An Advent Prayer

I LOVE Advent. It is my absolute favourite Liturgical Season. It may be because it's colour is purple but I don't feel quite the same way about Lent. It is a season of waiting and I hate waiting but I love Advent so I learn to joyfully wait. I think that may be it, for a season I learn to wait with joy and almost perfect patience. I learn to wait with anticipation and not anxiety. To wait with hope and not dread or despair.

So as we begin this wonderful Liturgical season I offer this prayer that was given to me a couple years ago.

Advent Prayer

Come, long-expected Jesus.
Excite in me a wonder at the wisdom
and power of Your Father and ours.
Receive my prayer as part of my
service of the Lord who enlists me in
God's own work of justice.

Come, long-expected Jesus.
Excite in me a hunger for peace: peace
in the world, peace in my home, peace
in myself.

Come, long-expected Jesus.
Excite in me a joy responsive to the
Father's joy. I seek His will so I can
serve with gladness, singing and love.

Come, long-expected Jesus.
Excite in me the joy and love and peace
it is right to bring to the manger of my
Lord.

Raise in me, too,
sober reverence for the God who acted
there, hearty gratitude for the life begun
there, and spirited resolution to serve
the Father and Son.

I pray in the name of Jesus Christ,
whose advent I hail. Amen