An Advent Reconciliation Reflection At Home During the Pandemic
Introduction:
Advent is a season of patient waiting. This year our journey of quiet expectation for the comings of Christ has been disrupted. Our lives are changed. As stress rises and relationships may be strained even as we have not been able to gather as a community for Sunday celebrations, prayer services or for the Sacrament of Reconciliation it is possible for us to bring our needs before God and reflect on all that is good in our lives and what more we can do to strengthen our relationship with God and with one another.
The prayer below does not replace the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Rather, it is a reflection on God’s love and forgiveness in our lives and an opportunity to contemplate our response in and through our relationships with God and one another.
Before you pray:
Find time to pray, gather around your Advent Wreath or place a candle at the ready since light and darkness are two of the central symbols of Advent. Sit in silence for a few minutes before you begin. Open yourself to the presence of God.
Hymn: O Come O Come Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Adonai, Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Prayer:
O Merciful God and Father, your love for us knows no bounds.
Open our eyes that we may see ourselves as you see us.
Give us wisdom that we may recognize our need for your forgiveness.
And grant us courage that we may forgive others as you forgive us.
May our lives always be a sign of your reconciling peace.
We ask this through Your Son, Christ Our Lord
Reading: JN 8:12-19
The Light of the World.
Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
So the Pharisees said to him, “You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified.”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified,* because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
You judge by appearances,* but I do not judge anyone.
And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me.
Even in your law* it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified.
I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.”
So they said to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
Our Advent Examination of Conscience:
Reader: Remembering that at our baptism we received the light of Christ and that with these candles (light the candles of your Advent Wreath or the candle on your table at this point) we recall our baptism and our commitment to be a light in the darkness, the light of Christ in the world.
Let us examine our consciences, reflect on our relationship with Christ and one another, remembering that God is merciful.
Reader: O Wisdom from on high, even as we celebrate the feast of your birth, we await with joy your second coming. Have we wisely prepared the way?
Have we wisely used our time? Consider! With whom do we need to spend more time?
Silence
and so we pray: Lord, have mercy
Reader: O Flower of Jesse’s Stem, has your Word taken root in our lives?
Do we practice patient waiting? Do we fill our time in communication with our Lord? Consider! Do we spend time daily with God in prayer and petition?
Silence
And so we pray: Lord, have mercy
Reader: O Day-Spring from on high, have we made your incarnation known?
Do we live lives of forgiveness and compassion, acting as you would act?
Consider! Do we heal people from pain, suffering, the sorrow of death?
Silence
And so we pray: Lord, have mercy
Reader: O Radiant Dawn, you are the hope of the world!
Do we live and love with the hope Christ gave us? Hope for the Kingdom of God where there is no death, no hate, no hunger. Consider! Do our actions give hope to others?
Silence
And so we pray: Lord, have mercy
Reader: O Emmanuel, promise of ages, long awaited savior.
Do we love with all our being?
Are we truly willing to love no matter the cost? To give ourselves away? Consider! For what or for whom are we willing to die?
Silence
And so we pray: Lord, have mercy
Leader:
Our God is a God of mercy, slow to anger and abounding in love.
Like the father who welcomes us home, or the mother who kisses away our wounds, our God is ready to forgive.
So let us trust in his goodness as, together, we pray:
All: Our Father . . .
Concluding Prayer
All: Almighty God, you made us in your own image and your Son accepted death for our salvation. Help us to keep watch in prayer at all times. May we be free from sin when we leave this world and rejoice in peace with you forever.
Amen.
Leader: Let us exchange a sign of peace
