Sunday 23 December 2018

#Pause for Advent 4

Pause in Advent

Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent


O Lord, raise up (we pray thee) thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; 

that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, 

thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; 

through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.


I've had several goes at writing some kind of post to go with this collect, but totally failed to come up with anything that is worth reading.

I came to the conclusion that the words stand for themselves. 

I'm just about at the end of the race to get ready for Christmas - writing cards, shopping, wrapping presents. Just the cake to marzipan and ice, some mince pies to bake, last minute shopping as the satsumas are all finished, a few emails instead of cards to write and press 'send'. 

Looking at the collect for today, it is clear that this is not the race that God has in mind...  but speedy help and deliverance from those things that are hindering me is close by... 

2 comments:

  1. Feeling "sore let and hindered" this evening myself. But encouraged by the thought that God will send deliverance

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  2. I've come to the conclusion that this 'race set before us' isn't about speed and activity. Have you ever taken part in a slow bicycle race? It's not about racing and running, but about concentration and awareness and balance and care and caution.

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