Prayer for the Morning
Love and truth walk in God’s presence:
come, let us adore him!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!
Hymn
When the King shall come again
All his power revealing,
Splendor shall announce his reign,
Life and joy and healing:
Earth no longer in decay,
Hope no more frustrated;
This is God’s redemption-day
Longingly awaited.
Strengthen feeble hands and knees;
Fainting hearts, be cheerful!
God who comes for such as these
Seeks and saves the fearful.
Deaf ears hear the silent tongues
Sing away their weeping;
Blind eyes see the lifeless ones
Walking, running, leaping.
Psalm 89:12-17
Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard.” (cf. Lk 7:22)
We are not asked to put our faith in words alone but in all the signs that Jesus worked and works still in our midst to show us that the reign of God is real and is the source of all joy for a world that still cannot quite imagine the wholeness salvation offers.
The heavens are yours, the world is yours.
It is you who founded the earth and all it holds;
it is you who created the North and the South.
Tabor and Hermon shout with joy at your name.
Yours is a mighty arm, O Lord;
your hand is strong, your right hand ready.
Justice and right are the pillars of your throne,
love and truth walk in your presence.
Happy the people who acclaim such a king,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
who find their joy every day in your name,
who make your justice the source of their bliss.
Glory to the Father….
Word of God. Isaiah 35:4-6
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:/ Be strong, fear not!/ Here is your God,/ he comes with vindication;/ With divine recompense/ he comes to save you./ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,/ the ears of the deaf be cleared;/ Then will the lame leap like a stag,/ then the tongue of the dumb will sing.
Streams will burst forth in the desert,/ and rivers in the steppe.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts! (cf. Ps 95:7-8)
Canticle of Zechariah
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me. (Lk 7:23)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet
of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father…
Intercessions
As morning dawns, we pray:
R/Justice and right are the pillars of your throne.
You come to judge in love and in truth:
– may we rejoice in the hope of your coming. R/
You come to release all those bound by sin, sickness, and suffering:
– may we find the lamp of your love shining in dark places. R/
You come as the Morning Star rising on a darkened world:
– may we watch for you with hope and work for the coming of the light. R/
You come as good news for the poor:
– may we seek you where you are to be found. R/
Personal intentions
Our Father….
Great God of the universe, you sent your only Son as light and hope for all peoples. May our lives testify to your love and your truth as we prepare to celebrate the wonder of his coming, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
