Bethlen Naptár, 1945 (Ligonier)
Dr. William Toth: Five Seasonal Prayers
BETHLEN NAPTÁR AZ 1945-IK ESZTENDŐRE 145. OLDAL Advent IV Almighty God, loving Father! The hope of glory fills our souls as we gather together in this advent company of believers. Thou who dost sustain us through days of hardship open now our ears to catch the glad refrains of angelic voices. Be pleased, 0 ineffable God, to make our eyes see the mystery, which has been hid from the ages and from generations and now is to be made manifest unto Thy saints. Our Father, we look forward to a holy day, one bathed in the beauty of Thy condescending love. We know that in times untoward and testing our joy does not consist in the abundance of things possessed. We realize the difficulties of quieting the demands of our selfish senses. How hard it is to see with the inward eye! 0 Father in heaven, from whom every family in heaven or on earth takes its name, we beseech Thee, out of the wealth of Thy glory strengthen us mightily by Thy Spirit in our inner nature and through our faith to let Christ in His love make His home in our hearts. We wait for a day of light and radiance. Thou hast promised long, long ago that a light shall shine upon a people who were living in a darkened land. Lord, now the lights have gone out and fearful hearts are huddled together in darkness. All about us Thy name is reviled. Love is scorned. Mercy and compassion are belittled. Thy world sits' in utter darkness. Once again, 0 loving Father, make bright Thy .star to guide Thy people to Him who is the light of the world. May we realize the futility of our way and consecrate ourselves anew to Christ who shall lead us to right knowledge of Thee, who shall show us life, and who .shall make all men see what is the fellowship of mystery. 0 God of infinite compassion, we anticipate the sacred moments of cleansing and renewal. Again Thou would show us by the innocence that lies in the manger-crib how deep is our sinfulness, how great is our need of Thee, how vast are the possibilities of our spiritual selves. May we take heart and in the courage of those whose mind is set upon Thee engage ourselves to gain the perfection of saints for the work of the service and the building up of the body of Christ. For, more than anything else in the world, 0 God, we would attain unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. From day to day, 0 Lord, we gather fresh evidences of Thy goodness and love toward us. Yet now we look forward to the day that seals forever Thy love
