he doesn't move among us physically, Christ is a continuous, living presence through the Holy Spirit.  That my be a terrifying thought when we don't like ourselves or are contemplating the bad things we have done.  Insecurity and sin can create a sense of fear, awkwardness, and clumsiness in Christ's presence.  But it helps to think of what we know about our Lord from scripture.

Romans 5:8 and 8:35-39 tells us that the Lord loves us.  John 14:18 and Hebrews 13:5 talk about how Christ will never leave us or forsake us.  In Matthew 11:28, Christ invites us to spend time with him.  And 1 Samuel 16:7 and Luke 24:38 remind us that the Lord looks at our hearts. 

Let us remember to speak about the love of God to people who are hurting or lonely or having difficulties with life.  Many of these people are distant from loved ones or far from their place of birth.  Christ's words of love comfort them and remind them that they are part of Christ's family.  Let us also take comfort in knowing that Christ loves each of us unconditionally and will never abandon us.

Dear Lord, thank you for sharing our worries and cares and for standing beside each of us to comfort and guide us.  

- adapted from 100 Meditations for Advent and Christmas: Selected from the Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide, pg 34

1st Wednesday in Advent

Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." - Acts 20:35
Pt 1

Advent is a season of intense prayer, fasting and concern for those in need. It offers all Christians an opportunity to prepare for Christmas by serious discernment about their lives, with particular attention to the word of God which enlightens the daily journey of all who believe.

What we have here is not simply a moral exhortation, or a command which comes to us from without. The inclination to give is rooted in the depths of the human heart: every person is conscious of a desire to interact with others and everyone finds fulfillment in a free gift of self to others.

Our goal must be to build a culture of solidarity that replaces the emphasis on greed

Our age, regrettably, is particularly susceptible to the temptation toward selfishness which always lurks within the human heart. In society generally, and in the media, people are bombarded by messages which more or less openly exalt the ephemeral and the hedonistic. Concern for others is certainly shown whenever natural disasters, war and other emergencies strike, but in general it is difficult to build a culture of solidarity. The spirit of the world affects our inner propensity to give ourselves unselfishly to others and drives us to satisfy our own particular interests. The desire to possess ever more is encouraged. Surely it is natural and right that people, by using their own gifts and by their own labor, should work to obtain what they need to live, but an excessive desire for possessions prevents human beings from being open to their Creator and to their brothers and sisters. The words of Paul to Timothy remain relevant in every age: "The love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs" (1 Tim 6, 10)!

Exploitation of others, indifference towards the suffering of our brothers and sisters, and the violation of basic rules of morality are just a few fruits of the thirst for gain. Faced with the tragic situation of persistent poverty which afflicts so many people in our world, how can we fail to see that the quest for profit at any cost and the lack of effective, responsible concern for the common good have concentrated immense resources in the hands of a few while the rest of humanity suffers in poverty and neglect?

Appealing to believers and to all people of good will, I would like to reaffirm a principle which is self-evident yet often ignored: our goal should not be the benefit of a privileged few, but rather the improvement of the living conditions of all. Only on this foundation can we build our community truly marked by justice and solidarity which is the hope of everyone.

Draw strength from the inexhaustible treasury of Divine love, the gift of Jesus to the Father.

- Adapted from: L'Osservatore Romano, Weekly Edition in English, 12 February 2003, page 6

1st Thursday in Advent

Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." - Acts 20:35
Pt 2

"It is more blessed to give than to receive". When believers respond to the inner impulse to give themselves to others without expecting anything in return, they experience a profound interior satisfaction.

The efforts of Christians to promote justice, their commitment in defense of the powerless, their humanitarian work in providing bread for the hungry and their care for the sick by responding to every emergency and need, draw their strength from that sole and inexhaustible treasury of love which is the complete gift of Jesus to the Father. Believers are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, true God and true man, who, in perfect obedience to the will of the Father, emptied himself (cf. Phil 2,6 ff.), and humbly gave himself to us in selfless and total love, even unto death on a cross. Calvary eloquently proclaims the message of the Blessed Trinity's love for human beings of all times and places.  The Incarnation initiates the message of this love.

St Augustine points out that only God, as the Supreme Good, is capable of overcoming the various forms of poverty present in our world. Mercy and love for one's neighbor must therefore be the fruit of a living relationship with God and have God as their constant point of reference, since it is in closeness to Christ that we find our joy (cf. De Civitate Dei, X, 6; CCL 39: 1351ff).

Love of God has to inspire and transform who we are and what we do

The Son of God loved us first, while "we were yet sinners" (Rom 5,6), with an unconditional love which asks nothing in return. If this is so, how can we fail to see the season of Advent as a providential opportunity to make courageous decisions inspired by altruism and generosity? Advent offers us the practical and effective weapons of fasting and almsgiving as a means of combating an excessive attachment to money. Giving not only from our abundance, but sacrificing something more in order to give to the needy, fosters that self-denial which is essential to authentic Christian living. Strengthened by constant prayer, the baptized reveal the priority which they have given to God in their lives.

The love of God poured into our hearts ought to inspire and transform who we are and what we do. Christians must not think that they can seek the true good of their brothers and sisters without embodying the charity of Christ. Even in those cases where they might succeed in improving important aspects of social or political life, without charity every change would remain short-lived. The possibility of giving oneself to others is itself a gift which comes from the grace of God. As Saint Paul teaches: "God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil 2,13).

