Give us grace to cast away... Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, And put on the armor of light... The collect for the first Sunday of Advent (included below) is full of contrast: darkness and light, mortal life and life immortal, great humility and glorious majesty. It is a prayer for now. It recognizes the struggle between darkness and light; between life and death. As we offer this prayer we are asking for God's help to live in humility and grace in this mortal life. A great prayer as we start this season of anticipation and waiting... Perhaps one might offer it on a daily basis throughout the season. And as we pray we might ask our heavenly father to show us those places where the works of darkness need to be cast off. We might in humility ask God to dress us in his armor of light. We might take time each day to reflect on the humility in which Christ came to visit us as well as the glorious majesty with which he will return! Blessings,
Matthew+ Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.(BCP p. 211) | 
