Second Sunday of Advent

And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

We all should pray for an increase in our ability to love. In addition, we need to pray for the knowledge and the perception to love wisely and well and to choose right over wrong. We need knowledge to understand what to think, say, and do to help others. We need the perception to recognize when and where we are needed. We need knowledge, perception, and love in order to follow the commandments and live holy and pure lives. When we have these three things, then we shall be fruitful in our faith and bear righteousness into the world. By doing this, we plant the seeds of love wherever we go, giving glory and praise to God and growing the faith of others.

Do we pray for love, knowledge and perception? How can we come to see what is truly of value in this world so that we might become pure and blameless? What can we do to increase in love and righteousness so that we can bear good fruits?

O Lord, increase our ability to love through knowledge and perception of your Divine Will.

Amen.