- Adapted from: L'Osservatore Romano, Weekly Edition in English, 12 February 2003, page 6

1st Friday in Advent

Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." - Acts 20:35
Pt 3

Sense of compassion, Gospel of charity

To modern men and women, often dissatisfied with a shallow and ephemeral existence and in search of authentic happiness and love, Christ offers his own example and issues the invitation to follow him. He asks those who hear his voice to give their lives for others. This sacrifice is a source of self-fulfillment and joy, as is seen in the eloquent example of those men and women who, leaving all security behind, have not hesitated to risk their lives as missionaries in different parts of the world. It can also be seen in the response of those young people who, prompted by faith, have embraced a religious life in order to serve God's plan of salvation. It is likewise the experience of the growing number of volunteers who readily devote themselves to helping the poor, the elderly, the sick and all those in need.

At times it is not the Christian command of love, but rather an innate sense of compassion which motivates our efforts to assist others. Even so, anyone who helps those in need always enjoys God's favor. In the Acts of the Apostles we read that the disciple Tabitha was saved because she had done good to her neighbor (cf. 9,36 ff.). The centurion Cornelius obtained eternal life on account of his generosity (cf. ibid., 10,2-31).

For those who are "far-off", service to the needy can be a providential path leading to an encounter with Christ, since the Lord abundantly repays the good deeds done to one's neighbor (cf. Mt 25,40).

It is my fervent hope that believers will find this Advent a favorable time for bearing witness to the Gospel of charity in every place, since the vocation to charity is the heart of all true evangelization.

- Adapted from:L'Osservatore Romano, Weekly Edition in English, 12 February 2003, page 6

1st Saturday in Advent

David said to Goliath, "I come to you in the name of the Lord."
1 Samuel 17:45

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to stumble only momentarily when faced with problems, while others are completely overwhelmed?  I think the difference in how we react to problems can be found in our perspective.

Consider the story of David from the Bible.  If anyone ever faced an overwhelming problem, it was young David.  What began as a trip to deliver some food to him brothers and check on the war ended with him going one-on-one with a seasoned warrior who was three times his size.  The account of David's victory that day is legendary.

David's perspective allowed him to confront the giant while everyone else cowered in fear.  David said to Goliath, "You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."  (I Sam. 17:45)  Remembering God and God's power enabled David to see the enemy for who he really was.  David did not compare the giant to himself; he compared the giant to God.  This allowed David to act Decisively and be victorious over the enemy.

O God, when we face  our "giants," let us see your instead of the challenge.

- adapted from 100 Meditations for Advent and Christmas: Selected from the Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide, pg 37

2nd Sunday in Advent

“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
Mark 1: 1

Mark doesn’t mess around with shepherds or mangers or angels as he begins his gospel. Nothing is mentioned of Jesus’ birth or his parents. We have the sense that he wants to get to the essence of Jesus without spending any time on his infancy. That’s a good thing for us to remember as we approach the Christmas holiday. This is a fun time of the year…everyone likes parties and getting and giving presents. But sometimes Christmas can whirl out of control and assume far more importance than it deserves. Our consumer driven culture has, in a sense, hi-jacked our holiday and uses it to stimulate spending and prop up the economy. Now that might be good for business…but it gets harder and harder to discern Jesus in the midst of the marketing. Some churches even get caught up in the energy of it all with their over-the-top pageants and entertainment extravaganzas. One wonders what Mark would make of all the hoopla given his minimalist approach to telling the Jesus story. It’s something to think about as we decorate and bake for our prolonged celebration. The good news of the season is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God…and if we miss that message all we have left is another party…and that isn’t nearly enough for our hurting world.

How will I keep my focus on Jesus as Christmas approaches?

- adapted from Desert Cross Lutheran Church

2nd Monday in Advent

“You forgave the iniquity of your people: you pardoned all their sin.”

The people of Israel had a history with God, a history marked by forgiveness. And now the Psalmist knows that they need God’s help once more, and he is counting on God to come through with another fresh start. This story really isn’t that much different from our own. Week after week we come to God in worship with our prayers of confession…we have a remarkable propensity to keep on doing the same old hurtful things…though occasionally we do manage to fail in new and even surprising ways. We’d like to do better, but we really have no other recourse but to continue counting on God’s faithful and generous mercy. From our human perspective God’s grace is truly remarkable. Most of us can’t even imagine having that kind of patience. Oh, we might forgive once or even seven times, but God’s forgiveness is unlimited. When we come confessing God will continue to forgive. Of course, we don’t deserve this amazing grace. None of us do…but grace is the essence of salvation. The only answer to the problem of sin is forgiveness, the fresh start that all of us crave and that we celebrate every time we make the sign of the cross in remembrance of our baptism. Our sins have been pardoned. Guilt and shame can be left behind as we daily make our new beginning.

Why is it so hard to leave guilt behind?

- adapted from Desert Cross Lutheran Church

2nd Tuesday in Advent

To Hear or Not to Hear--
The Christmas Question, Part I

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night....Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel..."Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. Luke 2: 8, 13-14

One night long ago in Bethlehem, some shepherds heard the music--there was no computer hook-up, no installation, no internet provider service--it was pure music from the choirs of heaven. Angels proclaimed, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men."

Did they say it? Did they sing it? I surely do not know. I would like to think it was sounds of joy the shepherds heard. The SHEPHERDS, that is--not the people in the sleepy village below. Sound asleep in their warm beds, they heard nothing. They slept through the most wondrous night of all history, oblivious to the sounds of heaven close by.

In the mad rush of the Christmas season, above the din of the crowds, the roar of traffic, and the wonderful Salvation Army bellringers, do YOU hear it? Pause long enough this December to listen--and you will hear music from another world; music to warm your heart, and enrich your life. Join me--and the shepherds--at the Well; let's listen together!

-adapted from Words From the Well! by Peggie C. Bohanon

2nd Wednesday in Advent

To Hear or Not to Hear--
The Christmas Question, Part 2

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night....Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel..."Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. Luke 2: 8, 13-14

A Helping Word...or Two!

