Fourth Sunday of Advent

One more Advent prayer that I love. It was written around 900 ad but is particularly appropriate now:

O King of the nations, you are the headstone of the glorious hall of creation. You are the firm mortar which holds the building together. Throughout the earth people marvel at your works. But now the building is being reduced to a ruin by greed and fear. Reveal yourself to mankind, show yourself as the ruler of the world, demonstrate the power of your love.

O just and faithful King, you can unlock the prison-house of sin and let us out into the glorious freedom of love. Now we sit in darkness, grieving over the wrongs we have committed. We long for the sun, we yearn for the warmth and brightness of your truth. Open the gate of this prison and lead us to your kingdom, which is our true home.

Come now, high king of heaven. Come to us in flesh and bone. Bring life to us who are weary with misery. Bring peace to us who are overcome with weeping, whose cheeks are covered with bitter salt tears. Seek us out, who are lost in the darkness of depression. Do not forget us, but show mercy on us. Impart to us your everlasting joy, so that we, who are fashioned by your hands, may praise your glory.