Advent Post III

As a thank you for giving back to my alma mater, every year I receive a booklet for devotions and reflections on Advent from the president. This year the booklet was titled "Why Everything Matters" and featured reflections involving Ecclesiastes. Through this Advent season I'll be posting the prayers that come at the end of each reflection. 

My hope is that these prayers will encourage you (dear reader), regardless of your spiritual disposition to pause and reflect and perhaps add a layer of meaning to your holiday season. 

A memorial for those murdered in Newton,CT

God of joy and exultation,

you strengthen what is weak;

you enrich the poor

and give hope to those who live

in fear. 

Look upon our needs this day. 

Make us grateful for the good news of salvation

and keep us faithful in your service until the coming of

 our Lord Jesus Christ,

who lives forever and ever. Amen. 

Newton Reflection

In tying my thoughts about Christmas and the Holidays to the tragic events on Friday (14th) in Newton I keep being drawn back to the hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel."  We all echo the sentiments of the verse which calls for the arrival of healer. 

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.

At the moment we are all enthralled by grief and sorrow.  

In Memoriam

A friend and mentor of mine tragically passed away last Sunday. His death was a complete shock and an utter tragedy. He was a great man who mentored and counseled an untold number of college students. He will be greatly missed.

His funeral is today, and in honor of his passing I post the lyrics and a video of "In Paradisum." This chant is frequently the concluding refrain of a Musical Requiem.

May Angels lead you into paradise;

may the Martyrs receive you at your coming

and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem.

May a choir of Angels receive you,

and with Lazarus, who once was poor, may you have eternal rest.