Here’s a thoughtful prayer
reflection on Luke 21:25-36, the suggested gospel reading for the first Sunday
of Advent (Year C). It was written by
John van de Laar.
Prayer:
Seeing the Signs
(inspired by Luke 21: 25-36)
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and
the stars,
and on the earth distress among nations….” Luke 21:25
It would be much easier, Jesus,
to ignore the hard truths around
us:
the widening gap
between rich and poor,
the consistency with which the
powerful
get their way,
the bending of rules and the
self-enrichment
of the connected and influential,
the lack of adequate care,
protection and resources
for the most vulnerable among us;
we would rather not see these
signs.
It would be much easier if we could
just pretend everything was alright,
if we could prophesy goodness and
light,
and ignore the darkness and evil;
if we didn’t have to offend the
status quo,
or challenge the comfortable;
if we could convince ourselves that
the cross,
was just a one time thing –
your calling, not ours.
But, we can’t do this, Jesus,
because we know too much;
your Gospel has captured us and
opened our eyes,
and we have become slaves to love,
the love that must speak for the
voiceless,
the love that must challenge
injustice,
the love that draws lines of
division
between truth and denial,
between compassion and expediency.
Give us the courage to acknowledge
what we see,
to name the signs of the times,
to disrupt the ‘way things are’
in the name of what should be,
to divide in order to heal and
restore,
and to be crucified for the sake of
love.
Amen.
— written by John van de Laar, from
the Sacredise.com website. Used
by permission. http://sacredise.com/
