Advent 21

Lord and God,

We tremble at the coming of the judge. There is one in whose hand is everlasting death and everlasting life. Like Joseph’s brothers our consciences melt at charges untrue, because there are unnamed sins far worse quivering beneath the surface.

Let us have their virtue as well as their vice: their regret, their grief, their hatred of the wickedness of their own hearts, and their resolve never again to grieve their Father by the death of his true Son. Not for bread, not for gold, not for anything let us trade our bowing down in worship of the only true Son of God. In him, be our God. In him, let us be your sons.

And how tender is he who goes to the grace for us that he may be exalted. In our salvation he has his heart’s desire and your exaltation. The treasure of that jeweled city is his, the crown of fine gold from your hand is his, life forever is his. Let his enemies be conquered, first by his love and only in necessity by his power. Let us ever live to praise you. Come, Lord Jesus.