Christmas Anticipation Prayer

For decades, I felt frustrated in the weeks prior to Christmas.  The seasonal demands, especially with a big family, made it hard to focus upon Christ's birth.  

In recent years, I have discovered meditative, quiet traditions that allow one to center upon Christ while awaiting His birth.  One of those is the Christmas Anticipation Prayer.    

After the phrase "hear my prayers and grant my desires,"  name your request.  Let the One who came down to earth as a baby daily lift and encourage you, His child.

Water Off a Duck's Back

 For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.  Also do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you.  For many times, also, your own heart has known that even you have cursed others.  [Ecclesiastes 7:20-22]

This simplifies one's inner response to the day-to-day petty hurts of others.  

In essence it says, "Keep in mind that you're not so perfect yourself.  And, blow off the negative things people say about you, or even things you think people may be saying.  Be realistic and forgiving.  You too have criticized others, even your own friends and family."  

Lord, help me to have a humble attitude towards myself and may the hurtful words of others be like water off a duck's back.  Amen.

                                                                Image from bighugelabs.com

Appointment in Samarra

 For man does not know his time. [Ecclesiastes 9:12]

The following tale has come to mind recently, and seems apropos for our time. It is an ancient Mesopotamian fable which was retold by English author W. Somerset Maugham in 1933.

A merchant in Baghdad sends his servant to the marketplace for provisions. Soon afterwards, the servant comes home white and trembling and tells him that in the marketplace, he was jostled by a woman, whom he recognized as Death, who made a threatening gesture. Borrowing the merchant’s horse, he flees at great speed to Samarra, a distance of about 75 miles, where he believes Death will not find him. 

The merchant then goes to the marketplace and finds Death, and asks why she made the threatening gesture to his servant. She replies, “That was not a threatening gesture, it was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Baghdad, for I have an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.”

Lord, help me not to be afraid of death.  May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. 

 The Discarded Cloth has a Name

The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down.  [Psalm 145:14]  

A chronically sick person is in need of care and you are the main caregiver.  Every day, you use a soft cloth to wipe the brow of the ailing loved one.  You take much time to tenderly provide care in just the way this person needs.  Death comes one day, and the soft cloth is laid aside.  

Then others arrive on the scene and carelessly toss the cloth aside.  They see it as useless, old, invaluable.  They don't appreciate the key role the soft, modest cloth played in wiping away tears and pain.  The cloth ends up on the floor being trampled and dirtied.  Perhaps it will be picked up one day and washed, perhaps not.  But that doesn't change the beautiful thing that the cloth did while in service.

Christian tradition says that a woman named Veronica used a cloth to wipe the face of Jesus while he carried his cross to Golgotha, the place of the skull.  A cloth exists today, which many believe was the very cloth Veronica used.  It miraculously bears the image of a face believed to be the face of Jesus.  This cloth is known by several names:  The Veil of Veronica, the Sudarim (Latin for sweatcloth), or often it is simply called "The Veronica."  

Dear Christian, your service does not go unnoticed to the One who sees.  The cloth you used may even bear your name.  

Separated from Thee Let Me Never Be

The following prayer, known as the Anima Christi (Life of Christ) and has been prayed by Christians for 500 years. Attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyala,  it embodies the heartcry of the soul desiring intimacy with Jesus. 

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Separated from Thee let me never be.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
At the hour of death, call me.

And close to Thee bid me.
That with Thy saints I may be Praising Thee,
Forever and ever.
Amen

Even to one not well-versed in Latin, the beauty of the original prayer touches the soul

Anima Christi in Latin

Amina Christi, sanctifica me.
Corpus Christi, salva me.
Sanquis Christi, inebria me.
Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.
Passio Christi, conforta me.

O bone Jesu, exaudi me.
Intra tua vulnera absconde me.
Ne permittas me separari a te.
Ab hoste maligno defende me.
In hora mortis meae voca me.

Et iube me venire ad te.
Ut cum Sanctis tuis laudem te.
In saecula saeculorum. Amen.

The 36-Hour Day

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are thy ways.  Who going through the vale of misery use it for a well, and the pools are filled with water.  Psalm 84:5,6

My dad died suddenly six weeks ago.  Capable, joyful, caring - he made everything okay for those around him and lived his life helping people.  He was my mom's heart, mind and source of normal living.  She has Alzheimer's disease.

"I recommend you place her tomorrow in a residential care facility," said someone from a home care agency. 

"Your first job is to see to the care of your mother.  You need to find an assisted living facility for her," said the attorney. 

"Keep your mother at home where she is comfortable," said one of the African aides that I interviewed. 

"Are you putting me in a nursing home?" my mother questioned angrily when my sister and I toured some residential living communities.  Mom can't remember what day it is and will put on two different shoes, but her emotional impressions remain largely accurate.  That is what makes the decision so hard.

Bottom line, I am the one who has to make this decision about my mother. Nobody else.  And my heart bleeds for her.

Prayer:  Lord, show me Your well and the pools that are filled with water as I go through this vale of misery.  Please let mom feel cared for and loved.  Protect her and give me Your Wisdom.  Amen. 

Power Came Forth

And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all.  [Luke 6:19 RSV]

The phrase "Wise men still seek Him," rings true here.  Tired and sick we often are and we look for ways to touch Jesus. 

Some ways that I am able to touch him:  Reading the scriptures, praying (especially at an Adoration Chapel), and receiving Communion which is the ultimate oneness with Christ.

Dear Lord, I seek to touch you.  Send Your power.  Bring healing.