Good Tidings of Great Joy

A Series of Advent Blessings

God whose Word is Life, 
You sent the same message 
With a new Deliverer. 
May we hear Your truth and love each other more and more 
Because you are light 
And we are Your dreams for the future. 

God to whom Mary said yes 
And Joseph said seriously? 
You are trying to get through to us in a new way. 
May our yesses bring light 
Even when we are afraid 
And confused 
And skeptical 
Because You gave us Your Word 
And we are trying to trust. 

God to whom Herod said No effing way. 
Parents loved their children as desperately as the king loved power, 
And Mary’s yes put those babies in harm’s way. 
Shed Your light into the places where we are afraid to say
yes, 
Because no news is good news unless it is good news for everybody. 

Mary,  
You said yes without knowing all the ways 
Your heart would break. 
Fissures of shame  
And terror 
Adolescent betrayals  
Injustice 
And terrible, unspeakable loss. 
Did you feel blessed? 
Fear would have us shake our heads. 
Whisper your strength to us  
So when life asks us to love, we say yes 
Because broken hearts 
Are open hearts. 

Infinite Light, 
You send Your message in fire 
And winds and clouds 
And signs. 
You speak boldly in every language  
And without words 
And in still small voices 
And to improbable people. 
You send Yourself – the new old message – in the form of a baby. 
May we hold You tenderly and securely, 
Because love is the only worthy response to such a miracle.

Amen.