Sounds of Wonder...It's easy to lose the wonder of Christmas--we're too busy wondering what to give everyone on our list, how far the Christmas budget will stretch, and what we will serve at the party! The shepherds' simple, uncluttered lives had no such concerns--they were caring for sheep, doing their job. In a moment's time, work turned to wonder; the shepherds must have been awestruck at the splendor in the sky, the glorious words that brought wonder to their hearts and souls.

They "heard" the sounds--vocal or verbal--and these special moments, forever sealed in their hearts, carried them to Bethlehem. Their simple world invaded by heaven, they would never be the same again. Oh, the wonder of it all--and down through the ages, the wonder has traveled--to us, in the 20th Century--we pass it on to our children each time we read the Story; light the Advent candles; sing a carol. Keep the wonder of Christmas in your heart--all year long. Its music will warm the dark corners of your life and light up the windows of your soul! Listen closely, and let the music soar!

Sounds of Worship...It's easy to lose the worship of Christmas--we sing the seasonal carols; attend the seasonal cantata; and light the seasonal candles. It can become merely a Christmas ritual; a traditional rite-of-passage to our children, without heart, soul, or worship.

The shepherds' wonder, even their curiosity, turned quickly into worship when they saw the Christ Child. Their hearts responded in a worship experience, unlike any other they had known. Can you imagine? Do you remember YOUR first, or even your last, worship experience, when Christ truly became a REAL, personal Savior to you? Pure worship resulted; you were an adoring, reverent, praiseful child of God.

Ways of worship differ among us, but one common thread weaves into the tapestry of praise we share--we love Him; we adore Him; He is our wonderful Savior and Lord. Don't let the sounds of the season bring a mechanical response; keep it alive and vibrant--rejoice in the God of Creation Who has been made "flesh among us." Adore Him--and let the music soar!

-adapted from Words From the Well! by Peggie C. Bohanon

2nd Thursday in Advent

To Hear or Not to Hear--
The Christmas Question, Part 3

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night....Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel..."Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. Luke 2: 8, 13-14

Sounds of Worth! It's popular to talk about self-esteem, or lack of it; it's common to hear of increased depression at the Christmas season. The twinkling lights, decorations, gifts, and parties may bring sorrow; festivities can bring friction; memories can bring misery. You hear no music; the silence is deafening.

The silence on the hillside that night was probably evident as well. These shepherds lived a simple existence, most likely in poverty and plainness. And their worth? Doubt they felt very important--unless designated the shepherd in charge! Suddenly they were men of history and worth, the first people of the world to hear this glorious news. For into that world came the joyful message of the angels--peace on earth, good will to men. The Christ Child born to give peace--and worth to us all!

Whatever your situation this Christmas, you can know worth--because of Him. He loves you, accepts you, redeems you, and gives you hope and joy. Read His Word and be assured of His great love and your great worth. Do not live in the sounds of silence--believe His Word--and let the music soar!

The shepherds heard the music--sounds of worship, wonder, and worth. They believed, they bowed, and they were blessed. And us? It's our choice--to hear or not to hear; that is the question.

The answer? It's up to you--at this Christmas season, and for all eternity, may the music of heaven ring in your soul.

-adapted from Words From the Well! by Peggie C. Bohanon

2nd Friday in Advent

These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Colossians 2:17 NRSV

 In late November dark and dreary
The biting winds blow cold and harsh;
Night sighs over the fields,
Gently.
The lengthening shadows
Spread into the darkness
Remind us in some primeval way
Of ancient campfires in cold, dark caves.

Our fear of wolves and bears
Transforms itself
Into a banishing of the dark
A celebration of the light.
But we do not know,
Much less remember,
Whose light we hallow in deep December.

We have lost touch with knowing
Our heritage;
Traded our birthright away
For Santa Claus and jingle bells,
For Rudolph the reindeer and 'Deck the Halls.'
Preferring to deny the mystery
And what it calls us to.

Oh, the sweet little Babe is safe
Enough
For us to ooh and ahh at
On Christmas Eve,
But too dangerous to keep
In Christmas concerts at the school.

But even so,
When shadows fall
Across the land;
When carols ring out
And Santas abound;
When legend and myth
Go round and round;
The shadows of Light and Truth and Love
Fall gently, softly like a cloud

One more heart comes to the Lord,
One more burden is laid
At the foot of His Throne.
The Prince of Peace,
Emmanuel,
Comes like a shadow
Among us to dwell.

Our cold, hard hearts cannot stop His birth.
Though our greed and our selfishness cover the Earth.
For His Love is stronger than any ill
And the Light will shine on in the darkness still
Lengthening the shadows
Till they touch each one
Drawing us to Him
Calling us home to His heart.
No, our thoughtless ways cannot stop His birth
There'll come a new Heaven
There'll be a new Earth.

Until then the shadows will fall
Across the land

© Charlene Elizabeth Fairchild

2nd Saturday in Advent

To See or Not to See--
The Christmas Question

Shadow nightmares. Shadow tricks. Shadows--a part of life! And into the scene of the lowly manger comes a shadow--a shadow of awesome beauty many will miss this Christmas season. It's the shadow of the Cross, hovering over the Savior of the world, a tiny newborn baby in a manger. A shadow there for you and me. Let's tiptoe from the Well to that scene!

A Helping Word...or Two!

There's Hope in the Shadow of the Cross!...All because a Child was born to die--for you and for me! The dark shadows of despair and hopelessness need not haunt me any longer, for beyond the manger, I see a Savior Who brings light and hope into my world. If all I see is a sweet Baby in a manger, a "little Lord Jesus" who remains in the cradle, then I have missed the most precious truth of history. Christ in human flesh, come as an infant, remained not an infant. He came, not to be born, but to die--to bear the sins of humanity, that you and I might be reconciled to God. See not a gruesome, ugly shadow of death--see a glorious, awesome shadow of life, of promise, and of hope. Do you see what I see? Hope for us all, oh, how can it be!

