"Pardon, my lord, I am the woman who stood near you, praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, And the Lord granted my request. Now, I in turn, give him to the Lord; As long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord." I Samuel 1, 24-29 Lord, we are near Christmas; We recall the coming of John who calls us to repentance And so prepares the way for Jesus, who also wants us to repent. You want to forgive me and I want to be forgiven; Help me to see the good person I can be; Help me to see that being a good person is my best joy; If I cannot be good, what a loss – for me and all I meet. O KING OF ALL THE NATIONS, the only joy of every human heart; O KEYSTONE of the mighty arch of man: come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.