And just like, that... it's Advent.
In a year full of fear, grief, pain, anger... okay, let's be honest, it's been ALL of the emotions... and seemingly endless tides of change, how do we enter into a new season of "holy waiting"? This all started in another season of holy waiting - in Lent. Hard to believe, isn't it?
In the spirit of this "year like none other", I think it's important to name the things that "ail" us - to name them, and ask for help with them. This is a specific request I might make in prayer - you might make this request in other ways.
As a Catholic, one way to name things that ail us, and make a request for Divine assistance is through a prayer known as a litany - which generally takes the form of a series of petitions, followed by a common invocation.
So, I offer you an "Advent Litany" - pray it if you wish, make it your own, allow it to fit your needs in this season.
Peace and good to you and yours.
Be kind.
An Advent Litany
Divine Heart of Christ, hear me, in your love
From making assumptions about others’ lives, deliver me, O Lord
From my desire for control...
From my unwillingness to listen...
From anger towards those whose
political views I do not share...
From hatred...
From jealousy...
From indifference...
From the desire to condemn others...
From my fear of acting kindly...
From my fear of others’ kindness...
From my fear of helping others...
From my fear of receiving others’ help...
From my fear of isolation...
From my fear of loneliness...
From my fear of welcoming the stranger...
From my fear of those
who believe differently than I...
From my fear of discovering I am wrong...
From my fear of changing my mind...
From my fear of seeing
your Divine Light in those whom I love...
From my fear of seeing
your Divine Light in those whom I should love...
From my fear of seeing
your Divine Light in myself, deliver me, O Lord
That I may recognize
your Divine Light in all I encounter, grant it, O Lord
From my self-hatred, heal me, O Lord
From the hardness of my own heart...
From my fear of vulnerability...
From my fear of loving...
From my fear of being loved...
From my fear of mercy...
From my fear of acting mercifully...
From my destructive attachments...
From the wounds of living...
From my grief, heal me, O Lord
From my fear of healing, deliver me, O Lord
O Jesus, as I await the arrival of your healing presence among us, illumine my heart. In this Advent season, help me to understand more deeply that my bonds with others signify my bond with you.
Teach me to love, serve, and protect others as images of your Divine Light in the world, and so, to love you more deeply. Amen.