There's Healing in the Shadow of the Cross!...All because a Child was born to live--for you and for me! He grew "in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and with man." Healing poured from His very being to touch the lame, the halt, and the blind. It poured forth to touch the weary, the worried, and the wayward. And it poured forth from Calvary to heal our souls, our minds, and our bodies. Do you see what I see? Not just a Baby's tiny, chubby hand reaching for the sky--I see a nail-scarred Hand I can hold on to in my deepest need--that Hand, wounded for me, now reaches to touch the wounds of my life--physical, emotional, spiritual, and I draw near to the shadow that brings healing to my life. Do you see what I see? Healing for us all, oh, how can it be!

There's Heaven in the Shadow of the Cross!...All because a Child was born to reign--for you and for me! The Baby grew; He became a Man; He died, was resurrected, and now sits at the right hand of the Father, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Baby's infant cries are now the King's intercessory prayers--and it's all in the shadow of the Cross. Do you see what I see? There is an Authority, a Higher Power, a Majesty working behind the scenes of our lives, to bring order, direction, and purpose. To bring victory, triumph and joy. To hear our cries, listen to our dreams, and bend ear to our petitions. To bring heaven to our souls. Do you see what I see? Heaven for us all, oh, how can it be!

Christmas--a time of joy? Certainly! But also a time when monstrous shadows of pain, loneliness, and grief, can haunt, harrass, and overwhelm. Give them to Jesus! Let them disappear in the light of His Love. Hope, healing, heaven--it's all there--right beyond the manger. Whatever you need this Christmas is waiting for you--in the shadows, not of your pain, but of the Cross! Believe it, receive it, and know the greatest Christmas gift you could ever open--His living, dying, reigning love--it's yours--in the shadow of the Cross!

And now, if you see what I see, you can get on with living. For God is here, and you will be fine!

-adapted from Words From the Well! by Peggie C. Bohanon

The Third Sunday in Advent

The Angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people."  Luke 2:10

A small, attractive folder in the mail pictured a young woman with a radiant smile, holding a gift.  Below the picture was the word "Joy" in big red letters.  Inside the folder were suggestions for gifts that would bring great joy.  Advertisers tell us that buying Christmas gifts will bring joy that endures, but we should know better.  At best, material gifts bring only fleeting joy.

In contrast, the angel's message brings joy that abides.  The Messiah has been born!  The shepherds who heard the news went to Bethlehem to see the child.  Later, the magi, overwhelmed with joy, knelt down and worshiped the Christ child and presented their gifts to him.

The biblical message reminds us that the source of joy is God's love for us.  Jesus came to bring us forgiveness and new life.  He invites us into his family and assures us of a home in heaven.  Christ brings a genuine joy to all who receive him with a humble heart.  Trusting in Christ, abiding in him, obeying and serving the Lord, we find joy that lasts a lifetime and beyond.

Come, Lord Jesus, come to us and to all people.  Abide with us, and fill our hearts with love and joy. Amen

- written by Harold Gniewotta - 100 Meditations for Advent and Christmas: Selected from the Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide, pg 49, 3rd Sunday in Advent, 05

3rd Monday in Advent

Come, let us go, up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of God of Jacob.  He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.  The law of the Lord will go from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  Isaiah 2:3

Lest humanity find the God of the Old Testament too lofty, indiscernible, and unapproachable, the birth of Jesus brought God up close. Lest humanity find the God of Mount Sinai too enveloped in smoke, the mystery of God became incarnate and fully visible in a human being. Lest humanity find the God of the Old Testament too stern, God revealed Himself in a child, an infant, which, like any new baby, everyone loves to hold close and admire. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God came down to walk among us, that we might see Him, know Him, be made fully aware of His love for us, and become fully alert to the will of God for all humankind— so that we, as Isaiah says, might "walk in his paths." (Isaiah 2:3).

Animated by Hope - In addition to the Christmas gift of the Incarnation, God gives us another gift that has the potential to awaken and animate us— a gift of inestimable worth— the gift of hope. When a family gathers around to open gifts on Christmas Day, or Christmas Eve, or whenever you do it, most eyes— especially the younger ones— are open, and fully alert. There's a quality to that moment that makes it unlike other moments, and affects us more than other moments. Likewise God's Christmas gift of hope lends to what would otherwise be normal moments a special, expectant quality.

Hope opens our minds and imaginations to another dimension of reality— a dimension that often transcends reality. It can animate visions of spiritual renaissance astounding in their breadth and audacity! And energize us to work toward their realization. That's what happened to the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. Though living in circumstances noted in his diary as extremely distressing— it felt like God had abandoned Israel— the prophet Isaiah envisions an astounding transformation. The sword, a symbol of the prevailing ethos, changed in Isaiah's vision into a plowshare! The spear, the daily weapon of choice, changed in Isaiah's imagination into an implement of choice— a pruning hook! Schools and universities, funded by the military, which had hitherto taught warcraft and churned out Ph.D's of destruction, were transformed in Isaiah's vision into flourishing academies of peace! Isaiah, inspired by hope in God, foresaw a time when "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isaiah 2:4)

Advent raises up the voices inspired by biblical hope, and gives us an opportunity, once again, to commit ourselves to their vision of a world at peace, living and working in harmony, and with a yearning for a just and loving world, a yearning so deep that no evidence to the contrary can shake it. AMEN

-adapted from God's Christmas Gift

3rd Tuesday in Advent

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  (Is. 7:14)

God uses signs to communicate his purposes, his presence, his righteousness, his favor to his people (Psalm 86:17), and his assurance that he is speaking to them and that he will keep his promises. God also performed mighty signs to demonstrate his saving deeds when he delivered his people from bondage in Egypt (Psalm 78:43). The greatest sign God has given us is his Son Jesus Christ who took on flesh for our sake and for our salvation.

