The Homing Journey Advent Reflections
Discover the reflective journey of Advent through scriptural verses, images, and insights on preparing for the coming of the Lord. Experience the themes of justice, comfort, preparation, and homecoming as we await the Second Coming of Christ. Let the words of Isaiah, Mark, and prayers guide you in this contemplative season leading up to Christmas.
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THE HOMING JOURNEY ADVENT 201 7 3 DEC ADVENT 1 COME AND REVEAL J USTICE, O LORD Advent 1: Come Advent 1: Come and Reveal Justice, and Reveal Justice, O Lord O Lord 10 DEC ADVENT 2 COME AND BRING COMFORT, O LORD 17 DEC ADVENT 3 COME AND PREPARE YOUR BRIDE 24 DEC ADVENT 4 BRING US HOME, O LORD! Isaiah 64:1-9, Mark 13:24-37
Liturgical Year or Christian Calendar
Prayer of Jews who have returned from Exile (mid 6thCentury)
1. Come Down! 1. Come Down! "Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down (Isaiah 64:1)
As when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil" (v2a)
"to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!" (v 2b)
Motivation : "to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!" (v 2b)
St Augustine Our God will come openly; our God will come and will not keep silent. The first coming of Christ the Lord, was in obscurity; the second will be in sight of the whole world. When he came in obscurity no one recognized him but his own servants; when he comes openly he will be known by both all. When he came in obscurity, it was to be judged; when he comes openly it will be to judge. He was silent at his trial, He will not be so when the world is tried. -
"Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? 5b
We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. v6
We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. V 6b
here is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; v 7a
for you have hidden your face from us and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. v7b
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
3. Look at your People 3. Look at your People But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people. v8-9
Summary: Come down - Waiting Patiently We have sinned - Watching Diligently Look at Your People - Wanting Mercy
Patience, hard thing by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844 1889) Patience, hard thing! the hard thing but to pray, But bid for, patience is! Patience who asks, Wants war, wants wounds; weary his times, his tasks; To do without, take tosses, and obey.
Rare patience roots in these and, these away, Nowhere. Natural heart s ivy, Patience masks Our ruins of wrecked past purpose. There she basks Purple eyes and seas of liquid leaves all day.
We hear our hearts grate on themselves: it kills To bruise them dearer. Yet the rebellious wills Of us we do bid God bend to him even so.
And where is he who more and more distils Delicious kindness? He is patient. Patience fills His crisp combs, and that comes those ways we know.
