Experience the Joy of Christmas with Maryknoll!

O God of surprises

on this First Sunday of Advent,
you remind us to “Be watchful! Be alert!”
as we light our first Advent candle.
Just as you did two thousand years ago,
when your Word became human flesh
in the person of Jesus,
you continue to break into our lives.

As we begin this Advent season
and prepare ourselves to celebrate Christmas,
Give us new eyes and new ears
so thatwe can be watchful and alert.

Help us to break out of our ruts
of complacency and routine.
Give us courage to venture beyond our comfort zones.
Guide us to encounter your love
in new and exciting ways.

Inspire us to be your face of compassion
to those on the edges of our families,
neighborhoods and in the world
who most need your love
to break into their despair and heal their suffering.
Awaken in us your call
and our response to be your missionary disciples.

We ask this through Jesus,
who is the human face of
your compassion and mercy.

Amen.

O God of comfort,

on this Second Sunday of Advent,
through the example of Isaiah the prophet,
you remind us of your loving presence in our lives
as we light our second Advent candle.

As did those during the time
when Jesus walked the earth,
we live in fearful times of great uncertainty.
We find ourselves longing for
your promise of old
when “Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;

the rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.”

As we continue our Advent journey to Christmas,
Open our hearts to your comfort,
to knowing your merciful love for us.
Let your love take root in our hearts
to grow strong against any fear and doubt.
Make us bold in being able to share that love
with others, especially those who need it most.
Form us to be your missionary disciples.

We ask this through Jesus,
who experienced your comfort and peace
in troubling times.

Amen.

O God of joy,

on this Third Sunday of Advent,
through the example of St. John the Baptist,
we light our pink candle of joy
knowing that you liberate us from all oppression.

In our lives we have faced
challenges and struggles.
Around the world,
we see our sisters and brothers suffer.
Yet we know that Jesus came to
“bring glad tidings to the poor,
to heal the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners,
to announce a year of favor from the Lord.”

Teach us that it is better to a light candle
than curse the darkness.
Help us to be your spark of joy
to bring light and hope
to all who need your love
to lift them from their suffering and oppression.
Make us your missionary disciples.

We ask this through Jesus
who knew what it meant
to share the joy of your love
in the midst of darkness.

Amen.

O God of incarnate love,

on this Fourth Sunday of Advent,
through the example our Mother Mary
who said “Yes” to the angel Gabriel
we light our final Advent candle.

When in your mission of love
you decided to become one of us
you asked Mary to be the mother of Jesus
so that your love could be in human form.

From baptism, you ask the same of each of us,
to make your love take human form
in our lives, in our families, with our neighbors

and in the world.
This year as we celebrate Christmas,
we say “Yes” to you and your invitation
to be your arms and legs, hands and feet.

Send your joyful blessing to us
as we gather tonight and tomorrow
to remember and celebrate the greatest gift
of your love made human.
And with that Joy in our hearts
send us out as your missionary disciples
to bring love, joy and peace to the world.

We ask this through Jesus
whose birth we celebrate,
As we join all the angels, in saying,
Glory to God in the Highest!

Amen.