Friday 22 December 2023

Today is Friday the 22nd of December in the third week of Advent.

The Portsmouth Grammar School Chamber Choir sing 'Lux Aurumque' by Eric Whitacre:
Light
Warm and heavy, pure like gold
The angels sing and sing and sing
To the newborn babe.

Lux,
Calida gravisque pura velut aurum
Et canunt angeli molliter
modo natum.




Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 1: 46-56

And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
 Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
 and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
 from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
 he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
 and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
 and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
 in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
 to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home.

Today is the Winter solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the shortest, darkest day of the year. At this time, we may long for light more than ever. Whichever Hemisphere you find yourself in, in what ways are you longing for light today?

Mary’s song of praise reminds us of the darkness of injustice in the world. She affirms that our God is a God of justice who wishes to lift up the lowly and fill the hungry with good things . . . Can you stay with the view of this God for a moment?

A popular image of Mary is humble, meek, mild . . . is there something else that you see in her character? Listen to her tone as she proclaims the words of the Magnificat . . .

How is God bringing light and hope into our world? . . . How does God want you to be light and hope to others? . . . Speak to God, or perhaps, speak to Mary about this . . .

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