Sunday 17 December 2023

Today is Sunday the 17th of December, the third Sunday of Advent.

Molly Parden with the Porter’s Gate sings, ‘He Comes’.

He comes, the Lord's anointed One
And we shall see His face
As clear as if the rising sun
Poured out the light of grace
He comes, and we shall hear His voice
Not as some distant sound
But tones that make the heart rejoice
When love, long lost, is found
He comes, not to the wise and great
But to the bound and poor
So low Himself that potentates
Must kneel to pass His door
He comes, with favour in his hands
Our empty souls to fill
To make a highway through the sands
And bid the storms be still
He comes, and we shall come to him
Set free from ancient chains
Adorned in mercy's diadem
To glory in His reign
He comes, the Lord, as one of us
He comes to judge the earth
How wonderful, how glorious
His long awaited birth




Today’s reading is from the Prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 61:1-2,10-11

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
 because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
 to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
 and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,
 and the day of vengeance of our God;
 to comfort all who mourn;
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
 my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
 he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
 and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
 and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
 to spring up before all the nations.

In today’s reading we hear the words of the Prophet Isaiah that would later be proclaimed by Jesus at the onset of his ministry.

At this time of year, can you let these words fill you once again with the anticipation of the coming King, the One who is born among us, who will one day return to reign?

What do the following phrases remind you of as you hear them?

Good news to the oppressed… bind up the broken hearted… proclaim liberty to the captives…release for the prisoners… comfort for all who mourn.

Perhaps a person or people come to mind. Pray for them now.

As you listen to the reading again, notice the joy in the second half.

‘so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
 to spring up before all the nations.’

Spend the remainder of your prayer time praying for any nations who are on your heart today.

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