Intercessions ~ First Advent

Christians and Jews both begin celebrations of light this weekend with the start of Advent and Hanukkah./ May God's light dispel the darkness from human hearts which harbor murder,/ rage,/ money-waste,/  greed and indifference./ We pray to the Lord. 

During a recent visit to Assisi,/ in speaking about the Coronavirus Pandemic,/ Pope Francis said,/ "A return to normalcy should not mean a return to the old social structures inspired by self-sufficiency,/ nationalism,/ protectionism,/ individualism and isolationism,/ excluding our poorer brothers and sisters."/ May we learn from his words./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for those who are around us at Mass at the start of Advent./ For those who have abandoned the practice of Sunday worship/ some perhaps from among our own family and friends./ For those who cannot be with us at Mass because of sickness/ frailty or distracting suffering./ We pray to the Lord.

At the start of another liturgical year,/ we pray for the President of the United States and those who lead nations around the world./ May they choose a non-violent,/ non-aggressive path towards the future./ Give them gifts of wisdom and humility,/ able to make decisions for the good of all./ We pray to the Lord.

Summer fires destroyed millions of trees,/ even ancient trees,/ plants,/ endangered animals and needed insects./ Give human beings compassionate hearts that care for every living thing./ We pray to the Lord.

During the Advent time,/ preparing for the Birth of Christ,/ may we grow in the welcome and care of children,/ doing something practical to protect the littlest and most vulnerable./ We pray to the Lord.

 

The 1800th Post ~ Visiting the Chapel of the Mother of God Life-Giving Spring

I've saved this photograph for a special occasion. And here we are — this is the 1800th Pauca Verba post. The charming chapel in the woods bears the title, Mother of God Life-Giving Spring. The single cupola on top of the chapel signifies Christ. It is also a stylized candle — that the church burns with the love of God in Christ. I like that the fallen snow has landed on the ends of the logs to left and right, as if the building is decorated with white dots. And how wonderful is this, the door is wide open inviting us to enter — to rest, to warm up, to pray. Indeed, there are prints in the snow leading up the steps to the door. Perhaps they are ours. Imagine it! Inside and up front near the altar we would find this 17th century icon — The Life-Giving Spring.

 

Here the Mother of God sits in a fountain which overflows into the basin beneath her. She holds the Infant Christ. Always the Lord, he is depicted as a little man. The Holy Mother and Child have an angel escort. The aureole (body halo) shines with a bright, layered softness.

The bottom of the icon, from left to right, shows the sick-crowd who have come to this source of health and wholeness. There are frail old folks, cripples, the exhausted. Above them on the right there are royal persons wearing crowns. No one escapes troubles. On the far left we see a group of monks and mitered bishops. One bishop dips a cup into the basin. Perhaps his prayer asks for the Church to be healed of its affliction, apparent in every age. Church and State in need of healing.

These are angry days. As the racial portrait of the nation changes, not a few people are fearful of losing their privileged status. Media outlets foment fear, fevered resentment, even violence.  We might enter this chapel in our imagination and intercede for our nation before the Life-Giving Spring icon. And prayers for those Christians too who have lost their Christic center —  substituting a political party for their religion. 

Prayer for the Feast of Christ the King

 

Christ Pantocrator Mosaic ~ Hagia Sophia ~ 537 CE

Of the Reign of Christ

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

From the Book of Common Prayer