The Fourth Sunday in Advent

Dear Friends in Christ,

Greetings to you on this fourth Sunday of Advent. As I write the anticipation of Christmas joy draws near. Last night was the first night of the “O antiphons” the antiphons that surround Mary’s song the Magnificat which we sing or say at Evening Prayer. These antiphons are the basis for the much loved Advent hymn. O Come, O Come Emmanuel. That is why a date is placed by each verse of the hymn.

This Sunday in Advent speaks even more deeply to the already but not yet of our Christian life. Our Gospel for this week takes us back to our work on the second Sunday of Advent. Our lesson for this week is Luke 1:39-45 the story known as the Visitation, because it tells of Mary’s visit to her kinswoman Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, following Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary that she would bear the Christ. In Jerusalem there is a church not far from the temple dedicated to this mystery. It is at the visitation that Luke records Mary’s uttering the Magnificat, which we will say together in the Eucharist in place of the psalm (Some congregations may choose to recite Psalm 80:1-7 and add the Magnificat to the Gospel lesson.)

Read Luke 1:39-45.

Why does Luke emphasize that the child leapt in Elizabeth’s womb?

What might he be foreshadowing in our lessons from the two previous weeks?

Elizabeth cries out, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Where have you heard these words before other than this Gospel?

Why does Elizabeth consider Mary blest?

How is that blessing available to us?

Read Luke 1:46-55 from your bible

Compare it to the Magnificat in the service of Daily Evening Prayer.

What stands out for you in each of these versions?

Do the slight variations between your scripture translation and the BCP (actually ICET- International Consultation on English Texts) help expand your thinking about this passage.

Imagine Mary saying these words.

What imagines come to mind?

Is there a call to you in this song?

How is Mary’s song the song of the Church?

Blessings,
+Steven