This past weekend, many of our communities celebrated the feast of Christ the King.  The wisdom written below comes to us from the second reading, Colossians 1:15—20 (New American Bible, revised edition).

He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. What a lovely visual to carry us from the last weekend of the liturgical year through the celebration of Thanksgiving and to the First Sunday of Advent.  We are reminded that God goes before us and is holding our ministries, our families, our workplaces, our churches, and our world together.

As we look forward to Advent, I am reminded of our new beginnings.  It is an opportunity to stop and pause after the abundance and harvest of November and before the rush of the Christmas season.  Advent is the ultimate pause.  A time of waiting and hoping.  That I may be ready to greet you with song and great rejoicing. Let this be our prayer next week.

Prayer of Preparation

O God of new beginnings,
again and again you offer me a future
filled with possibilities and peace.
Awaken in me the desire
to keep moving toward you,
that I may be ready to greet you
with song and great rejoicing.
Set me firm on the path, O God,
the path that leads only to your door.
Amen.

Thanksgiving blessings to each and every one of you.  May you celebrate, pause, and walk in gratitude through these next weeks.

 

 

Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved.

Prayer of Preparation from Cry Out with Joy, Year A, Copyright 2013 by GIA Publications, Inc. Written by David Haas and Lori True.  Used with permission.

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