Speak Lord: Of new life

 

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace,
peace for his people.
His help is near for those who fear him
and his glory will dwell in our land.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

Responsorial Psalm for Second Sunday of Advent
Psalm 84(85):9-14

​it seems likely that many of us will gather for Mass tomorrow having made our ways through frost and snow.

The psalm we will sing  is redolent with the images and scents of spring, newness and freshness is promised and is promised for our flourishing.

We have known privation and suffering, but the time for that to end will come. And even now in the cold and the wet that hope lifts our spirits and gives us hope. ​

Photograph. Blossom at Abbey of Montserrat, Catalonia, Spain. (c) 2013, Allen Morris.