Day 5: Instead of a spirit of despair
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61: 1-3).
God of All Comfort You have proclaimed blessing and comfort over all who mourn (Matthew 5:4). We thank You for the One You sent, the Christ who came to bind up the brokenhearted...to comfort all who mourn, and [to] provide for those who grieve...
In this blessed Christmas season, You see the pain, the tears, the ashes, and the despair of burdened hearts too broken—too despondent to be festive. You see the stress of anxious hearts too overwhelmed to celebrate. Comfort them, O Lord! Bring them peace. Fill them with hope as You remind us them that the One who bore our sorrows and took up our pain and suffering (Isaiah 53:4) dwelled among us—still dwells among us.
God with us, Immanuel, remind the broken of Your unfailing word, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you" (John 14:18). Comfort the hurting with the knowledge that You are ever with us in the person of the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Comforter. Fill us all with Your promised peace.
Behold me, my beloved Jesus,
weighed down under the burden of my trials and sufferings,
I cast myself at Your feet,
that You may renew my strength and my courage,
while I rest here in Your Presence.
Permit me to lay down my cross in Your Sacred Heart,
for only Your infinite goodness can sustain me;
only Your love can help me bear my cross;
only Your powerful hand can lighten its weight.
O Divine King, Jesus,
whose heart is so compassionate to the afflicted,
I wish to live in You;
suffer and die in You.
During my life be to me my model and my support;
At the hour of my death,
be my hope and my refuge.
Amen.
~ Lutheran Prayer Book ~
“I, even I, am He who comforts you (Isaiah 51:12).
God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Savior,
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray.
Refrain:
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.
From God our heav’nly Father
A blessed angel came;
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.
“Fear not,” then said the angel,
“Let nothing you affright;
This day is born a Savior
A Babe of glorious might:
See, death and hell and Satan
This child shall put to flight.”
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
In Christian faith and charity
Each other now embrace,
This holy tide of Christmas
Reveals to us God’s grace.
~ Anonymous/Unknown ~
