A PRAYER FOR ADVENT 1 (NT)

Luke 21:26-28, 30-31

People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.

Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

Everything is falling apart

Nothing seems to work right anymore

Nothing we do seems to make any difference

Everything we believe is challenged

Our hopes wither away

Our dreams vanish

We thought we had it figured out

Everything was in place

Our lives were set

Then comes all this end of the world stuff

It's all over the news

We are heading over the cliff

We need more notice

to get prepared

to set our lives in order

to welcome you properly

Can't you wait just a bit longer

Wait til we have had our fill

Drank to the winds and

danced in the rain

Wait til we have lived long enough

Travelled and played

Spent and enjoyed life to the fullest

Can't you wait just a bit longer

No

You don't work on out timetable

Check our calendars

Fit into our schedule

Do you Lord

You come when you will come

You come to disrupt and overturn and agitate

You come to shake our very foundations

You come to alter our convenient arrangements

We're not ready, Lord

Ready for your Kingdom to come

Ready for your Power to take charge

Ready for your Glory to shine

When Your Kingdom comes

You will shatter the bow and break the gun

You will heal the sick and cure the lame

You will comfort the mourners and raise the dead

When Your Power comes

You will overthrow the tyrants and dethrone the kings

You will impoverish the rich and enrich the poor

You will weaken the mighty and strengthen the weak

When Your Glory comes

Your brilliance will outshine the stars and celebrities

Your radiance will blind the famous and fake

Your light will brighten the shadows and dark corners

Each week we say, "We are bold to pray...

Your Kingdom come...

For the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory

Are yours now and forever..."

Maybe we should pray your prayer with more humility

more trembling

more awareness

May we live what we pray

May we be ready

for your coming, Lord Jesus

May we be ready for

Your Kingdom to reign over us

Your Power to guard and protect us

Your Glory to enlighten and lead us

Now and forever.

Amen