SEASONS - A PRAYER FOR HANUKKAH ON THE FOURTH DAY AND A PRAYER FOR ADVENT ON THE FIRST WEEK

PRAYER FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT:



(Taken from Catholic Collect for The Mass on The First Week of Advent)

Bestir, O Lord, Thy might, we pray thee and come; that, defended by Thee, we may deserve rescue from approaching dangers brought on by our sins, and being set free by Thee, obtain our salvation. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

READING FOR 
THE FOURTH DAY OF HANUKKAH:
(Shared from "Biblical Holidays" by Robin Sampson and Linda Pierce)

The Light of The Body is The Eye:

The light of the body is the eye; therefore when thine eye is single, they whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.  (Luke 11:34),

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.  (Acts 26:18)

From Matthew Henry's Commentary:  

Having the light, their concern was to have the sight, or else to what purpose had they the light?  Be the object ever so clear, if the organ be not right, we are never the better.  The light of the body is the eye which received the light of the candle when it is brought into the room.  So the light of the soul is the understanding and judgement, and its power of discerning between good and evil, truth and falsehood.  Now according as this is, so the light of divine revelation is to us, and our benefit by it; it is a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death. 

If this eye of the soul is single, if it see clear, see things as they are, and judge impartially concerning them, if it aim at truth only, and seek it for its own sake, and have not any sinister by-looks and intentions, the whole body, that is, the whole soul, is full of light, it receives and entertains the gospel, which will bring along with it into the soul both knowledge and joy.  This denotes the same thing with that of the good ground, receiving the word and understanding it.  If our understanding admits the gospel in the full light, it fills the soul, and it has enough to fill it.  And if the soul be thus filled with the light of the gospel, having no part dark, - if all its powers and faculties be subject to the government and influence of the gospel and none left unsainctified, - then the whole soul shall be full of light, full of holiness and comfort.  It was darkness itself, but now light in The Lord, as when the bright shinning of a candle does give thee light.  

Note:  The gospel will come into those souls whose doors and windows are thrown open to receive it, and where ever it comes it will bring light with it.  But if the eyes of the soul be evil - if the judgement be bribed and biased by the corrupt and vicious dispositions of the mind, by pride and envy, by the love of the world and sensual pleasures - if the understanding be prejudiced against divine truths, and resolved not to admit them, though brought with ever so convincing an evidence, - it is no wonder that the whole body, the whole soul, should be full of darkness.  How can they have instruction, information, direction and comfort from the gospel, that wilfully shut their eyes against it?  And what hope is there of such?  And what remedy for them?  The inference hence therefore is:  Take heed that the light that is within thee be not darkness.  Take heed that the eye of the mind be not blinded by partiality and prejudice, and sinful aims.  Be sincere in your inquiries after truth, and ready to receive it in the light, and love, and power of it; and not as the men of this generation to whom Christ preached, who never sincerely desired to know God's will, nor designed to do it, and therefore no wonder that they walked on in darkness, wondered endlessly and perished eternally.