Living the Promise: The Baptismal Covenant

One of my favorite Christmas carols is a poem written by Christina Rossetti and set to music by Gustav Holst, In the Bleak Mid-winter.  Rossetti beautifully writes of the Incarnation and comings of Christ, and then ponders what she can offer to God in joyful thanksgiving for God’s gift of Jesus Christ. 

The Eastern Church has a hymn that similarly speaks of what God has given us in Jesus Christ, and what we are called to offer to God in return:

What shall we offer Thee, O Christ, Who for our sakes hast appeared on earth as man?
Every creature made by Thee offers Thee thanks.
The angels offer Thee a hymn; the heavens a star; the Magi, gifts;
the shepherds, their wonder; the earth, its cave; the wilderness, the manger:
and we offer Thee a Virgin Mother. O God Who wast before the ages, have mercy upon us!

As the feast of Christmas draws to a close, and we approach Epiphanytide, spend some time with God reflecting on the gifts that God has given you:  name them aloud or write them down, and offer thanks for them.  Then, think about one thing that you can offer to God in this New Year.  Perhaps you can commit yourself to daily prayer and/or Bible reading.  Maybe you can volunteer one hour a week at your child’s school, or at the churc, or at Micah, or in some other way?  Maybe you can serve in some way at Trinity?  Perhaps you can resolve to exercise daily and eat healthfully.  Maybe you can try to buy more local produce or lower your carbon footprint in otherways.  Name your gift to God, write it down where you can look at it often- and ask for the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit to live into the gift that you are giving to God.

What shall we off thee, O Christ?  We offer thee….

O come, O come Emmanuel

                      And be born in us today.

The Christ Child is born, amid joy, worship and danger.  Mary has endured the labor pains and is now working hard to push the Child out into the world.  The first phase of Mary’s mission of motherhood is accomplished.  Now the child is free; he gulps and gasps, inhaling the breath of God.  With a loud scream, a new journey has begun.  The Child is born.  He has arrived safe and sound into the loving family of Mary and Joseph.  The mother looks into his beautiful face; he tilts his head toward her.  Their eyes embrace.

 After all the pain, there is joy and rejoicing.  It is a beautiful day.  The Child, our Savior, has come to live among us.  Rejoice.  Rejoice.  Alleluia!

 Spiritual Exercise

            Read Luke 2:13-16.  Close your eyes and imagine that Mary has invited you to take up and hold the Child who has just been born.  Hold him in your arms, tenderly.  Look into his face.  Smell his baby breath.  Caress his velvety skin.  Feel his tiny weight.  Notice how full of possibility he is.  As you hold him, call to mind your favorite Christmas carol and sing it to him as a lullaby.  Say, “thank you, God, for the gift of your Son, Jesus.

v     Offer prayers of joy and gratitude of the gift of the Child.

v     When you to go church, pay special attention to the readings and the preaching.

v     Remember that the Child’s birth is only the beginning of your adventures.

The womb is empty.

The world is full of possibility.

                                                  from The Womb of Advent by Mark Bozzuti-Jones

© 2009 www.ContemplativeChristians.com. All Rights Reserved.

Dear God, Heavenly Father

It’s Advent, the season to help us prepare for Jesus’ coming at Christmas.  Help us to get ready, to open wide the windows of our souls and let your Holy Spirit blow His life giving spirit through us.  Help us to rid ourselves of the dust of sin and cobwebs of complacency.  Shine your light into our dark places.

Only then can we experience your forgiveness and your love. 

Renewed and revived we can then say “Come Lord Jesus, come and be born in our heart.

                                                Alleluia, Amen

Patricia B. Marion

During my sermon on Sunday I mentioned the ancient practice of arrow prayers.  Here is a compilation of arrow prayers- some from Holy Tradition and Scripture, some more contemporary.  You might find some of them helpful in your own prayers.

-Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
-God send me well to keep.
-Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
-All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
-God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, have mercy upon us, save us now and evermore. Amen.
-O Salvation of travellers, save me, and lead me to your Kingdom.
-O Lord, save us, we are perishing.
-Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
-May the love and light of God’s truth protect me.
-Be kind to me, Lord.
-Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
-Lord of the Powers, be with us, for in times of distress we have no other help but you. Lord of the Powers, have mercy on us.
-My Lord and my God!
-Lord, show us your love and mercy.
-Behold the servant of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.
-Jesus, Mary, I love you, save souls.
-As you will, O Lord, let me serve only you.
-Jesus, all for you.
-Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
-Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone altogether beyond, O what an awakening, all hail!
-My sweetest Jesus, be not to be a Judge, but a Saviour.
-Our Lady of Mount Carmel, I place my cause in your hands.
-Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
-O Saviour of the world, who by your Cross and Precious Blood has redeemed us, save us and help us, we humbly pray, O Lord.
-God of love, turn our hearts to your ways; and give us peace.
-O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for your Name’s sake.
-We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
-Jesus, my God, I love you above all things.
-Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I trust in you.
-Lord, be merciful to us sinners, and save us for your mercy’s sake.
-Hail, O Cross, our only hope.
-Precious Blood of Jesus, be my salvation.
-Lord, as you will, and as you know, have mercy upon me.
-Mother of Sorrows, pray for us.
-O God, why?!
-Lord, increase my faith.
-Lord, send labourers into your harvest.
-Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.
-Lord of Pardon, have mercy on me and forgive me.
-My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
-Pass me not, O gentle Saviour.
-Saint Michael the Archangel, guard my heart and my soul.
-Saint Benedict, in my hour of need, surround me with your presence.
-Saint Joseph, shield me.
-Saint Jude and Saint Rita, pray for me.
-Saint Peter, open for me the gate, that I may approach my God with boldness and confidence at the throne of grace.
-Holy Name of Jesus, save us.
-Holy Name of Jesus, I take refuge in you.
-Nearer my God, to you.
-O Jesus living in Mary, have mercy on us.
-O Heart of Jesus, burning with love for us, inflame our hearts with love for you.
-Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.
-Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
-Holy Mother of God, Mary ever-virgin, intercede for us.
-My Jesus, mercy.
-I repent of my sins, because by them I have offended you.
-Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
-I thirst.
-Heart of Jesus, once in agony, pity the dying.
-Merciful Jesus, grant them eternal rest.
-Mary, seat of wisdom, pray for us.
-Tender Mother of mercy, keep me safe from harm.
-Renewer of the ages, renew also me, and adorn me anew.
-Remember your mercies, Lord.
-Be gracious to me, O God.
-In you, I hope all day long.
-In your love remember me.
-Spare us, good Lord.
-May the Holy Trinity be blessed.
-To Jesus through Mary.
-May the Virgin Mother together with her loving Child bless us and keep us.
-Come, Holy Spirit, descend upon my heart.
-Come, Lord Jesus.
-Son of God, we beseech you to hear us.
-Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew an upright spirit within me.
-Grant that I may praise you O sacred Virgin; give me strength against your enemies.
-O Name of Jesus, open up for me the great door to your treasure-house so that I may enter and praise you.
-Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
-My Mother, my Hope.
-Praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
-All you holy men and women of God, intercede for us.
-Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
-Sovereign Christ Child, I cradle you in my arms; listen to the petitions I tenderly whisper to you.
-From all sin deliver me, O Lord!
-Jesus, I trust in you!
-Eternal Father, I offer you the Precious Blood of Jesus, in satisfaction for my sins, and for the wants of Holy Church.
-The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore.

When I was a seminarian, I used to conduct a Morning Prayer service in a nursing home for people with dementia.  For most of the service, I prayed the prayers alone, but when we got to the Lord’s Prayer, suddenly almost everyone joined in.  It amazed me that even people in their condition could remember the words to this prayer and find comfort in it.  Like them, most of us turn to familiar and favorite prayers, hymns and scripture verses during times of distress when we need to feel the presence of God.

I find myself praying the rosary, saying the Jesus Prayer or reading favorite psalms when I need to connect with God without the ability to think about what I should be saying in my prayers.  Sometimes, I just light a candle and ask for God’s help or sit in front of an icon and just look at it.

How do you pray?  What are your favorite prayers?  How do you connect with God’s presence during difficult times?

If you find you need some resources for prayer, check the links page for helpful websites.  You will also notice on the upper left hand corner of the page links to a podcast of the readings for the daily office.  Subscribe or download them to your ipod, or simply click the link and listen online.

Blessed Advent.  The Lord is Near!