1. Instrumental Music:

2. Reflection on Listening in Faith:

Advent is a season of listening in faith. There is the story of a little boy who approaches his Rabbi, not understanding why God isn't speaking. The Rabbi shook his head as though he were in pain.

'My son', he said, 'it isn't that God no longer speaks to His people.

It's just that silence is God's favourite language. Now he is letting

all of life speak for Him... But no one these days can stoop down low

enough to listen to all of life. No one... can stoop down low enough

... to listen to the silence.” (Pause)

3. First Reading: The Psalmist offers us an invitation to LISTEN in faith:

(Psalm 95: 6-8)

“Let us bow and bend low;

Let us kneel before the God who made us,

for he is our God, and we the people who belong to his pasture,

the flock that is led by his hand.

Oh, that today you would LISTEN to his voice.”

Silence

4. Reflection on Waiting in Hope:

For many of us, 'waiting' is not meaningful or easy. We like to have immediate responses for almost everything: Instant puddings! Fast mail (email)!... Everything today seems invented to SAVE TIME - for what? For what value? We know that poor people are needy and they have to wait: wait in lines; wait for cheques... .

There is a connection between our poverty and our prayer. We are God's POOR, waiting for a Saviour.

In prayer, we want to reserve a place for the ABSENT ONE. We want to wait for the Absent One. If we occupy our space with ourself, our interests, our preoccupations, there is no longer space for the Absent One - and there is no need to wait. The 'empty place' is filled. Let us be Advent people who wait in hope for the Absent One to fill our hearts in this Advent/ Christmas season.

Silent Prayer: A mantra of your choice, waiting in hope (Ex: Come, Lord Jesus)

5. Reflection on Responding in Love:

Now, we will just consider Mary's Fiat, and try to make it our own: Luke 1: 34-38

“... 'Listen, you are to conceive and bear a son...'

'But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?'

'The Holy Spirit will come upon you,' the angel answered, 'and the power of the Most High will cover you with his shadow, for nothing is impossible to God.'

'I am the handmaid of the Lord,' said Mary. 'Let what you have said be done to me.'”

6. Invitation: In silence:

With CLAY that is on hand, allow time for each one to make her/ his own

'earthen vessel' (whatever shape) in the spirit of listening, waiting, and

responding.

Music: Earthen Vessels - or Instrumental Music

7. Gesturing of Offering: Holding our 'clay vessels' up to the Lord, let us pray together:

'May our offering rise like incense before you, o lord.

8. Instrumental Music