Weekly Prayers
Monday 17 December 2018.
At this time of year as we lead up to Christmas, the true meaning of this Feast is often lost amongst shopping and excitement. Advent comes from the Latin ‘ad venire’ meaning ‘to come’.
During this third week of Advent we can think about Christ coming into our hearts and ask can we find the room in our hearts for God? Just as a new Advent Candle is lit each week , we can think about a new gift God has given us every week. Week One represented hope that Jesus will soon be here. In Week Two we thought about the love we try our best to show him. Week Three is further joy that Christ will soon be with us. This final week the gift is true peace – the Peace of Christ that no one else can give us. We pray that we will find peace in ourselves and in our relationships with others.
Hail Mary……..
Tuesday 18 December 2018.
Listen to these words of John the Baptist given to us in the Gospel of St Luke :
“Prepare God’s arrival! Make the road smooth and straight!
Every ditch will be filled in, every bump smoothed out,
the detours straightened out, all the ruts paved over.
Everyone will be there to see the parade of God’s salvation.”
Is your Christmas tree up? What about decorations? Cards on the mantelpiece? When John was telling people to prepare for Jesus he warns people that this was not merely about doing some decorating. It wasn’t just for a few weeks either. The verses we read talk about the preparation making a lasting difference to ditches and detours, bumps and ruts – a road made smooth and straight for the arrival of God’s salvation.
Lord, we want to say sorry if we have treated your offer of friendship as ‘decoration’. Help us to allow Jesus to rule in our lives and make a real difference.
Our Father…
Wednesday 19 December 2018.
A Prayer for Vocations.
In our prayer, today, we pray for all who are called by God to the priesthood or religious life.
Through Baptism, You invite me to share the gift of my life in service to others.Be with me as I choose each day to show your presence in our world. Give me the courage and generosity to respond to your love, to your call.
I pray especially for priests, brothers, sisters and all those who endeavour to serve You in witnessing to the Gospel. Keep them close to You. Open the minds and hearts of many other men and women that they may accept your challenge to build the Kingdom. Amen.
We ask May, Our Mother, to join with our prayers.
Hail Mary…….
Thursday 20 December 2018.
In an article in ‘the Observer’ newspaper in 1922 it reported that Britain had enough wheat and barley lying unused in storage to feed the then starving country of Somalia in Africa for more than a year.
Since 1922 humanity has achieved much. We have had so many social and scientific advances which someone living in 1922 could not have imagined. Yet we still have stores of food while many go hungry.
Today, we pray for World Leaders, that inspired by our calls for justice they will work to end the scourge of World Hunger.
Hail Mary……….
Friday 21 December 2018.
The season of Advent is nearly over and the Christmas season almost upon us. Soon we will be overcome with presents, visitors and celebrations.
Lord and Giver of all good things, the wise men travelled from afar to bring the Christ child the first Christmas presents. May we remember with thankful hearts the love that comes with each present that we receive. We thank you for the love you have for each one of us, and we thank you for the many gifts that you give us. May we greet our visitors with warmth and love and may the light of Christ dispel the darkness of sickness, poverty, injustice, and suffering.
Let us pray.
Our Father….
