O Adonai

O Adonai, ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush, and gave him the law on Sinai, come! Stretch forth your arm to redeem us!

O Adonai, our race knows great sorrow!  Our leaders are divided, weak, discouraged.  We, God’s people, chosen to be a beacon of light for all, follow our own foolish ways like our fathers before us.  We have been unfaithful.  We have disobeyed his laws.  Our earth is dark and full of fear.  Structures have collapsed, churches are empty.  Falsehood and malice trample the Poor, the Weak, the Unborn, the Elderly.  Hatred covers the earth with unspeakable sufferings. 

O Lord, hear our cries!  Hear our prayer for your own sake.   Let your face shine upon your desolate sanctuary, open your eyes and see our ruin.  Have pity and come to rally us to follow you under the banner of the Cross!

COME, LORD AND TARRY NOT; BRING THE LONG-LOOKED-FOR DAY!  OH, WHY THESE YEARS OF WAITING HERE?  THESE AGES OF DELAY?
COME AND MAKE ALL THINGS NEW; BUILD UP THIS RUINED EARTH; RESTORE OUR FADED PARADISE, CREATION’S SECOND BIRTH.
COME AND BEGIN YOUR REIGN OF EVERLASTING PEACE; COME, TAKE THE KINGDOM TO YOURSELF, GREAT KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!  AMEN. (1)

No song more beautiful than you, 
No sound so gladly heard; 
No thought of mind so rich in joy; 
As Jesus, God’s own Son.  (2)

1)Text Attrib. Horatius Bonar
2) Advent hymn