Author: rkcdlitt

This Advent, we go on the road to Bethlehem, seeking a new birth. We go to find our hear in the person of a poor waif, lying in a manger, surrounded by the creatures that God sent to comfort Mary and Joseph. Unrealized by us, we go searching for a light brighter than anything we could possibly imagine. This is a light shining so brightly that it removes the fear of impending darkness. This light brings us from the depths of our dread of pandemic. We go in search of this light, praying to be lifted from the darkness of our lives. This light brings us deeper into ourselves, into the core of our hearts, where God dwells.

We go this season, finding this baby, born in the darkness of another age, born in poverty, bringing with him a light and a richness that gold cannot compete with; this light, this Good News, we are uplifted by God.

When we go in search of this Good News, we discover that the problems we face in our lives are taken up by someone much more important than us, much more humble than us. But go we must; we go in search of He who .always Loves, and gives, and blesses us. When we go, we find Love; we find the Good News. Let us go.

 He is coming again,
 serving the sweetest life
 only God can bring.
  
 Do be consumed by mundane trials;
 offer them to baby Jesus,
 God’s gift of the sweetest honey,
 Our foundation of life.
  
 Blessed are we who hunger
 for we let not our hearts worry;
 our faith brings God’s peace,
 the honey of our life.
  
 All we have is the Christ child
 soon to reappear to us,
 God’s sweet honey 
 transcending all understanding.
  
 With this Christ child
 guarding our minds and our hearts,
 we shall soon be sweetly nourished.
   

 The Word created us;
 our Lord draws near;
 He speaks and His light shines 
 Within us.
 Listen for The Word,
 for in the beginning
 is The Word.
 In our beginning
 is The Word.
 The coming of The Word
 is the coming of God,
 bringing the Joy of Advent.
 The Word brings the incarnate Christ;
 He is in the beginning with God;
 He is God.
 The Word lives is the world;
 the world yearns for The Word.
 We live in the world and in The Word;
 we yearn for The Word, and
 The Word yearns for us.
 The Word is of God;
 The Word is God.
 Listen, The Word speaks to us;
 it transforms us,
 fulfills our longing,
 our longing to share The Word.
 Join in prayer;
 prayer brings forth The Word;
 The Word speaks, and
 we listen. 

 John, baptizer, mystic,
 purified by the Word,
 baptized with water
 the cleansing spirit of God.
  
 A humble man,
 predicted the coming
 of a man who baptizes
 with the Holy Spirit.
  
 Like John, we now live in a wilderness,
 seemingly lost to all reason;
 John reminds us to trust,
 to turn back to the Source,
  
 turn back to God,
 the Great Forgiver;
 renew our commitment
 to justice and peace.
  
 As we journey from the wilderness,
 we receive Christ’s Love and Grace;
 we strengthen our bonds
 through our holy baptism. 

 God’s Mercy is boundless,
 bringing fresh experiences every day.
 Mercy never ends and sheds darkness.
 Holy God, let Mercy be my root,
 as I set free my doubts. 
  
 I cry for Mercy, and
 God hears;
 my faith strengthens,
 as I behold the beauty of His Mercy.
 I receive this gift humbly and
 accept His justice through Mercy.
  
 Jesus offers us God’s Mercy;
 Mary teaches us how to receive it.
 I find the pure truth in God’s Mercy
 and receive it as Mary did.
  
   

 Look in the eastern night
 Look, the Christmas Star
 The darkness it breaks
 Its radiance brings eternal light
 This light pierces a heart
 God’s Love and Peace within us wakes
  
 We await with patience this true light
 Knowing control is not by us
 Kairos time requires prayer
 And patience during night
 God’s presence we do trust
 with The Holy Spirit we do share
  
 a patience opens our deep poverty,
 the Love of God we receive for free
 Brought by the zeal of Jesus
 Our poverty recognizes why
 God chose poor shepherds three
 To announce His Son among us
  
 Patience recognizes goodness
 of which He does impart
 We are patient; we are strong
 God assures we get no less
 We await the rebirth in our hearts
 We await the beautiful a life long
  
  
   

 The history of the universe
 is the rising of God’s creation;
 we are blessed, for
 humanity only creation of God
 given the beautiful invitation to 
 care for His creation.
 We anticipate the coming of Jesus
 bringing God’s comforting Grace.
 We live lonely in our nights
 of isolation and fear;
 but the peace of God promises comfort.
  
 Be calm; God’s help is near;
 Jesus brings mercy and truth
 as God’s forgiveness
 comforts us in holy peace.
 We learn with the presence of Jesus
 of God’s patience and Love
 and promise of eternal healing.
 Jesus assures that all will be well,
 keeping us faithful to our journey
 in God’s comforting and merciful light.
  
 When we live in God’s promise and joy,
 we share our love;
 we are tender and kind.
 We walk forward receiving His
 blessed water of life and are
 comforted by this free gift.
  
 We share His joy, His light
 as we love both God and His creation.
 Through reconciliation, mercy, forgiveness
 we offer love and peace on earth
 to both neighbor and family
 living faithfully in His light.
 Come forward,
 be comforted by God’s free gifts.
  
 Our darkness of the winter solstice
 ends with the fast-approaching
 birth of Jesus, our Christ, our Messiah.
   

Speak – Advent Prayer

 Open my mouth O’ Lord.
 Touch my heart;
 let me see . . . 
 put Your words on my tongue;
 allow me to offer Your words
 and invitations . . .
 even when I am scorned
 for speaking Your truth.
  
 Your Grace is my salvation;
 let Your comforting light 
 shine through me
 to all I meet,
 to glorify Your name
 and Your love
 for all humanity . . .
 and all Your creation.
   

   
 We awaken to God’s coming;
 expectation makes us tremble
 with anticipated gladness.
  
 Mercy is the thing
 we await as we assemble;
 Our preachers say God bless.
  
 The beauty of Jesus’s birth,
 the darkness replace by light,
 bringing us God’s Love.
  
 The promise of God’s earth,
 for Jesus our saving knight,
 Appears before us as a dove. 

Tender
  
 God’s Love
 restores me;
 God of hosts
 my face shines,
 I am blessed.
  
 I do not turn my back
 to You, Lord my God 
 come, I call your angels.
  
 I walk with them
 to please you, my God;
 I am called 
 to your tender holiness
 all my life.
  
 © Russell Carter 2020