Doorway Three: Welcome, Day 3

O Come, O Come Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel.

As we close week three of advent, may you "come" and draw near to Emmanuel, God-with-us. And may you also be challenged to be a welcoming presence to others as we have witnessed this week through the stories of welcome. May your heart be open and accepting of others who are radically different than yourself and invite them into your life. "Advent invites us to reawaken our awareness of this mystical presence, to welcome Christ in those who show up wherever we are." ~Joyce Rupp

Prayer:

Emmanuel, God-with-us, you have already come as divinity in human disguise. It is we who are to "come," to draw near to you. It is we who are to be ransomed, to move toward freedom from armored biases that form around our overly-protected hearts. Move us away from the tendency to join the destructive negativity that infiltrates our troubled society and personal relationships. Help us to out-distance the layers of adverse judgment that prevents us from welcoming those we determine as "the other." Come, yes, come Emmanuel, and ransom us. Free us from whatever imprisons our love and prevents us from being a welcoming presence. ~ Joyce Rupp

Blessing:

What I Mean by Blessing

is that you are welcome here

is that you are safe here

is that you can breathe here

is that you can speak here.

What I mean by blessing

is that this is a place to question

is that this is a place to dream

is that this is a place to rest

is that this is a place to sing.

What I mean by blessing

is that we hold you in your pain

is that we meet you in your fear

is that we see you in your hope

is that we take joy in you.

~Jan Richardon

Video: Enjoy this powerful welcome story by Naomi Shihab Nye - Gate 4

Song: O Come, O come, Emmanuel by Enya

Spiritual Practice: Welcoming Prayer by Father Thomas Keating

Resources:

Rupp, J. (2021). Return to the Root. Notre Dame, IN: Sorin Books

Richardson, J. (2021) Illuminated 2021 An online Journey into the Heart of Christmas.