"O Adonai..."
advent antiphons 2019
But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,
And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,
And faithfulness the belt of His waist...
For the . . .
"O Wisdom..."
advent antiphons 2019
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
His delight is in the fear of the Lord,
And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,
Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
-- . . .
prayerful waiting: the "O Antiphons" (2019)
The seven days of Advent leading up to Christmas Eve and the proper celebration of Christmas are sometimes called the "Golden Nights" and are marked with an additional set of prayers in the Vespers (Evening Prayer) service. These prayers are sometimes called the "O Antiphons" because of how they begin and mark a . . .
the third Sunday in Advent
contemplating collects
Lord, we beseech Thee, give ear to our prayers, and lighten the darkness of our hearts, by Thy gracious visitation; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
-- Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church
Winter is a time of physical darkness--short . . .
imperfect faith...and gracious redemption
lection reflection for 13 Dec 2019 / reading the bible daily with the church
In this week's collect, we pray for the ability to be able to serve God in purity. In just a few words we are humbly reminded of two sides of our Christian lives: the reality of the struggle against sin and shortcomings and the simultaneous reality of God's promised grace that makes our salvation and deliverance possible. . . .
Posted in: adventreflections
the example of love
lection reflection for 10 Dec 2019 / reading the bible daily with the church
In this week's collect, we implore God to stir our hearts and enable us to serve him in response for the great mercies he has shown us in Christ Jesus. Today's Epistle reading (1 Jn 4.7-16) extends this idea to loving and serving each other. But St. John does not simply exhort us to love each other because it is nice, it is . . .
Posted in: adventreflections
the second Sunday in Advent
contemplating collects
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Thine Only-begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve Thee with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
-- Common Service Book . . .
