Wednesday 21 December 2022

Today is Wednesday the 21st of December, in the fourth week of Advent.

One Hope Project sing a setting of ‘The Holly and the Ivy’. “And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, to be our sweet Saviour.” What do these words mean for you today?


The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown
O, the rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a blossom,
As white as lily flow'r,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our dear Saviour
O, the rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
For to redeem us all.

Today’s reading is from the prophet Zephaniah.

Zeph 3:14-18

Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has taken away the judgements against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you,
so that you will not bear reproach for it.

Weakness gives way to strength, limp hands to a strong arm, silence to the sound of joyful singing. Zephaniah presents God as a warrior who rejoices over the victory of his people. God is in the midst of humanity, but is he at the centre of your life?


For us the joyful singing in today’s reading is a foretaste of our Christmas celebration. Are you ready to celebrate Christ’s birth? Or is there a deeper way in which you are being invited to prepare?

As you listen again, imagine the sound of a community singing with the whole of its heart. What are the feelings that wholehearted singing brings up in you? What would happen if that music, roused by God, became the background music of your life?

Now spend some time just speaking with the God who rejoices with you. Is there anything on your mind that is preventing you from joining in the celebration? Whatever it is, just put it in the hands of God, and leave it there with him.

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