Praying Advent: Day 10
Praise
Lauds (Traditional hour: dawn/waking up)Laudate, omnes gentes, laudate Dominum! [Sing praises, all people, sing praises to the Lord!]We greet the new day by praising the Creator.
Opening:
Praise the Lord, O my soul:Praise God’s holy name.
Scripture
Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord!Why do you want the day of the Lord?
It is darkness, not light;
as if someone fled from a lion,and was met by a bear;
or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,and was bitten by a snake.
Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,and gloom with no brightness in it?
I hate, I despise your festivals,and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt-offerings and grain-offerings,I will not accept them;
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animalsI will not look upon.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
But let justice roll down like waters,and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
It is darkness, not light;
as if someone fled from a lion,and was met by a bear;
or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,and was bitten by a snake.
Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,and gloom with no brightness in it?
I hate, I despise your festivals,and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt-offerings and grain-offerings,I will not accept them;
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animalsI will not look upon.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
But let justice roll down like waters,and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
-Amos 5:18-24 NRSV
Meditation
Tell a friend or family member about your practice of the Way of Love and invite them to join you.
Prayers
Come, Emmanuel, come dwell with me.Hope of the world and Word of life:Come, Emmanuel, come dwell with me.
Going Out
Praise the Lord, O my soul:Praise God’s holy name.
Prayer form adapted from:1Daily prayer for all seasons. (2014). New York, N.Y.: Church Publishing.