We see the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy and the unfolding of God's plan of redemption in the events leading up to the Incarnation, the birth of the Messiah. The new era of salvation begins with the conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary. This child to be born is conceived by the gracious action of the Holy Spirit upon Mary, who finds favor with God. As Eve was the mother of all humanity doomed to sin, now Mary becomes the mother of the new Adam who will father a new humanity by his grace (Romans 5:12-21). This child to be conceived in her womb is the fulfillment of all God’s promises. He will be “great” and “Son of the Most High” and “King” (Luke 1:32-33), and his name shall be called “Jesus”, which means “the Lord saves”. “He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The promise of an everlasting kingdom to the house of David (Isaiah 9:6-7) is fulfilled in the King to be born in Mary’s womb.

How does Mary respond to the word of God delivered by the angel Gabriel? She knows she is hearing something beyond human capability. It will surely take a miracle which surpasses all that God has done previously. Her question, “how shall this be, since I have no husband” is not prompted by doubt or skepticism, but by wonderment! She is a true hearer of the Word and she immediately responds with faith and trust. Mary's prompt response of "yes" to the divine message is a model of faith for all believers. Mary believed God's promises even when they seemed impossible. She was full of grace because she trusted that what God said was true and would be fulfilled. She was willing and eager to do God's will, even if it seemed difficult or costly. Mary is the “mother of God” because God becomes incarnate when he takes on flesh in her womb. When we pray the Nicene Creed we state our confession of faith in this great mystery: “For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man”. God gives us grace and he expects us to respond with the same willingness, obedience, and heartfelt trust as Mary did. When God commands he also gives the help, strength, and means to respond. We can either yield to his grace or resist and go our own way. Do you believe in God's promises and do you yield to his grace?

"Heavenly Father, you offer us abundant grace, mercy, and forgiveness through your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to live a grace-filled life as Mary did by believing in your promises and by giving you my unqualified "yes" to your will and plan for my life."

- adapted from Daily Reading and Meditation by Don Schwager

3rd Wednesday in Advent

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says, In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.  Isaiah 30:15

Solitude is being alone with yourself, and with God. It is not the same as loneliness. Loneliness is inner emptiness. Solitude is inner fulfillment.

Our fear of being alone drives us to noise and crowds. But loneliness and clatter are not our only alternatives. We can enjoy solitude in cities; it is possible to be a desert hermit and never experience solitude.

In his Life Together Bonhoeffer wrote: 'Let [the one] who cannot be alone beware of community ... [and whoever] is not in community [should] beware of being alone.' So we need both community and solitude: each is necessary for the enrichment of the other.

Thomas Merton observed: 'It is in deep solitude that I find the gentleness with which I can truly love my brothers. The more solitary I am the more affection I have for them.'

Find time each day to meet with God. Make a chapel or oratory somewhere, perhaps a corner of your bedroom, away from interruptions (put the telephone answering machine on), where you do your prayer and Bible/spiritual reading. sermon preparation).

Silence - St. John of the Cross, the great teacher about mystical prayer, wrote: 'The Father spoke one Word, which was his Son, and this word he always speaks in silence, and in silence it must be heard by the soul.' Silence is 'the royal road to spiritual formation' (Nouwen). It is not just the absence of noise, but an opportunity to listen to the still small voice of the Spirit.

Study - In meditation we attempt to let a word or phrase of Scripture speak to us. When we do 'Bible study' we bring our minds to bear on the text, to get into its meaning. Meditation is devotional, study is analytical. Bible study is the disciplined reading of Scripture to try to understand it. Meditation will relish a word; study will 'unpack' its meaning.

This process demands humility, as we can easily impose our own meanings on the biblical text, or organize doctrines within the narrow structure of our own biases. The central purpose of study is not doctrinal purity (though that is no doubt involved) but inner transformation. Bible study is far more likely to produce a Pharisee than meditation on Scripture. In Bible study we are 'over the word' organizing it, criticising it; in meditation and contemplation we are 'under the word': it becomes a critic of us. The Pharisee is a 'proof-texter' - fitting biblical texts into predetermined doctrinal frameworks.

Journaling is a useful way to record the promptings of the Spirit in your life. A spiritual journal is a written response to reality: a record of one's inner and outer life (including dreams), a way to inner growth, reflection and healing. In your journal you write down, in your own way, anything of importance to you - your feelings about life, and your relationships with others and God. Through the centuries men and women have 'journaled' in times of loneliness, crisis, ecstasy, transition and conflict. Your journal will help you with one of life's great adventures - the discovery of who you really are. You can then befriend the self you discover, and later re-traverse the journey again with thankfulness.

These four disciplines, regularly practiced, will help you `Let go, let be, and let God'; you will experience a peace that passes understanding, not because you sought that peace directly, but in the process of discovering who you are in the quiet presence of God, you will be better able to negotiate a truce in those areas within where there was war before.

- adapted from Entering the Quiet - John Mark Ministries

3rd Thursday in Advent

Twas the Beginning of Advent

'Twas the beginning of Advent and all through the Church
Our hope was all dying-- we'd given up on the search.
It wasn't so much that Christ wasn't invited,
But after 2,000 plus years we were no longer excited.

