On Sundays, Night Prayer takes its lead from some element from the day's liturgy
and today is the First Sunday of Advent....
I love the season of Advent, Lord...
I love the muted colors:
shades of violet, rose and purple;
I love the plaintiff, ancient song:
O Come, Emmanuel...
I love this month-long refuge
from the hustle and the bustle
and your blessing on my waiting
for the promise of your coming...
But let me not forget, Lord,
it's Advent everywhere...
It's Advent in the darkness
where the hues of joy have faded...
It's Advent in Ukraine,
where bombing mutes the carols...
It's Advent for the migrants
seeking safety and asylum...
It's Advent for the lonely,
the abandoned and rejected...
It's Advent for the poor
who can't afford what Christmas costs...
It's Advent for the ones who wait
for blessings they've been promised...
It's Advent where the people long
for justice and for freedom...
It's Advent where your coming
is the peace for which we long;
it's Advent where your peace, Lord,
is the gift we need to share...
As Advent wraps its arms around
my heart, my soul, my prayer
let me not forget or doubt, Lord,
that Advent's everywhere...
Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep rest in your peace...
Amen.
Tonight's music is a new Advent song which I'm grateful to have come across online. Nolan's lyrics and Arbaugh's melody capture humankind's, indeed creation's longing for the coming of our God...
The Longing
If a video doesn't appear below, click here!
The earth is longing for the light
waiting in the stillness of the night
praying for a star of hope so bright:
O come, O come, Emmanuel.
Come, O come, Emmanuel.
The earth is waiting for a song
music in the night to wake the dawn,
noble themes so true and strong:
O come, O come, Emmanuel.
Come, O come, Emmanuel.
Come, come, Emmanuel,
hear the cry of Israel.
Come, come, Emmanuel,
hear the cry of Israel.
The earth is waiting for a rose
waiting for the garden grace bestows,
searching for a love to bloom and grow.
O come, O come, Emmanuel.
Come, O come, Emmanuel.
Come, O come, Emmaneul.
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