The Lord Is Coming! Praying through Advent with Pope Francis
Introduction Pope Francis reminds us that Advent is a time of waiting for the Lord, who will not only visit us all on Christmas, but also, will visit each one of us in our own heart. The Lord is coming! Let us wait for him! Do not forget: the Lord comes, and if you feel a longing to improve, to be better, it is the Lord knocking at your door. This Christmas, the Lord is coming. As the four weeks of the Advent season proceed toward Christmas, we experience more and more that the risen Christ is drawing near to us in our hearts and in all the circumstances of our lives. And this growing awareness of his presence then begins to change everything for us, especially by arousing in us a growing sense of hope, a new feeling of joy and a greater desire to create peace by imitating Jesus example of mercy and loving service to others. So as we ponder and pray over these Advent themes, let us use the words of Pope Francis, along with a suggested verse from Scripture, as our daily focus and guide to prepare our hearts to celebrate more fully God s wonderful Christmas surprise of not only coming to dwell with us, but more astonishingly of becoming fully human as we are in Jesus, the human embodiment of all that God is for us. Steve Mueller, Editor 2
Jesus Is Coming! First Sunday of Advent Matthew 3:11 JESUS, how many times have you come into my life, how many times have you sent me an angel, and how many times did I not notice because I was so immersed in my own thoughts, in my own affairs and even, in these days, in my Christmas preparations. This Advent help me to notice you when you come and knock at the door of my heart. Jesus Wants to Enter Your Heart Monday, Week 1 Revelation 3:20 JESUS, I know that when I feel in my heart that I would like to be a better person and when I regret the evil that I have done, that that is you knocking. Help me to be better, to be closer to others, to God. I know that this longing to be better, is you knocking: don t pass me by. Discover Where Jesus Is Present Tuesday, Week 1 Luke 12:40 JESUS, in this time of Advent waiting, in expectation of the your coming, help me to make this time of expectation a time of witness and perseverance by discerning where you are present, and where the evil spirit and false saviors are attempting to replace you by attracting hearts and minds to themselves and away from you. 3
Be a Comforter Wednesday, Week 1 Acts 1:8 JESUS, help me to be a witness to the mercy and tenderness of God, who spurs the resigned, enlivens the disheartened, ignites the fire of hope. Help me to be a messenger of God s comfort to those who are burdened by suffering, injustice and tyranny; to those who are slaves to money, to power, to success, to worldliness. Proclaim Jesus to Others Thursday, Week 1 Luke 4:18 JESUS, you gently open your heart to me and so open my heart to your love. Help me to cultivate this experience of your mercy, peace and hope during this Advent by proclaiming the Good News to the poor and performing works of mercy as I await your birth at Christmas. May I imitate you, who gave everything, who gave yourself expecting nothing in return. 4
Enter the Mystery of God s Love Friday, Week 1 Matthew 11:28 JESUS, when I feel tired and confused, give me the certainty of your constant presence in every situation, even the most painful or difficult to understand. You call me in order to encounter God, who is the reason for my hope and the source of my happiness. Help me to enter ever more deeply into the mystery of God s love, which reigns over us and permits me to live in serenity and hope. Believe in God s Bigger Picture Saturday, Week 1 Psalm 40:11 JESUS, you call me to hope and patience, to be able to wait for the certain fruits of salvation, trusting in the profound meaning of life and of history. Help me to learn that my trials and difficulties are part of the bigger picture in which God s design of goodness and mercy will be fulfilled! 5
God Never Disappoints Second Sunday of Advent Romans 5:5 JESUS, the season of Advent restores my hope, a hope which does not disappoint for it is founded on God s Word and God never disappoints! God is faithful! God does not disappoint! Give me courage always to move forward. Thanks to God s help, I can always begin again. Jesus Is the Source of My Hope Monday, Week 2 Isaiah 46:4 JESUS, you are the one who will give me the power of hope. Although I follow you, I know that you accompany me and carry me on your shoulders. This is my joy, this is the hope that I must bring to this world. Please do not let me be robbed of hope! Do not let hope be stolen! The hope that you give me. 6
Meaning Is Centered in Jesus Tuesday, Week 2 Psalm 130:7 JESUS, your love gives value and beauty to everything else strength to my family, to work, to study, to friendship, to art, to all human activity. It even gives meaning to negative experiences because your love allows me to move beyond these experiences, always opening me to hope. With you, evil, suffering, and death do not have the last word, because you give me hope and life. Transformed by God s Love Wednesday, Week 2 Jeremiah 31:3 JESUS, help me to recognize that my truest destiny, my deepest vocation is to be loved, to be transformed by love, to be transformed by God s beauty. Watch over me so that I may learn how to be more humble and also more courageous in following the Word of God, and to welcome your tender embrace which gives me life, hope and peace. Say Yes as Mary Did Thursday, Week 2 Luke 1:38 JESUS, who found a home in the virgin womb of Mary, come now in the celebration of Christmas to knock once again at the heart of every Christian. When you do come and knock, help me to respond, like Mary, with a personal and sincere yes, placing myself fully at the disposal of God and of his mercy and love. 7
Serve Others as Jesus Did Friday, Week 2 Luke 22:26-27 JESUS, you embrace all of humanity and wish no one to be lost. You do not oppress or constrain anyone to open to you the doors of their heart and mind. You are among us as one who serves. May my every activity be distinguished by an attitude of service to persons, especially those furthest away and less known and in this way build up peace. Nourished by Word and Spirit Saturday, Week 2 Isaiah 58:11 O GOD, when my life becomes arid and lacks the water of your Word and your Spirit of love, help me to be strong and to fear not, because you always show me the greatness of your mercy. Be with me and give me the strength to go forward. 8