Oh, we knew what was coming-- no doubt about that.
And that was the trouble-- it was all "old hat."
November brought the first of an unending series of pains
With carefully orchestrated advertising campaigns.

There were gadgets and dolls and all sorts of toys.
Enough to seduce even the most devout girls and boys.
Unfortunately, it seemed, no one was completely exempt
From this seasonal virus that did all of us tempt.

The priests and prophets and certainly the kings
Were all so consumed with the desire for "things!"
It was rare, if at all, that you'd hear of the reason
For the origin of this whole holy-day season.

A baby, it seems, once had been born
In the mid-east somewhere on that first holy-day morn.
But what does that mean for folks like us,
Who've lost ourselves in the hoopla and fuss?

Can we re-learn the art of wondering and waiting,
Of hoping and praying, and anticipating?
Can we let go of all the things and the stuff?
Can we open our hands and our hearts long enough?

Can we open our eyes and open our ears?
Can we find him again after all of these years?
Will this year be different from all the rest?
Will we be able to offer him all of our best?

So many questions, unanswered thus far,
As wisemen seeking the home of the star.
Where do we begin-- how do we start
To make for the child a place in our heart?

Perhaps we begin by letting go
Of our limits on hope, and of the stuff that we know.
Let go of the shopping, of the chaos and fuss,
Let go of the searching, let Christmas find us.

We open our hearts, our hands and our eyes,
To see the king coming in our own neighbors' cries.
We look without seeking what we think we've earned,
But rather we're looking for relationships spurned.

With him he brings wholeness and newness of life
For brother and sister, for husband and wife.
The Christ-child comes not by our skill,
But rather he comes by his own Father's will.

We can't make him come with parties and bright trees,
But only by getting down on our knees.
He'll come if we wait amidst our affliction,
Coming in spite of, not by our restriction.

His coming will happen-- of this there's no doubt.
The question is whether we'll be in or out.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock."
Do you have the courage to peer through the lock?

A basket on your porch, a child in your reach.
A baby to love, to feed and to teach.
He'll grow in wisdom as God's only Son.
How far will we follow this radical one?

He'll lead us to challenge the way that things are.
He'll lead us to follow a single bright star.
But that will come later if we're still around.
The question for now: Is the child to be found?

Can we block out commercials, the hype and the malls?
Can we find solitude in our holy halls?
Can we keep alert, keep hope, stay awake?
Can we receive the child for ours and God's sake?

From on high with the caroling host as he sees us,
He yearns to read on our lips the prayer: Come Lord Jesus!
As Advent begins all these questions make plea.
The only true answer: We will see, we will see.

J. Todd Jenkins
Intentional Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
Fayettevile, Tennessee
 

3rd Friday in Advent
Pt 1

Jürgen Moltmann,  author of his most recent book, The Coming of God, contends that the context for understanding the meaning of Advent is to be found in the expectation of the second coming of Christ. For Christians, Christ’s (first) coming only makes sense in light of his promise to come again. The two cannot be separated without damage being done to both: without a first coming there could be no second coming; without the second coming, it becomes difficult to believe that current existence is somehow the kingdom of God. By holding both together, however, Advent not only points backward to the first coming, but also forward to the second, thus providing Christians with a vision of the future and toward the future. Advent, then, is a time of expectation: it is the acknowledgment of the fact that, although God has acted decisively on our behalf in Jesus' birth, there is still much outstanding. In Moltmann's perspective, it is predominantly toward this future completion that the Advent season directs us.

Moltmann's starting point is the recognition that with the birth of Jesus we not only have the personal presence of "God with us," but in Jesus we have "the kingdom of God in person." And it is the kingdom of God which provides the context for comprehending the true meaning of Advent. In Moltmann’s view, the kingdom is not a static entity, but a living force which reached its greatest expression (to date) in the life of Jesus, and through the Spirit it is operative in the world today.

What then is the meaning of Advent in this perspective? The Advent season calls us to anticipate in the present that which has been begun by Jesus, and will be completed in his second coming.

-adapted from Advent: A Season of Expectation and Anticipation by Robert T. Cornelison

3rd Saturday in Advent

Pt 2

What then is the meaning of Advent in this perspective? The Advent season calls us to anticipate in the present that which has been begun by Jesus, and will be completed in his second coming. We are waiting for the future coming, but it is a period characterized by activity not passivity. Jürgen Moltmann is very specific about exactly what this active waiting entails:

1. Humanizing conditions and relationships between people: The kingdom of God will be a kingdom of peace and justice. The call to anticipate that in our lives means to love and seek out others. The kingdom is not one of exclusion, but of inclusion; not one of revenge, but compassion; not one of justice alone, but justice tempered with mercy. This also applies to our political and economic worlds. The justice of the kingdom which Advent calls us to anticipate takes on democratic characteristics when it is applied to the political world. It demands a striving for human and civil rights based on the idea of divinely-ordained human dignity. It means a socialization of the economy, not in the sense of a nationalization and centralization, but an accounting of the human costs of any economy. It means a just distribution of opportunities for work and profits.

2. Naturalizing of our civilization: Understood as the call to anticipate the kingdom of God, Advent calls us to recognize that the kingdom extends to all of creation. The kingdom of God is often interpreted as referring to the ultimate redemption of the human world and its history alone. Based in his reading of Scripture, Moltmann contends that the kingdom of God is also the ultimate salvation of a creation "groaning" under severe ecological stress. By placing the kingdom of God in a cosmological, creation-centered perspective, Moltmann proclaims that Advent calls human beings to recognize that we are members of the "great community of creation" which will also be made whole at the Second Coming of Jesus. During the Advent season, we are asked to "look through" the first coming of Christ to his second coming; we are thus called to anticipate in our actions the coming kingdom of God. Since all of creation awaits the kingdom for its fulfillment and redemption, we are called to work for the ecological peace of God’s whole creation. In such a way we are working "for the kingdom."

