Anglican Mainstream

O King of the Nations  --O Antiphons of the Day

To be a person of deep faith is something many of us long for, Despite that longing  the rendering of self  is so difficult for us.  Yet there have been humans who have made such a “fiat” such as Mary, Hannah and Elizabeth, three Jewish women whose lives are bound up with ours. In Hannah we meet a person who poured out her soul to God in prayer. The priest encouraged her, saying may God grant your petition. Hannah had hope that she would have a son. So strong was that faith and hope she was willing to commit him to the Lord before he was conceived. This biblical hope which Hannah, Mary and Elizabeth gave them to hope in the Bible refers to “confident expectation” not the wishful thinking the world means.  Our expectations are determined often by needs and wants and yet these women discerned the hope of expectation based on their vocation. What would our lives look like this Advent and Christmas season if we framed our hope not in wants but in God’s gracious will and the vocation he has given us. Perhaps this season that could be an intention we make each day to live into and then we can pray as they did…”My Spirit rejoices in God!!!!!!

PRAYER: Lord, help me in these final days not to dwell on my own wishes and expectations but on your will and the embracing of a holy expectation.  Please show to me the countless opportunities to submit to your will that come my way each day and give me grace to live into that holy vocation. Give me the humility I need and help me to remember that humbleness and the simple joy of your birth is what these coming days are about.  Guide me in rejoicing in and with the people you give to me as gifts, now and always.

Spiritual Discipline /Activity – Seek out women today you know who are expectant mother and their spouses. Offer to them a ministry of hospitality and care they would appreciate in this holy season. Send a card offering prayers with the intercession of Hannah, Elizabeth and Mary.

 Ancient Words/Present Grace:

“"The goal of human freedom is not in freedom itself, nor it is in man, but in God. By giving man freedom, God has yielded to man a piece of His Divine authority, but with the intention that man himself would voluntarily bring it as a sacrifice to God, a most perfect offering. " –St. Theophane the Recluse

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.