Loving God, you give us this time of Advent to reflect upon
Your ever-unfolding mystery of salvation.

Help us to use this grace-filled season to appreciate
and learn from our ancestors in faith.

We look to the prophet Isaiah, who takes us back through
Hebrew history, introducing us to the forebears of our faith
family as they awaited the Savior's coming with hope-filled spirit.

We remember John the Baptist, who tells us the reign of
God is at hand and calls us to renew our hearts in
anticipation of meeting Jesus Christ.

And we look to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her
unwavering faithfulness to God's will as she accepted her
role in the fulfillment of salvation history.

Through Your Holy Spirit, we strive to accept Your will, as
did these holy people who came before us, while we await
Your future coming.

We ask Your blessing upon us during this Advent season as
we prepare to celebrate the sacred mystery of Christmas.


Amen.