Thursday 1 December

First Week of Advent

Isaiah 26: 1-6, Ps. 118,
Matthew 7: 21, 24-27

City of joy

Mary,
You are the joy-filled city of Yahweh
built on the rock of his word;
firm in faithfulness;
of steadfast mind
kept in perfect peace.

Open your gates
that we may enter;
the poor; the lowly
who will do his will
and find therein
your loving son, Jesus,
and sing with him
our songs
of joy.
Alleluia

Let us give thanks to Jesus
for the gift of his mother
who will be our guard as were the strong walls of Jerusalem,
like the walls of a womb
protecting the early growth of a child.