I was so moved by President Volodymyr Zelenski's appearance before Congress yesterday: as much by his presence and demeanor as by the speech he delivered. We cannot celebrate Christmas this year without holding the people of Ukraine close to our hearts in prayer and finding ways to contribute to their welfare and defense. This brings to mind my favorite verse in the Advent song, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel:
Come wrap our world in your reign of love:
come rule with power, grace and strength
Come rule our hearts
with your word, your truth,
your wisdom and your justice...
With royal power,
Amen.
Not as of old, a little child
To bear, and fight, and die,
But crowned with glory like the sun,
That lights that morning sky
O, brighter than the rising morn,
When He, victorious rose,
And left the lonesome place of death,
Despite the rage of foes
O, brighter than that glorious morn,
Shall this fair morning be,
When Christ, our King, in beauty comes,
And we His face shall see.
The King shall come when morning dawns,
And light and beauty brings;
Hail! Christ the Lord; Thy people pray
Come quickly, King of kings.
Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of humankind;
Bid all our sad divisions cease,
And be for us the King of Peace...
Let's pray this night especially for Ukraine and for people everywhere who are daily victims of war, terrorism and violence...
You reign over all the nations, Lord,
so we pray tonight you lift our eyes from our self-destructive paths
to see what you see:
on world, one common home, one human family...
Each human life is crafted by your hand, Lord,
each human soul quickened by your Spirit
and thus deserving of our reverence and respect,
our compassion and our care
our good will and generosity...
Come wrap our world in your reign of love:
come rule with power, grace and strength
over our thoughts and desires,
our dreams and schemes;
our envy and jealousy,
grudges and resentments...
our dreams and schemes;
our envy and jealousy,
grudges and resentments...
Come rule our hearts
with your word, your truth,
your wisdom and your justice...
With royal power,
mend and heal the sad divisions:
among the peoples of the world
of every color, race and creed,
in our own nation,
in the state where we live,
at work and at school,
in our neighborhoods
and in our families...
And, in your mercy, Lord,
And, in your mercy, Lord,
mend all the sad divisions I know within myself...
As a newborn child brings peace to a family,
bring joy and peace to these last days of Advent
as we prepare to celebrate your birth...
Be born anew among us, Lord,
and be for us our King of peace:
that peace that only you can bring
the peace that only you can give...
bring joy and peace to these last days of Advent
as we prepare to celebrate your birth...
Be born anew among us, Lord,
and be for us our King of peace:
that peace that only you can bring
the peace that only you can give...
Protect us, Lord, while we're awake
and watch over us while we sleep
that awake, we might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace.
Amen.
The King Shall Come
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The King shall come when morning dawns,
And light triumphant breaks;
When beauty gilds the eastern hills,
And life to joy awakes.
And light triumphant breaks;
When beauty gilds the eastern hills,
And life to joy awakes.
Not as of old, a little child
To bear, and fight, and die,
But crowned with glory like the sun,
That lights that morning sky
O, brighter than the rising morn,
When He, victorious rose,
And left the lonesome place of death,
Despite the rage of foes
O, brighter than that glorious morn,
Shall this fair morning be,
When Christ, our King, in beauty comes,
And we His face shall see.
The King shall come when morning dawns,
And light and beauty brings;
Hail! Christ the Lord; Thy people pray
Come quickly, King of kings.
Advent Blessing
composed by Michael Joncas and Alan Hommerding
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