Fill My Heart with Joy Third Sunday of Advent Psalm 34:18 JESUS, today you draw my gaze towards Christmas, which is now coming nearer. Do not let me be taken in by weariness or sadness, even though I may have reason to be because of my many concerns and the many forms of violence which wound our humanity. May your coming fill my heart with joy. Ease the Sufferings of Others Monday, Week 3 Matthew 25:34-36 JESUS, by your example, you taught us to stop and to help alleviate the sufferings of this world and the pain of our brothers and sisters, using whatever means are at hand, however busy we may be. Help me not to seek excuses: observing ritual prescriptions, looking to all the things that need to be done, hiding behind hostilities and prejudices which keep people apart. 9
My Joy Is in You Tuesday, Week 3 Matthew 28:20 JESUS, my joy is not from having many possessions, but from having encountered you in our midst. Help me to know that with you I am never alone, even at difficult moments, even when I come up against problems and obstacles that seem insurmountable. You Are Always Close to Me Wednesday, Week 3 Isaiah 43:4 O GOD, you love me and that is why you are with me to help me, to strengthen me, to help me go forward. You are waiting for me, close to me, always loving, merciful and forgiving, giving me the strength to begin again. Your love cannot bear being locked up in itself. By its nature it is open, it spreads and bears fruit, it always kindles new love. You Changed My Life Thursday, Week 3 Psalm 23:4 JESUS, you are a constant presence in my life, at my side, walking with me, accompanying me and loving me. You have changed me and my life. Help me to make you known to those who do not yet know you, to those I encounter at work, at school and in my parish and neighborhood. 10
You Know I Love You Friday, Week 3 Isaiah 41:10 JESUS, the joy of the Gospel consists in knowing I am welcomed and loved by you, who comes to save especially those who are fearful of heart. Your coming strengthens me, makes me steadfast, gives me courage and, when my life becomes arid, makes the desert and the steppe rejoice and blossom. Fill Me with Hope Saturday, Week 3 Matthew 18:20 JESUS, you are near. Your greatest mercy lies in your being in our midst, and in my being in your presence and company in every circumstance of life. You walk with me and show me the path of love. You lift me up when I fall with such tenderness and support me in my labors. Open my eyes to see my wretchedness and that of the world, but at the same time fill me with hope. 11
I Know You Are Near Fourth Sunday of Advent Isaiah 29:19 JESUS, I rejoice because you are near. The good news of Christmas is an announcement of joy for all people. May your Church not be a haven for sad people but a joyful home. And may those who are sad find joy in her, true joy! And may this true joy remain even amid trial, even amid suffering, for it is not a superficial joy but it permeates the depths of the person who entrusts himself or herself to you and confides in you. Welcome Jesus Monday, Christmas Week Luke 9:48 JESUS, you come to save the world. Help me to make room for you who are coming, to welcome you in my household, in each member children, spouse, grandparents in order that you may grow spiritually in my family in these last days of Advent. 12
Turn My Heart to You Tuesday, Christmas Week Ezekiel 36:26 JESUS, you call me to make compassion, love, mercy and solidarity a true way of life, a rule of conduct in my relationships with others, which requires the conversion of my heart. May the grace of God turn my heart of stone into a heart of flesh and open me to others in authentic solidarity. Gaze on the Child of Mary Wednesday, Christmas Week Psalm 85:8 Like the shepherds of Bethlehem, may I too, with eyes full of amazement and wonder, gaze upon the child Jesus, the son of God. And in his presence may my heart burst forth in prayer. May this Advent time be a planting of merciful love in the hearts of individuals, families and nations. Rejoice Our Savior Is Born Thursday, Christmas Week Isaiah 9:6-7 May the Virgin Mary help me to hasten my steps to Bethlehem, to encounter the Child who is born for us, for the salvation and joy of all people. May she obtain for me the grace to live the joy of the Gospel in my family, at my work, in my parish and everywhere. 13
Open Yourself to Christ Friday, Christmas Week Luke 2:14 JESUS, help me to accept, with total openness of spirit, you who for love made yourself my brother. You came to bring to the world the gift of peace, which is the precious gift of Christmas. You are my true peace. You knock at my heart to grant me peace peace of the soul. May I dedicate myself each day to building in every situation an authentic culture of encounter and peace. Come into My Life Saturday, Christmas Week Luke 2:11 JESUS, today I remember the mystery of your birth in Bethlehem which took place historically more than 2,000 years ago but occurs as a spiritual event in the today of the Mass. Help me to seize the right moment when you come into my life and ask for a ready and generous answer. 14
A Daily Advent Prayer O God, hasten our steps to Bethlehem, to encounter the child who is born for us, for the salvation and joy of all people. Enlighten our hearts, that we may recognize in the infant Jesus, born in Bethlehem of the virgin Mary, the salvation given by God to each one of us, and to all the peoples of the earth. Give us the grace to live the joy of the gospel in our families, at work, in the parish and everywhere. Grant us this grace in these days of Advent. Pope Francis 15
God s Surprising Gift Christmas Day 2 Corinthians 9:15 O GOD, at Christmas you give me all of yourself by giving your only Son, who is all your joy. Help me to rejoice and be glad for your great gift and for your unpredictable surprise. May I be astonished at the birth of Jesus, the gift of gifts, your undeserved gift who brings us salvation a miracle for which I can only give thanks! Happy Christmas to all! The Lord Is Coming! Praying through Advent with Pope Francis was edited by Steve Mueller and is adapted from the encyclicals, apostolic exhortations, audiences, addresses, prayers and homilies of Pope Francis, Copyright 2016 All Saints Press PO Box 190825, St. Louis MO 63119. AllSaintsPress.com. Printed in the USA. 12-365