Look with Favor, Lord God, On Our Petitions

Collect

The Mass Collect powerfully captures the active, intentional preparation central to the Advent season as we eagerly await Christ's coming.

Look with favor, Lord God, on our petitions, and in our trials grant us your compassionate help, that, consoled by the presence of your Son, whose coming we now await, we may be tainted no longer by the corruption of former ways.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

Look with favor, Lord God, On Our Petitions

Today's Collect encapsulates the essence of this Advent season: a period of hopeful anticipation and preparation for the coming of Christ. It's a gentle reminder of God's immense love, shown in the gift of His Son, and His unfailing support in our life's challenges.

Consider the phrase, "Look with favor on our petitions." Here, we find an echo of our heart's deepest longings for God, a reminder of our reliance on His grace. This call to align our will with God's is not just a request but an invitation to grow closer to Him, to deepen our relationship with the Divine, and to nurture a spirit of holiness in our lives.

Trials and tribulations are part and parcel of our earthly journey. Yet, in these moments, we are not alone. The prayer reassures us of God's compassionate help. Think of those times when you faced difficulties – wasn't there often a sense of being guided, even carried, through these trials? This is the providential love of God at work, transforming our struggles into paths of growth and closeness with Him, much like the Beatitudes promise God's presence in our sufferings.

As we await the coming of Jesus, let's reflect on the profound truth of the Incarnation. The Early Church Fathers spoke of this mystery with awe – God becoming man. This is not just a theological concept but a source of hope and consolation. In Jesus, God reaches into our world, offering us a relationship that transforms and renews.

The prayer moves us to leave behind our old ways and step into a life enriched with virtue and holiness. This is the transformative power of Christ's coming into our lives—a call to conversion and renewal.

Ending with a doxology, the prayer reminds us of the Trinitarian foundation of our faith: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It's a joyous affirmation of our eternal hope in God.

As we journey through Advent, let's embrace God's grace in all aspects of our lives, eagerly awaiting the transformation that Christ's coming brings. Let this season be a time of turning away from old patterns and preparing our hearts for the joy of Christmas.

Let Us Pray

Heavenly Father, we turn our hearts to You with hopeful anticipation. As we await the coming of Your Son, Jesus, fill us with the grace to align our will with Yours. Help us to find strength and solace in Your compassionate presence during our trials. May the joyous mystery of the Incarnation inspire us to leave behind our former ways and embrace a life of holiness and virtue.

As we journey towards the celebration of Christ's birth, let our hearts be transformed by Your love, ready to receive the fullness of joy that Christmas brings. Amen.