Week of Dec. 25 - 31, 2011

Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the birth of Your Son whose life taught us to live a life of service one to another. Guide us to reach outside our zones of comfort to those who are alone, abandoned, homeless, tossed aside, sick, disabled, depressed, overwhelmed by life, bewildered, or have walked away from You. A smile or kind word may be all that is needed to redirect them to Your loving mercies. As we look upon the Babe in the manger, may we see Your loving face. Give us the gift to express that love to others. In the name of Jesus, the Child of Bethlehem, we pray, Amen.

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”

(1 John 3:17) NAB

Week of Dec. 18 - 24, 2011

Loving Father, let us live this Advent with attentive awareness. Let us be ever watchful of You and Your ways. Father, help us to make choices according to Your will, to be deliberate in our actions through You, in You, and with You. Reveal to us those areas of our lives that need Your cleansing mercy. Lord Jesus, guide us as we release whatever keeps us from surrendering ourselves to You. Lord, we praise You for being committed to our salvation! Give us the grace to keep watching and waiting for You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

“Be watchful! Be alert! May He not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

(Mark 13:33, 36-37, NAB)