Scripture:

(Genesis 49:9-11) You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness--who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. [NRSV]

(Zechariah 9:9-10) Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. [NRSV]

Hymn: Hark the Glad Sound – Text & Tune / Youtube Video

Prayer:

God, give us peace this advent.  Keep us from being  stressed out, frantic and caught up in the busy-ness of the season. Help us to be humble, as Jesus was humble, so that we may live peacefully with our neighbors as we wait for you to come again and bring peace to the whole world.