3. Making the kingdom of God the church’s lodestone: Finally, Advent calls us to reorganize and re-center the church on the kingdom of God; it calls us to evangelization and liberation of ourselves, others and nature. A church that is truly awaiting Christ's coming and anticipating it through its actions attempts to "bring liberty to the oppressed, human dignity to the humiliated and justice which is their due to people without rights."

Advent, then, is a time for taking stock of our lives and actions in light of the kingdom of God which entered human history with Christ, but still awaits completion. Our expectation of the coming Lord demands that we anticipate in our actions the kingdom with which he has identified himself and will bring to us.

-adapted from Advent: A Season of Expectation and Anticipation by Robert T. Cornelison

The Fourth Sunday in Advent

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered, "May it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:38

As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" 28 But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" Luke 11:27-28  Are you a blessing to your family and neighbors? When an admirer wished to compliment Jesus by praising his mother, Jesus did not deny the truth of the blessing she pronounced. Her beatitude (which means "blessedness" or "happiness") recalls Mary's canticle: All generations will call me blessed (Luke 1:48). Jesus adds to her words by pointing to the source of all true blessedness or happiness -- union with God. Mary humbly submitted herself to the miraculous plan of God for the incarnation of his only begotten Son -- The Word of God made flesh in her womb, by declaring: I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38). Mary heard the word spoken to her by the angel and she believed it. On another occasion Jesus pointed out that our true mother and brothers and sisters are those who hear the word of God and do it (Luke 8:21). They are truly blessed because they know their God personally and they find joy in hearing and obeying his word.

Our goal in life, the very reason we were created in the first place, is for union with God. We were made for God and our hearts are restless until they rest in him. An early martyr once said that "a Christian's only relatives are the saints." Those who follow Jesus Christ and who seek the will of God enter into a new family, a family of "saints" here on earth and in heaven. Jesus changes the order of relationships and shows that true kinship is not just a matter of flesh and blood. Our adoption as sons and daughters of God transforms all our relationships and requires a new order of loyalty to God and his kingdom. Do you hunger for God and for his word?

"Lord, my heart is restless until it rests in you. Let me know the joy of your presence and increase my hunger for your word. May I always prefer your will over my will and seek to please you in all things."

-adapted from The Gospel of Luke: A Commentary & Meditation by Don Schwager

4th Monday of Advent

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered, "May it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:38

Three Important Facts About The Baby - Pt 1

Everybody is getting ready to celebrate the birthday of the most important baby that was ever born. As Christians we know that much of what goes on is sentimental nonsense. God is not like Father Christmas, and Jesus did not make his advent with jingle bells on a sleigh. But our task is not to criticize what the world is doing. We just need to be ready to explain who this baby was.

Mary was told nine months before he was born, "He will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33). What did this young woman in Galilee make of this two thousand years ago?

Let's try to unpack the words she was given. Even if we don't get a chance to explain to our family and friends what God is about, the words to Mary will give us a completely different slant on what is actually going on in our world.

Basically she was told three things about her baby. First was the fact that he would not have a human father. "He will be called the Son of the Most High." What we are celebrating at Christmas is not the beginning of the life of Jesus. He has always been the eternal Son of God, This proclamation gives us a very different picture of what God is like.

God is not a solitary, unapproachable Judge or cosmic computer running our world. God is love, and you cannot love alone. That is why God is more like three Persons in a family relationship. The Father is a loving parent who watches over us from behind the scenes of our life.. The Son is like a friend who comes alongside us, even though he is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  The Holy Spirit is the creative power that can work within us.

Mary was told that "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (Luke 1:35). This means she was introduced right then to the Trinity. So we experience God in these three ways, above us, beside us, within us. And we can be adopted into that loving family relationship.

-adapted from Notes for a sermon with the St. James' Anglican congregation, Kingston, Ontario November 17, 1985, by Robert Brow

4th Tuesday of Advent

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered, "May it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:38

Three Important Facts About The Baby - Pt 2

Our second important fact about the Christmas baby is that Mary was told "God will give him the throne of his ancestor David." Although David was an imperfect, impetuous person like most of us, he was a man after God's own heart. He loved the Lord, and talked to him. He composed and sang many of the Psalms. After his death, throughout the prophets, you will find references to a future king from the line of David.

Here are some well known prophecies in Isaiah. "A child has been born for us, a son is given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders . . . For the throne of David and his kingdom, he will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness" (Isaiah 9:6-7). "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse (David's father) . . . the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding" (Isaiah 11:1-2). "Then a throne shall be established in steadfast love in the tent of David" (Isaiah 16:5). Because of these prophecies the Jews expected the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem (as in Micah 5:2), and you remember how King Herod jealously had all the baby boys killed there.

The way these prophecies were fulfilled in quite unexpected ways is celebrated every Christmas. Joseph accepted Mary as his wife, and he had Jesus recorded as his new-born son in the census records of Bethlehem. You can read Joseph's genealogy set out at the beginning of Matthew's Gospel. Genealogies were well known and carefully kept among Jews, and none of Jesus opponents could ever deny that he had the legal right to the throne of David.

The Son of God was already reigning unseen as King of kings in the Old Testament period. But now we have seen him in person and come to trust him from his life recorded in the Gospels. He is not the impassive ruthless dictator of our world. He is a warm, loving fully human being. And so we know we can trust him to be our King in the Kingdom of heaven.

