Keep Watch: Day 1

Theme: Scripture tells us that we are forgiven! It calls us to walk in the light of the Lord, to pray for peace and to keep watch for Christ's return, putting aside our deeds of darkness and living in the light. In this season of Advent, we celebrate the Child who is the Light. We thank God for forgiveness of sins and reaffirm our desire to walk with the Lord.



Opening Prayer
"God is peace, the principle of all kinds of communion. Let us extol peace with songs of peaceful praise. It is God-who-is-Peace who brings all things into unity, who is the cause of every agreement, who is the author of all harmony. Amen." Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite

OT Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5
1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2 In the last days
the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
5 Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the LORD." 

Reflections from the Church Fathers: Augustine

"The central place they are all coming to is Christ; he is at the center, because he is equally related to all; anything placed in the center is common to all...Approach the mountain, climb the mountain, and you that climb it, do not go down it. There you will be safe, and there you will be protected; Christ is your mountain of refuge. And where is Christ? At the right hand of the Father since he ascended into heaven." Sermon 62A.3. 

For Further Though and Reflection

1. In what way have you experienced Christ as your mountain of refuge?

2. Have you "gone down from the mountain"? If so, why? You are always welcome back up. 

3. How do you know when you are walking in the light of the Lord? 

4. Thank God for his refuge, for his light. Ask him for the grace to stay on the mountain, to stay in the light.  

5. Who is God leading up the mountain and into the light? How can you partner with him?