Prayer for the Season of Advent

Lord our God, you have created human beings
to stand before you fully alive. (Irenaeus of Lyon)
Look at the men, women and children
crushed by the powers of evil:
illness, violence, poverty, injustice…
Keep us standing so that we can help them get up.

Remember Marguerite Bourgeoys, standing in her stable-school.
She freed the children from ignorance.
Keep us standing so that we continue her mission
of liberating education.

Remember Mary, mother of Jesus,
Standing, from the birth of her son
to the foot of the cross.
Keep us standing to go where you send us to carry the Gospel.

Give us the courage to stay standing
to wait, in hope,
for the coming of Emmanuel.
With him, we can then go to the peripheries
with love and compassion for those
who ask to be lifted up.

We pray to you through Christ
who has come, who comes and who will come.
Amen.