First Sunday of Advent

December 3, 2006

by Tom Cox

For many people, December represents an obstacle course of tasks to undertake, things to do and what is largely a sentimental moment. Maybe we need to bring back Herod. After all, he was there at the first Christmas. He reminds us that Jesus didn't enter a world of sparkly Christmas cards or a world of warm spiritual sentiment. Jesus enters a world of real pain, of serious dysfunction, a world of brokenness and political oppression.

We come like children with a huge Christmas list, asking for all the gifts that we need. For the gifts of peace, understanding and love. We pray for

• the frustrated whose dreams lie in ruins;
• the deeply ashamed who cannot forgive themselves;
• the haughty who need to look again at themselves;
• the overly busy who “hide” among the clutter of incomplete tasks;
• the vain who try to make an impression to fill their own emptiness;
• the corrupt and morally decayed who crush and plunder other lives;
• the fearful, the confused, those who are wracked with guilt or pain;
• the secret hurts we won't let anyone else know about;
• the people of the world suffering with the effects of war and poverty.

(Comments to Tom at tomascox@eircom.net )