Advent should admonish us to discover
In each brother or sister that we greet,
In each friend whose hand we shake,
In each beggar who asks for bread,
In each worker who wants to use the right to join a union,
In each peasant who looks for work in the coffee groves,
The face of Christ.
Then it would not be possible to rob them,
To cheat them,
To deny them their rights.
They are Christ,
And whatever is done to them
Christ will take as done to him.
That is what Advent is:
Christ living among us.
Archbishop Oscar Romero
When my soul is bereft of peace,
I’ve forgotten what happiness is,
I find this I call to mind
And therefore I have hope –
When injustice shrivels the soul,
In a world that’s forgotten the way,
I find this I call to mind
And therefore I have hope –
The steadfast love of God will never cease,
God’s mercies will never come to an end –
They are new every morning,
They are new every morning
God’s steadfast love will never come to an end.
The healer brought pain
The one with the easy yoke brought turmoil
Just as Mary’s soul was pierced
With the death of her son
So our hearts are pierced
By the death of so many
And God’s heart is pierced
By the oppressed and forgotten
And Mary feels the pain of her dying son
And God feels the pain of the dying children
A sword of betrayal pierces the Holy Land
A sword of prejudice rejects people –
People, Lord, that you call holy –
Because all are holy in your eyes –
And our hearts are pierced as our friends suffer
As our friends are betrayed at the hands of the powerful
At the hands of the dominant and rich
And our hearts are pierced by the sword of injustice
Like the spear that pierced the side of Jesus
We cry out in pain for our wounded friends
Our prayers are not heard – the Church remains silent
The western world supports the wielding of the sword
The vulnerable are struck down
Why – why is there no healing?
A sword pierces my heart . . .
I am wounded deep.
© Garth Hewitt
for permission to copy
please contact GHF
Everloving God it is a new year full of new opportunities
As we ask forgiveness for the past
And make resolutions for the future
May we show your love and live your way
May we take time to pause and draw strength
And let our souls catch up
And be refreshed regularly through this year
May we show your love and live your way
May we remember the poor and the forgotten
The marginalized and the weak
And find ways to show your compassion
May we show your love and live your way
May the healing hope of the gospel be integral to our lives
So that the ways of justice and peace are reflected in us
May we show your love and live your way
May we take time to see the beauty of your world –
To see the beauty of trees, flowers, birds and animals –
To cherish them and work for the sustaining of our garden home –
So that we leave it in a good state for generations to come
May we show your love and live your way
May our hearts be refreshed by joy, music, creativity, love and hope
So we in turn can bring hope and joy to others.
Throughout this year may we show your love
and live your way.
© Garth Hewitt
for permission to copy
please contact GHF
God of gentleness and humility
Becoming human in simplicity
Bringing joy to the world.
In the birth of a child
We find meaning and dignity.
May we show the love and the humility of Jesus
That brings holy moments to wounded people
And joy and hope and laughter
To forgotten communities.
Teach us to be meek
Treating this beautiful world with gentleness,
Showing love to our neighbours,
And studying war no more.
So we bring a blessing of joy to others this Christmas
And throughout the year.
© Garth Hewitt
for permission to copy
please contact GHF
Bethlehem, you gave the world so much –
A humble Prince of Peace,
Angels who sang of hope,
You gave us a manger,
A shepherds’ field,
And all the joy of Christmas.
Yet now you lie imprisoned, Read more…