ADVENT The western commercialization of Christmas absolutely wears me out. I really dig the family stuff; the exchanging of gifts among loved ones, and even the decorations and fun traditions. But the excess and over-the-top spending throughout the entire season, followed by those few brief moments on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day where we actually focus on the birth of the Christ, leaves me feeling very sad and restless. There’s just so much going on during the holidays, I wonder if we ever slow down enough to remember what the fuss is really all about. Today I would like to share an Advent Prayer taken from Friar Richard Rohr’s tape series: Preparing for Christmas. The word “advent” means the arrival of a notable person⎯not what we’ve made it into, the arrival of a notable season. The poetry in this prayer is beautiful, and the truth is rich. Maybe this can be the year we push in deeper to the Christ. O come, O come, Emmanuel! Let’s put our focus and our spirits back on the magnificent truth that He came. And He still comes for us, every day! O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come, O Sacred Lord of ancient Israel, you showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush and you gave the holy law on Mount Sinai: Come, O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you; Come, O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel, you [not the systems of this world] control at your will the gate of heaven: Come break down the prison walls of death, O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: Come shine on those who dwell in the darkness and the shadow of death. O, King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of humankind: Come and save these creatures you fashioned from the dust. O, Emmanuel, God-With-Us, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people: Come and set us free. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Amen. So Mary gives birth to the child. Shepherds nearby receive a visitation from the angel of the Lord. He scares the bejeebers out of them, but they manage to gather themselves to hear his message: “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12, MSG) Can we dial it down long enough to go back to the manger, to whisper softly and peek into those warm blankets to see the mysterious miracle all over again? May this advent season be the richest, most memorable ever! He has come! Let the earth rejoice! He has come! rawtalksdevo
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 15:08:15 +0000
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