"I have loved you with an everlasting love...And I know the plans I have for you says the Lord"
Jeremiah:29-31
In the first and second week of Advent we reflect on Christ's second coming as promised in Acts 1 "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven" Sometimes it can be hard to believe in the 2nd Coming, I know it is for me especially this Advent 2019. I found this beautiful Litany of Longing in the "Magnificat" and it helps me remember that all things will come into fulfillment when he returns and we are not left alone in his absence. Until then we can lift up our struggles or the struggles of others in the Hope of healing in this life or the next.. The Litany of Longing Response: COME LORD JESUS! In the dryness of prayer, we long for you "Response" In the dissatisfaction of useless entertainments, we long for you "Response" etc In the desert created in us by overwork, we long for you " " In our thirst to love and be loved, we long for you " " In our yearning for priorities that matter, we long for you " " In our desire for a just world, we long for you In the darkness of our accumulated sins, we long for you In the hopelessness of our addictions, we long for you In the emptiness of habits of mind that nourish no one, we long for you In our restlessness for something beyond our present good, we long for you In our search for an anchor in this life, we long for you In our pursuit of beauty and goodness, we long for you, O Lord Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done On Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil...Amen Do you ever have moments when your faith feels weak or God feels distant? I know I do on occasion and Psalm 16 never fails to lift up my soul even if only for a moment... When was the last time that you soaked in this lovely Psalm.
What word or passages leap out to you? Linger on them for awhile, breath them in... Note how you are feeling before praying this Psalm, what movements of the heart occur before, during and after you pray this psalm? Psalm 16 Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you. I say to the Lord: “You are my God. My happiness lies in you alone.”. He has put into my heart a marvellous love for the faithful ones who dwell in his land. Those who choose other gods increase their sorrows. Never will I offer their offerings of blood. Never will I take their name upon my lips. O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize. The lot marked out for me is my delight: welcome indeed the heritage that falls to me! I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel, who even at night directs my heart. I keep the Lord ever in my sight: since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm. And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad; even my body shall rest in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your beloved know decay. You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand happiness for ever. |
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I'm not really a writer, but it's on my long list of aspirations to become one. The first on the list is to become a great Saint! My hope is to share knowledge and inspiration as we walk together during our pilgrim journey on earth and guide each other, hand in hand to the gates of Heaven... If you for find this website helpful please consider making a donation today! Archives
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