People's Prayers: Prayers of the People: Cloud Cover, 1st Sunday of Advent '17 Yr B

For Sunday, December 3, 2017, First Sunday of Advent, Year B, Readings: Isaiah 64:1-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9,
Mark 13:24-37

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence - as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil...Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of you hand...O LORD do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people. [Isaiah 64:1-2a, 8, 9b]

Restore us, O God of Hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved...And so will we never turn away from you; give us life, that we may call upon your name. [Psalm 80:7, 17]

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus; for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind - just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you...as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ...He will also strengthen you to to the end. [1 Corinthians 1:4-6, 7b, 8a]

Then they will see the 'Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds...Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come...Therefore, keep awake - for you do not know when the Master of the House will come...or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. [Mark 26-27, 33, 35a, 36]

For those with cloudy memories, or unfamiliar with this new season, in many Christian denominations Advent is a season of hopeful waiting, and the beginning of a new liturgical year. We spend the four weeks before Christmas preparing ourselves and our souls in hope and with repentance for our sins, as we await the birth of Jesus, our Savior.

We mark the beginning of each week by the lighting of a candle in the Advent Wreath with a prayerful reflection before the Liturgy (the Mass or the Service) begins. Each candle represents a theme from the readings of that week. Some people will also use an Advent Calendar to mark each day with special prayer or meditation and there are varying kinds for children, too. Just as a New Year's resolution starts well and means well, Advent is the opportunity to be intentional about preparing for and renewing our commitment to Jesus as our Savior. Each season of the Liturgical Year is designed to help us to remember, continuously renew, and re-commit ourselves to our faith and to Christ.

This week’s theme is Hope. In a year where the world has already seen the heavens torn open, mountains quake, fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil all across this Earth, decimating the lives of millions, not to mention the violence wrought by humans, it does give pause and perhaps a deep inhalation of breath and wonder. But the Prophet Isaiah is reminding God that we are the clay and God is our potter and we are the the work of his hands. So please, God, says Isaiah, do not remember iniquity forever...we are all your people. The Psalmist also speaks to and asks God to restore us so that in the hope of God's light we will be saved as we can call upon God's name.

Paul, in 1 Corinthians, reminds us that we have been given spiritual gifts by God and Jesus will also strengthen us - if we but let him. And Jesus, the true Master of the House, gives us hope with a few warning signs that will signal the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory...But...Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when this time will come. Not the angels nor the Son himself know the time, only God knows the day and the hour. Our Hope truly is in the name of the Lord, and, in our willingness to turn the thoughts and actions of our lives toward the light of God's presence.

It's definitely not easy to get back on the right course, especially at this time of year with all the false glitter that obscures our inner vision and diverts us from our good intentions. But the cloud cover on our path forward begins to lift when we are sincere in our desire to dedicate our lives to Christ, and earnest in our preparation for his return, coming in clouds with great power and glory, to claim us for all eternity.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Creator God, our Maker and our Redeemer, we are the work of Your Hand and we are all Your People. Forgive us our sins and make Your Presence known among all who would harm us. Gather us from the four winds that we may be relieved of our unbelief, awakened by Your Light, and never again turn away from You.

Lord of Hope and Strength

RESPONSE: Let us prepare for Your Coming

~ Creator God, our Maker and our Redeemer, in these tumultuous times, steady the hearts and minds of all who govern on this Earth, in this Country, and in towns, cities, and rural places everywhere. Straighten the path to peace among international, national, and local adversaries, and guide us all to promote justice, mercy, and humanitarian care. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Lord of Hope and Strength