John the Baptist, Painting by: Ronald Raab, CSC 2016

God of heaven and earth, we turn toward you desiring the love you offer. We rejoice in your compassion toward us on earth even when we stumble in despair. You liberate the lonely, you inspire the destitute, you offer compassion to the broken. Allow all of us in our incompleteness to know we are already in union with your presence. In these Advent days, inspire us to give thanks for your presence even in what we ache for, to offer you praise even when our voices are locked up in doubt, to offer you glory most especially when we struggle to find our way in the darkness. Help us listen to Isaiah, John the Baptist and Paul as we journey toward our comfort of heaven right here on earth. Amen