Advent Daily Dose - 4th Thursday

O Antiphon for December 22, 2010

We pray + in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“O King of all the nations, the one they long for, the cornerstone which makes all sides one: Come, and save humankind, whom you formed from the dust of the earth.”

Reflection: Sometimes I like to pray with this image of Jesus Christ as a cornerstone. The largest of all the stones in the wall, and in the whole building, it is the cornerstone that supports all the other stones. I don't know how many stones I carry around with me all the time. How many things weigh me down and keep me from becoming the man, the catholic, the priest that God is calling me to be. Sometimes there are many stones and it's very heavy; other times, not so much. Regardless of the size and number the invitation today is to place those stones upon the cornerstone and let Jesus build a church, a community, a home out of them.  He is the cornerstone and it is only in Him, through Him, and with Him that those burdens become useful building blocks. So, what are we carrying today? What burdens us? In prayer, take them to Him, lay them upon Him, and let Him use them to build you up, to strengthen you, and to build a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit in your heart.

We pray: O God, who, seeing the human race fallen into death, willed to redeem it by the coming of your Only Begotten Son, grant, we pray, that those who confess his Incarnation with humble fervor may merit his company as their Redeemer. We ask this through Him who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us.

+In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.