Monday Morning Offering: 12/15

         Image: George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

Christmas draws near, Lord,

and everywhere you look

    halls are decked, gifts bought, bows tied,

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

Brass quintets, harking to herald angels,

have 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 mue

    on 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

        and with whom I've peace to make...

Prepare me, Lord,

    to celebrate your birthday,

        your holy, blessed advent, 

    your coming on that Christmas night

        so very long ago…

And prepare me, Lord,

    for when you'll come again

in the advent of eternal peace

 within my heart and all throughout the world...

I offer, Lord, my Advent heart:

    may 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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