Monday Morning Offering 12/16

         Image: George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

Christmas draws near, Lord,

and everywhere you look

    halls are decked, gifts bought, bows tied,

    trees decorated, bells jingled,
    cards sent and lights lit…

Brass quintets harking to herald angels

muted Advent’s hope and spirit long before 

O Come, O Come Emmanuel 

was heard at Sunday mass...

 

So, if not at the mall, 

    if not online or in the streets,
- then at least in my heart, O Lord:

    Let this be a time

    when I pause and wonder

    at Mary’s child, 

    born to save so many, so many years ago...

 

    Let this be a time

    when I wait for you, already come,

    who've claimed your place, your home
    within my heart...

 

    Let this be a time

    when I wait in faith

    and watch for when you'll come again

    when all my days are done

    and the waiting is no more...

 

Until then, Lord…

As I do my Christmas shopping, 

help me buy whatever's needed

    - not for those who give to me -

but for those who have so little,

    who are poor as once were you, 

in a stable, in a feed box,

    in the streets of Bethlehem…

Help me decorate my days

    with garlands of real kindness:

let my good deeds be as ornaments 

    sparkling on the branches 

        of my friends' and neighbors’ lives…

Let my eyes shine bright as candles 

    in the windows of my soul,

with light to welcome all

    into my home and to my heart...

 

Make my greetings truly joyful

    - not just in Christmas cards -

but in all the words I speak to those

    to whom I’ve peace to offer,

    with whom I've peace to make...

Prepare me

    to celebrate your birthday, Lord,

        your holy advent, 

    your coming on that Christmas night

        so very long ago…

And prepare me for when you'll come again:

    the advent of your reign of peace 

        on my heart and in the world...

I offer, Lord, my Advent heart:

    may its prayer sustain me all day long

        and through the week ahead

    until with all the world we sing

        glad tidings of your birth!

Amen.

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