Fourth Sunday of Advent Daily Advent Prayer

"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."
Entrance Antiphon:
Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.

Opening Prayer:
Let us pray as Advent draws to a close, that Christ will truly come into our hearts.
Lord, fill our hearts with your love, and as you revealed to us by an angel the coming of your Son as man, so lead us through his suffering and death to the glory of his resurrection, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Alternative Opening Prayer:
Let us pray, as Advent draws to a close for the faith that opens our lives to the spirit of God.
Father, all-powerful God, your eternal Word took flesh on our earth when the Virgin Mary placed her life at the service of your plan. Lift our minds in watchful hope to hear the voice which announces his glory and open our minds to receive the Spirit who prepares us for his coming. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Today's Readings
Daily Meditation:
“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,and you shall name him Jesus.He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,and of his kingdom there will be no end.” - Luke 1

On this last Sunday of Advent, we quietly reflect on the mystery. We rest in awe, in wonder, at how our God entered our world and came to be with us. We pause to receive the gift offered us: that the Spirit of God will open up our lives and that Jesus will really come into our hearts.
May we have watchful hope today, believing what the Lord promises us. Let us pray today, that we might be God's servants, that we might be instruments of God's love for our families and all we serve this week.

I will give you rest from all your enemies 2 Sam. 7

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.May it be done to me according to your word.” - Lk. 1
Today's Daily Reflection
Intercessions:
To the Lord, Jesus Christ, judge of the living and the dead, let us pray: Come, Lord Jesus! Lord Jesus, you came to save sinners,- protect us in times of temptation. You will come in glory to be our judge,- show in us your power to save. Help us to keep the precepts of your law with strength of Spirit,- and to look forward in love to your coming. You are praised throughout the ages; in your mercy help us to live devoutly and temperately in this life,- as we wait in joyful hope for the revelation of your glory.

O Dawn of the East, brightness of light eternal, and Sun of Justice; Come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Closing Prayer:
Loving God, It is growing in my heart: An awareness and gratitude of your constant love for me; Like the sun rising in the East to warm and comfort my life and to bring new growth.

Thank you for these weeks of prayer. In the spirit of the season my waiting, my patience, feels sacred.

Bless my heart with generosity and make me ready to receive you.
Come, Lord Jesus! Come!

Why do leaves change their color? Is it science, God, or both?

Let me start off by saying I am not trying to start a discussion, arguement, or dialogue about the difference between evolution and creationism. I'm not trying to reconcile the two, or make an arguement one way or the other. I'm not that smart.

What you believe is specific to you and I respect that. I'm not one to ever say your wrong. I'm one to try and understand what and why you believe something.

While I did take a couple of years of biology and chemistry, I don't have enough education in either science or theology to make an arguement that leaves turning color is the result of one, or the other. It's just something that I enjoy watching. It makes me feel good and think that everything in life is a little science, a little magic, and a little bit of faith.

Directly in front of the patio of my apartment there are two beautiful crape myrtles. It’s the time of year in Houston that we get to enjoy a moment of fall and the brilliant colors. As I sit on my patio and watch the leaves change, I wonder how much of that change is related to science, how much is related to faith.

Why leaves change colors at a particular time of the year seems to be a fairly well understood chemical phenomenon in the scientific world. In very general terms, the scientific community believes that the reason leaves change color is because of shorter days and cooler temperatures.

Broadly speaking a theory is some kind of belief or claim that explains, asserts, or consolidates some class of claims. A fact however, has an objective reality that can be verified according to an established standard of evaluation.

OK, so, if science has proven by fact and theory why leaves change colors, why do some tree leaves change color and others don’t. If a theory or fact is implicit and definite, why don’t all of the leaves turn the same color at the same time and drop off the tree at the same time? Or why does an elm tree loose it’s leaves when a pine tree doesn’t?

Faith allows me to believe that things exist or happen for no apparent scientific reason, for example Heaven. Know one can prove or disprove that Heaven exists, I just accept it through faith that it does in fact exist.

Through science I know that at a certain time of the year the leaves will change color. Through my faith I enjoy this uncontrollable change and give thanks.

Leaves changing colors is a great example of where science and faith meet as I can all see it happen. Part of the change in the color is due to science, the randomness of it however I believe is God’s way of giving us all a little visual treat before advent. I find it interesting that the liturgical color lent is purple, as are many of the Autumn colors.