-adapted from Notes for a sermon with the St. James' Anglican congregation, Kingston, Ontario November 17, 1985, by Robert Brow

4th Wednesday of Advent

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered, "May it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:38

Three Important Facts About The Baby - Pt 3

The third Christmas fact should give us confidence in the terrifying confusions of our world. Mary was told "Of his Kingdom there will be no end." The Old Testament kings all died, as do the human rulers and dictators of our world. But concerning Jesus' kingdom Paul wrote that our world would not end until the Messiah has finished his reign "when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death" (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).

What does that mean? Already in our lifetime many diseases have been defeated. The expectation of life has been extended in countries where Jesus' Kingdom is recognized. We do not know how much more needs to be completed before Jesus the Messiah rolls up our old world. But meanwhile we do know that things are not out of hand. Many are afraid that someone will push a button and begin the final atomic war that destroys every trace of human life in our world. But Jesus, the Son of God, is reigning. And faith is believing that he will not allow our world to be destroyed by atomic explosions till he decides to end it in his own way.

And when death comes for us as individuals, whether early or late in life, we also know that Jesus has gone though death, emptied sheol (the abode of the dead) of its contents, and he awaits to welcome us into the home he has prepared for us in the City of God.

Let's be ready to explain these astonishing Christmas facts when so many have their hearts failing them for fear.

-adapted from Notes for a sermon with the St. James' Anglican congregation, Kingston, Ontario November 17, 1985, by Robert Brow

4th Thursday of Advent

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered, "May it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:38

Mary was given the announcement of the birth of her son nine months before the event. How does that concern us? We are told to honor our father and mother. Long before we knew what was going to happen they gave us our life. Among hundreds of fertilized ova in our mother's womb, we were preserved as Jesus was, to be born and find our place in this world. Every one of you could tell an astonishing story of your journey to this point in your life.

And when you came to believe in Jesus you found yourself as a child of God. "To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to believe in his name" (John 1:12). You too have run to God the Father as a little child, and he has welcomed you in his arms. And many of you could tell of how the Holy Spirit has empowered you and worked miracles in your life.

When Mary was called to fulfill her totally unexpected destiny, she said "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" (1:38

-adapted from Notes for a sermon preached in the three congregations of the Anglican parish of Cavan, Ontario, Christmas 1974, by Robert Brow

4th Friday of Advent

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Luke 1:41-42

The last verses in the last book of the Old Testament, taken from the prophet Malachi, speak of the Lord’s messenger, the prophet Elijah who will return to “turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers” (Mal. 4:6). We see the beginning of the fulfillment of this word when the Angel Gabriel announces to Zechariah the marvelous birth and mission of John the Baptist (Luke 1:17). When this newly born child is about to be named, as customary on the eighth day, his relatives quibble over what name to give him. This child, however has been named from above! And Elizabeth is firm in her faith and determined to see that God be glorified through this child. The name John means "the Lord is gracious". In the birth of John and in the birth of Jesus the Messiah we see the grace of God breaking forth into a world broken by sin and death and without hope. John’s miraculous birth shows the mercy and favor of God in preparing his people for the coming of its Lord and Savior, the Christ.

John the Baptist's life was fueled by one burning passion -- to point others to Jesus Christ and to the coming of his kingdom. Scripture tells us that John was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15, 41) by Christ himself, whom Mary had just conceived by the Holy Spirit. When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth John leapt in her womb as they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41). The fire of the Spirit dwelt in John and made him the forerunner of the coming Messiah. John was led by the Spirit into the wilderness prior to his ministry where he was tested and grew in the word of God. John's clothing was reminiscent of the prophet Elijah (see Kings 1:8). John broke the prophetic silence of the previous centuries when he began to speak the word of God to the people of Israel. His message was similar to the message of the Old Testament prophets who chided the people of God for their unfaithfulness and who tried to awaken true repentance in them. Among a people unconcerned with the things of God, it was his work to awaken their interest, unsettle them from their complacency, and arouse in them enough good will to recognize and receive Christ when he came.

What is the significance of John the Baptist and his message for our lives? When God acts to save us he graciously fills us with his Holy Spirit and makes our faith "alive" to his promises. Do you make your life an offering to God, along with your family, and all that you possess? God wants to fill us with his glory all the days of our lives, from birth through death. Renew the offering of your life to God and give him thanks for his mercy and favor towards you.

"Lord Jesus, you bring hope and salvation to a world lost in sin and suffering. Let your grace refresh and restore your people today in the hope and joy of your great victory over sin and death."
 
-taken from Daily Reading and Meditation by Don Schwager

4th Saturday of Advent - Christmas Eve

Coming into the Light

Lord Jesus Christ,
my Redeemer, my Mercy, and my Salvation:
I praise you and give you thanks.
They are far beneath the goodness of your gifts,
which deserve a better return of love;
but although I requite so poorly
the sweet riches of your love
which I have longed to have,
yet my soul will pay its debt
by some sort of praise and thanks,
not as I know I ought, but as I can.

Hope of my heart, strength of my soul,
help of my weakness,
by your powerful kindness complete
what in my powerless weakness I attempt.
My life, the end to which I strive,
although I have not yet attained to love you as I ought,
still let my desire for you
be as great as my love ought to be.

My light, you see my conscience,
because, "Lord, before you is all my desire,"
and if my soul wills any good, you gave it me.
Lord, if what you inspire is good,
or rather because it is good, that I should want to love you,
give me what you have made me want:
grant that I may attain to love you as much as you command.
I praise and thank you for the desire that you have inspired;
and I offer you praise and thanks
lest your gift to me be unfruitful,
which you have given me of your own accord.
Perfect what you have begun,
and grant me what you have made me long for,
not according to my desires but out of your
kindness that came first to me.

- from Saint Anselm who was an abbot, bishop, philosopher, and theologian. Taken from The Magnificat, April 2004

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