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
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Third Sunday in Advent
Dear Friends in Christ,
I am now back from my pilgrimage to Israel and am grateful to all of you for your prayers for safe travel. We made it back without delay on a very snowy day, when delays were common across the counatry. Mitchell Field was clear and we all made it home safely. I look forward to sharing my insights and learning from the trip in this venue and others over the next few months.
For me, the most moving of sites was the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth which according to tradition is built above the site where Mary heard and received the message from Gabriel that she would bear God’s Son. It is truly a holy place and I spent time in prayer for all of you, especially those who are dealing with sickness and disease.
Now that we have an overview of the entire Gospel of Luke and more specifically of the birth narratives of Jesus and John the Baptist we are ready to look at specific passages, what biblical scholars call pericopes. The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) which we share with many members of our Anglican Communion and other churches appoints Luke 3:7-18 for our Gospel reading this week. It is the continuation of the Gospel lesson for last week. So since we have not spent specific time with either passage lets look at both to them together.
Read Luke 3:1-18.
What do you notice about the beginning of this passage?
How is it similar to the beginning of Luke’s Gospel?
Why does Luke include the names of emperors, governors, and the like?
Read Isaiah 40:3-5
How is it the same as Luke 3:4-6? How is it different?
Re-read Luke 3:7-10.
In a few words, sum up John’s message.
Re-read Luke 3:11-18
What is John saying to his first hearers? Write a brief summary.
What do you think is the Good News for them?
What is the Good News for you in this passage?
I look forward to hearing from you over the next week and hearing your learnings and insights.
Yours in Christ,
+Steven
I am now back from my pilgrimage to Israel and am grateful to all of you for your prayers for safe travel. We made it back without delay on a very snowy day, when delays were common across the counatry. Mitchell Field was clear and we all made it home safely. I look forward to sharing my insights and learning from the trip in this venue and others over the next few months.
For me, the most moving of sites was the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth which according to tradition is built above the site where Mary heard and received the message from Gabriel that she would bear God’s Son. It is truly a holy place and I spent time in prayer for all of you, especially those who are dealing with sickness and disease.
Now that we have an overview of the entire Gospel of Luke and more specifically of the birth narratives of Jesus and John the Baptist we are ready to look at specific passages, what biblical scholars call pericopes. The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) which we share with many members of our Anglican Communion and other churches appoints Luke 3:7-18 for our Gospel reading this week. It is the continuation of the Gospel lesson for last week. So since we have not spent specific time with either passage lets look at both to them together.
Read Luke 3:1-18.
What do you notice about the beginning of this passage?
How is it similar to the beginning of Luke’s Gospel?
Why does Luke include the names of emperors, governors, and the like?
Read Isaiah 40:3-5
How is it the same as Luke 3:4-6? How is it different?
Re-read Luke 3:7-10.
In a few words, sum up John’s message.
Re-read Luke 3:11-18
What is John saying to his first hearers? Write a brief summary.
What do you think is the Good News for them?
What is the Good News for you in this passage?
I look forward to hearing from you over the next week and hearing your learnings and insights.
Yours in Christ,
+Steven
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