St John of the Cross | Tuesday 14 December 2021

Today is Tuesday the 14 December, the feast of St John of the Cross, in the third week of Advent.

One Hope Project sing a setting of ‘In the Bleakmidwinter’. As you listen, notice how you are as we continue to wait to celebrate the coming of Christ into our world…

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Zephaniah.

Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13

Ah, soiled, defiled,
   oppressing city! 
It has listened to no voice;
   it has accepted no correction.
It has not trusted in the Lord;
   it has not drawn near to its God.
At that time I will change the speech of the peoples
   to a pure speech,
that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
   and serve him with one accord. 
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
   my suppliants, my scattered ones,
   shall bring my offering. 
On that day you shall not be put to shame
   because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
   your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
   in my holy mountain. 
For I will leave in the midst of you
   a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord— 
   the remnant of Israel;
they shall do no wrong
   and utter no lies,
nor shall a deceitful tongue
   be found in their mouths.
Then they will pasture and lie down,
   and no one shall make them afraid. 

This passage is something of a lament over Jerusalem’s infidelity to God. Do you notice the signs of infidelity in the reading? Do you think that they might apply to us today?

But there are also signs of hope in the reading. What stays with you from the hopeful language?

As you listen again, see how many signs of hope you can detect in the poetry. How does it make you feel?

Finally, just gather together all the thoughts that are rising in your heart at this time, and see if you can turn them into a prayer to God.  What will you say to God?


O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
Key of David
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel
Come, Lord Jesus