Over the weekend TV and Newspapers concentrated on recalling the events of 2011. Food and drink for New Years Eve were emphasized. Of course, there was the inevitable talk of making New Year’s resolutions, with a psychological “expert” brought in for advice. Does anyone actually make resolutions?
But today is today. Today is a start back to reality. Today is the day to report that both St. Louis and East St. Louis did not get through the first day of a new year without a murder.
Today, Debra’s house next door stands empty. In the days before Christmas she mixed antifreeze with her drinks to ensure that she would succeed in taking her life. The day after her death, the family began stripping the house of all that it contained. Her car is gone. The bank will be left to deal with what is left of the house.
With the wind howling and a single snow flake floating down outside the window, here are some blessings and prayers for the last Days of Christmas.
God, bless to me the new day, never vouchsafed to me before; it is to bless your own presence
You have given me this time, O God. Bless to me my eye, may my eye bless all it sees; I will bless my neighbor, may my neighbor bless me. God, give me a clean heart, let me not from sight of your eye; bless to me my children and my wife, and bless to me my means and my cattle. (A Scottish New Year Blessing)
God our Father, when your son was born of the Virgin Mary he became like us in all things but sin. May we who have been reborn in him be free from our sinful ways. (From the Roman rite)
From Morning Prayer:
The Word was made flesh; full of grace and truth, he lived among us. From his fullness we have all received gift upon gift of his love, alleluia.
Second week after Christmas:
When peaceful silence lay over all, and the night had run half of her swift course, your all powerful word, O Lord, leaped down from heaven, from the royal throne.
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our glory is to stand before the world as your own sons and daughters. May the simple beauty of Jesus’ birth summon us always to love that which is most deeply human, and to see your Word made flesh reflected in those whose lives we touch.
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