attention, day 2

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
Lord, I ask for the grace to let go of my own concerns and be open to what you are asking of me, to let myself be guided and formed by my loving Creator. (Sacred Space: the Prayer Book 2010 by Jesuit Communication Centre)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 130

Scripture for the Day: Isaiah 35:1-10

Reading for Reflection:

 

Advent is a season of waiting, yes, but it is waiting with a very deep kind of intentionality and openness to receive.  There is something for us to do in our waiting; we are to do those things that prepare our souls to welcome Christ deeper into the recesses of our life and being. (Advent: The Courage to Wait by Ruth Haley Barton)

At the beginning of her course the Church looks out towards Eternity, and realizes her own poverty and imperfection and her utter dependence on this perpetual coming of God.

     Advent is, of course, first of all a preparation for Christmas; which commemorates God’s saving entrance into history in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.

               Whilst all things were in quiet silence and night 

          was in the midst of her swift course: thine Almighty

          Word leapt down from heaven out of thy royal throne. 

          Alleluia.

 

     A tremendous spiritual event then took place; something which disclosed the very nature of God and his relation to His universe.  But there was little to show for it on the surface of life.  All men saw was a poor girl unconditionally submitted to God’s Will, and a baby born in difficult circumstances.  And this contrast between the outward appearance and the inner reality is true of all the comings of God to us.  We must be very loving and very alert if we want to recognize them in their earthly disguise.  Again and again He comes and the revelation is not a bit what we expect. (The Fruits of the Spirit by Evelyn Underhill)

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: O Come, O Come, Emanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here,

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;

From depths of hell thy people save,

And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Dayspring come and cheer

Our spirits by thy justice here.

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Key of David, come

And open wide our heav’nly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high,

And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel

Closing Prayer
My God, since You are with me, and since it is Your will that I should apply my mind to these outward things, I pray that You will give me the grace to remain with You and keep company with You. But so that my work may be better, Lord, work with me; receive my work and possess all my affections. (The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence)