O God who loves the world,
Thank You for adopting us as Your children! May we always be, in Your eyes, children who never grow old and never grow up—for only then can we forever hide in Your embrace, free from worry and sorrow, untouched by cold or heat, complete and lacking nothing. Yes, we ask You, God, to teach us: what the physical eye sees as nothing, the spiritual eye sees as something; what the flesh lacks, the life does not lack. Teach us also to trust in the promises of the Lord of Life, Jesus Christ—that those who eat His flesh and drink His blood shall never lack, and shall never perish. We who still live today in these earthly tents are gradually worn down by the passing of years. Yet we rely on God’s protection: though the tent grows old, it does not decay—because the Lord’s grace overcomes every weakness. This life in Christ—the maintenance of the body, the renewal of the heart—all rests within the Lord’s grace. I trust that as God gives us our days, so too will He give us our strength. May what we set our hope on no longer be what the physical eye can see, but what it cannot see—for what is unseen is greater than what is seen. May we all prepare our bridal adornment for the coming of the Head of the Church: cultivating our hearts, keeping our lips and hearts pure, remaining faithful and true, bearing abundant good fruit, ready to see the Lord face to face. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!
