“Father in heaven,
The day draws near when the glory of your Son
Will make radiant the night of the waiting world.
May the lure of greed not impede us from the joy
Which moves the heart of those who seek Him.
May the darkness not blind us
To the vision of wisdom
Which fills the minds of those who find Him.
~ The Roman Missal
In this Advent season, we prepare for Christmas. In the hustle and bustle of all the commercialization which now dominates this Christian holiday, let us remember the underlying truth behind it. We are preparing for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, sent by the Lord, His and our Father.
As nations mark Human Rights Day on Saturday, we pray that governments worldwide will ensure their people have adequate health care and proper provision of food, clothing, housing, and social welfare. May all the earth be captured by the will to love; may all the earth be touched to change.
We pray for the mayor and two journalists killed by a sniper in Imatra, Finland; for the two nurses killed and the doctors wounded by rebel shelling in a makeshift field hospital in Aleppo, Syria; for those wounded by a female suicide bomber who used children as decoys in a car bombing in Libya; and for the thousands killed over the past few months in the crackdown on drugs in the Philippines. Help loved ones, overcome with grief and fear, turn to you, O Lord.
Lord, in your tenderness, hold them.
We pray for the many people killed in a warehouse fire in California, US; for those killed and injured in a hotel fire in Karachi, Pakistan; for the passengers and crew members who died in a plane crash in Pakistan; for the more than 100 found dead after an earthquake struck Indonesia; for those killed and the over half a million people suffering after days of severe flooding in Thailand; and for those affected by the latest in a series of serious after-shocks following the devastating earthquake a few weeks ago in New Zealand. Lord, give recovery workers strength and perseverance as they attempt to locate survivors from these tragedies.
Lord, in your tenderness, hold them.
As hundreds of sexual abuse claims are being revealed in the world of soccer in England, we pray that victims receive the compassion and justice they deserve from living with the scarring of a crime that is so often unreported or brought to trial. We pray for courage and strength for both the victims and their families.
Lord, in your tenderness, hold them.
After more than 400,000 people had been forced to flee Aleppo, Syria we now hear that some families have returned to their homes, as government forces reclaim territories once held by rebels. We pray, O Lord, for your protection and support, so that these people may rebuild their homes and lives in safety without further fear of violence and oppression.
Lord, in your tenderness, hold them.
Help us, Lord, to open our arms and reach out our hands in support of all Your people. Give them peace in their lives, and in their hearts. Let us share the joy and spirit of Your Son’s birth with them, as well as with our own families and friends. Lastly, let us remember to give thanks above all to You, our Lord, who is with us in the best and worst of times.
Amen.
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