Morning Coffee by George Mendoza
I don’t know about you – but I can use all the new beginnings, fresh starts and clean slates I can lay my hands on! That’s why I keep drawing our attention to the « new year of grace » that begins with the first Sunday of Advent as, once again, over the course of a year, we unfold the mystery of Jesus: in history, in word and sacrament, and in our prayer…
Good morning, good God!
With Advent comes a new year of grace:
grace that’s yours alone to give
In this new year I want to offer you
an open door to my heart
where you can come and make your home…
I offer you the corners of my heart’s garden
I offer you the closets of my heart,
stuffed with old grudges and resentments:
Lord, help me discard
what fails to help me heal and grow…
I offer you boxes of wasted time,
sacks of foolishness
and trunks of misspent effort:
help me bag the trash of past mistakes
and give me a new beginning…
I offer you my heart’s hopes and dreams, Lord,
for this new year of grace:
my pledge to pray more faithfully,
my desire to grow in your love;
my need to rely on your wisdom and word;
my promise to ask for your help each day
and to be more faithful in serving others;
I offer you the new year ahead, Lord
– one day at a time –
and I pray for the serenity and grace
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference…
Amen.
