The Advent of Our Lord

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

In the name of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Behold, the King comes:
Oh, come, let us worship Him.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13

¹⁰ Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz:
¹¹ “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”
¹² But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.”
¹³ And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?
¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
¹⁵ He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
¹⁶ For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.
¹⁷ The LORD will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!” (ESV)

The Advent season initiates a time to consider the prophecies of Christ. This passage records God giving the sign to the house of David: a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, naming him Immanuel, which means "God with us." This promise points directly to the lowly coming of Christ in the flesh, which the Church commemorates at Christmas.

Prayer of the Day

O Lord Jesus, Thou hast again entered into our midst by granting unto us the proclamation of Thy Word. Grant us grace to welcome Thee aright, lest through sin, vanity, and unbelief we drive Thee away from us. Amen.

Closing Prayer

O almighty and most merciful God, of Your bountiful goodness keep us, we implore You, from all things that may hurt us, that we, being ready, both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things that You would have done; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.