saturday, third day of christmas

Saturday, December 27

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

          

Opening Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ,

     Thou Son of the Most High, Prince of Peace, be born into our world.  Wherever there is war in this world, wherever there is pain, wherever there is loneliness, wherever there is no hope, come, thou long-expected one, with healing in thy wings.

     Holy Child, whom the shepherds and the kings and the dumb beasts adored, be born again.  Wherever there is boredom, wherever there is fear of failure, wherever there is temptation too strong to resist, wherever there is bitterness of heart, come, thou blessed one, with healing in thy wings.

     Saviour, be born in each of us who raises his face to thy face, not knowing fully who he is or who thou art, knowing only that thy love is beyond his knowing and that no other has the power to make him whole.  Come, Lord Jesus, to each who longs for thee even though he has forgotten thy name.  Come quickly.  Amen. (The Hungering Dark by Frederick Buechner)

Scripture Reading for the Day: Luke 2:36-40

Reading for Reflection:

 

     He works in tranquility and tranquility seldom goes in partnership with speed.  God breaks few records but he always arrives in the end.  One of the best things we can do for our souls is to wait and one of the worst things is to force the issue.  God lets the plant grow at its own pace.  That is why He can bring forth supernatural beauty in and through imperfect instruments.

     All of us need this grace of long-suffering in respect of our own life of prayer.  There, too, we must learn to wait, realizing the degree in which it depends on God’s quiet, creative action, the profound nature of the changes it demands in our whole being.  We have got to become a “new creature,” as the New Testament says, a creature living towards God.  If it takes nine months to make a natural baby, would it be very surprising if it took nine years to make a supernatural baby?  Tarry thou the Lord’s leisure…. (The Fruits of the Spirit by Evelyn Underhill)

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself    

                     

Closing Prayer: Lord, during this Christmas season, may we be like Anna, not departing from your temple, but worshipping, fasting, and praying night and day.  May we, like her, be constantly giving thanks for the gift of your redemption, both in our lives and in our world.  Amen.