Oh most Gracious and Blessed Redeemer
In this season that we traditionally celebrate the first advent of your Holy Son, Jesus Christ, I pray that we would not forget the primary purpose for his entry into our human environment; namely, to restore order through redemption into our sinfully chaotic world.
Now, in seeing all the disorder and dysfunction of our homes, churches, communities, societies, and nations, I ask myself, “How much responsibility for this global turmoil do I bear as an individual? What part can I play in helping to promote peace and good-will toward humankind?”
Realizing that I am just one man in the grand scheme of cosmic existence I begin with praying for:
-Wars throughout the world to cease.
-Inoffensive prisoners to be released.
-Poverty to come to an end.
-Broken marriages to mend.
-Innocent children to live in safety.
-Dignity to replace destructive bigotry.
-Kindness to overcome rudeness.
-Generosity to conquer greediness.
-Unadulterated justice to prevail.
-The Truth to be taught without fail.
-Governments to stop oppressing their people.
-Your followers to faithfully proclaim The Gospel.
Surely, while praying may seem as the least we can do, in reality, it is where you intend that we begin your redemptive work. For as we earnestly and fervently pray for the disenfranchised, oppressed, persecuted, and hurting people in our world, we then empathize (spiritually, mentally, and emotionally enter into their struggles) with them. And in the process, we become less harshly critical toward them and thus, we open up our selves for creative ways we can become more personally and proactively involved in easing their pain and supplying their necessities.
Indeed, if Jesus our Lord, the Pure One, humbled himself to enter our sin-cursed world and compassionately tended to every level of our needs, are we not actually more responsible to our fellows, seeing we are comprised of the same sin-stained human constitution?
In closing, may we remember that as his people, our mission is to continue the redemptive work Christ (The Prince of Peace) has already initiated. And so I implore you to touch our hearts with your sensitivity, fill our minds with your thoughts, and spiritually empower our bodies to physically fulfill your Divine Will on earth as it is in Heaven!
-Alfredo Mullet-
