Meditation | The Word of God | Novena Prayers
MEDITATION
Creation, including ourselves, is part of a master-plan of the
Creator. But when man, created in innocence, finally appeared on the scene, he chose
not to co-operate with the mysterious growth into the image of the Creator.
Since all have sinned (Rom 3:23), this "sin of the
world" brought about man's inability to realize the divinely-intended freedom into
which he is to grow. Hence, Redemption by Jesus, Who took away the sin of the world (Jn
1:29), becanme necessary. Only in Christ has sinful man the power to become the
heavenly man, as intended by God (1 Cor 15:45-49).
Advent is the time of more than usual eager longing, awaiting our
revelation as sons of God (Rom 8:19). It is the waiting for Christ's coming
in grace on Christmas and for His final coming when God's plan will be fully realized in
all who have put on Christ by faith and Baptism (Gal 3:27).
God gives us this plan in the words of the Prophets, and the Church
gives us their words in Advent. The great precursors were Isaiah and John the
Baptist - and others like Baruch, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Micah. And then comes
Jesus, the fulfillment of all the promises God has made.
From the day of the Annunciation onward, Mary, more than anyone else
in the world, had the privilege of knowing that in all truth God is the One Who comes into
the world. It is by meditating on the mystery of Christ, "the Son of the Most
High," that we begin to udnerstand that He linked our lot with His own by becoming
Man and that He will return to inaugurate His eternal Kingdom by saving us.
During Advent, our constant prayer should be: "Come,
Lord Jesus!" (Rv 22:20). We should "reject godless
ways and wordly desires, and live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age as we
await our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ (Tim 2:12-13).
“In the beginning was the word;
the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God.
He was present to God in the beginning.”
(Jn 1:1-2)
“No one has ever seen God. It is God the Son, ever at the Father’s side,
Who has revealed Him.” (Jn 1:18)
”The Son is the reflection of the Father’s glory, the exact representation of
the Father’s being, and He sustains all things by His all-powerful word.” (Heb 1:3)
Novena Prayer
Father, all-powerful and ever-living
God, I give You thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.
When he humbled Himself to come among us as a Man, He fulfilled the plan You
formed long ago and opened for us the way to salvation.
Now I watch for the day, hoping that
the salvation promised us will be mine, when Christ our Lord will come again in His glory.
His future coming was proclaimed by
all the prophets. The Virgin Mother bore Him
in her womb with love beyond all telling. John
the Baptist was His herald and made Him known when at last He came. In His love He has filled us with joy as we
prepare to celebrate His birth. When he
comes, may He find me watching in prayer, my heart filled with wonder and praise.
In memory of the coming of our Lord
and Saviour, I beg You, Father, to grant me all the graces I need to be prepared for His
coming to my soul on Christmas. I ask in
particular this favour: (Mention your
request).
For the love Jesus, Your Son, has
shown us in becoming man to save us, I beg You to grant my prayer, if it be Your holy
will.
Prayer to Benefit
from Christ’s Coming
Lord our God, help me to prepare well
for the coming of Christ Your Son. May He find me waiting, eager in joyful prayer.
God of mercy and consolation, help me
in my weakness and free me from sin. Hear my
prayers that I may rejoice at the coming of Your Son.
You loved the world so much You gave
your only Son to free us from the ancient power of sin and death. Help me who wait for His coming, and lead me to
true liberty. Free me from my sins, and make
me whole. Hear my prayer, and prepare me to
celebrate the incarnation of Your Son.
Almighty God, help me to look forward
to the glory of the birth of Christ our Saviour; His coming is proclaimed joyfully in all
the world. I await His healing power. Let me not be discouraged by my weaknesses as I
prepare for His coming. Keep me steadfast in
Your love. Give me the joy of Your love to
prepare the way for Him. Help me to serve You
and my neighbour.
Father, help me to look forward in
hope to the coming of our Saviour. May I live
as He has taught, ready to welcome him with burning love and faith. Let Your glory dawn to
take away my darkness, and may I be revealed as a child of light at His coming. Let the light of His coming free me from the
darkness of sin and renew His life within me.
My sins bring me unhappiness. Hear my prayer for courage and strength. May the coming of Your Son bring me the joy of
salvation. Guide me with Your love as I await
His coming. Keep me faithful that I may be
helped through life and brought to salvation.
Father, creator and redeemer of
mankind, You decreed, and Your word became man, born of the Virgin Mary. May I come to share the Divinity of Christ, Who
humbled Himself to share our human nature. Renew
me by the coming feast of Your Son’s birth. Give
me true faith and love to celebrate the mystery of God made man. May I who celebrate the birth of Your Son as man
rejoice in the gift of eternal life when He comes in glory.
May I share more fully in His Divine life, for He lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.
Prayer to the
Coming Saviour
Jesus, our Lord, save me from my
sins. Come, protect me from all dangers and
lead me to salvation.
Come!
Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: teach me
to walk in the paths of knowledge!
Come!
Leader of ancient Israel, giver of the Law of Moses on Sinai: rescue me with
Your mighty power!
Come!
Flower of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all His people:
save me without delay!
Come!
Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: free the
prisoners of darkness!
Come, Emmanuel, God’s presence
among us, our King, our Judge: save us, Lord our God!
Come, King of all nations, source of
Your Church’s unity and faith: save all mankind, Your own creation!
Come, Radiant Dawn, splendour of
eternal light, Sun of Justice: shine on those lost in the darkness of death!
Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay; give
new courage to Your people who trust in Your love. By
your coming, raise us to the joy of Your Kingdom, where you live and reign with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.
(Taken from:
Treasury of Novenas) |
