Thursday, December 10, 2009

Advent 2009 - 2nd Thursday


"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."

Opening Prayer

Almighty Father,

give us the joy of your love
to prepare the way for Christ our Lord.
Help us to serve you and one another.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Daily Meditation

The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain
The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

So often we are "afflicted and needy"
and we seem to "seek water in vain."
Today we listen to a refreshing promise
of how much our Lord desires to refresh us.
Each of us can fill in what we need the most
and ask, with trust, for our Lord to come and save us.

I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, "Fear not, I will help you."
Isaiah 41

Whoever has ears ought to hear. Matthew 11

Intercessions

Let us pray to God our Father who sent his Son to save
mankind:
Show us your mercy, Lord.

Father most merciful, we confess our faith in your Christ
with our words,
- keep us from denying him in our actions.

You have sent your Son to rescue us,
- remove every sorrow from the face of the earth and
from our country.

Our land looks forward with delight to the approach of
your Son,
- let it experience the fullness of your joy.

Through your mercy makes us live holy and chaste lives in
this world,
- eagerly awaiting the blessed hope and coming of Christ
in glory.

Closing Prayer

Lord, like a loving parent,
you offer me your comforting hand
and tell me not to be afraid.

Help me to wait for your coming with patience
and to listen to what you ask of me.

I want so much to be one of "your people"

and to live my life in you.

Thank you for the way you bless my life.
Thank you for listening to my prayers
and for planting deep in my heart
the knowledge that with you,
nothing is impossible.

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.