December 21, 2021 - Advent week 4

 



“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!”

 

I remember the first time I made the connection of the importance of the passage of Luke 1: 39-56 and even to this day the weight of this part of the advent season is truly awe inspiring. Luke begins his account of the story Christ with foretelling the birth of John the Baptist to the childless Zechariah and Elizabeth. This all becomes clear when Gabriel visits Mary in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. As we see in the reading and the passage above, it is clear that the miracles of both Elizabeth’s pregnancy and that of Mary are connected and help to put Mary at ease. I cannot help but think on how Mary feels after the visit of the angel Gabriel and that her visit to Elizabeth is not only reassuring, but also makes her feel less alone and isolated.

 

Upon hearing Elizabeth’s exclamation, Mary says or sings a response that has become a major part of liturgical tradition in so many branches of Christianity known as the Magnificat. It is included in our Anglican liturgy in both the Book of Common Prayer and Common Worship service of Evening Prayer. This piece of scripture has inspired musicians and composers for centuries. The musical setting varies greatly from different countries, different denominations, and different traditions, but regardless all settings are absolutely stunning. Below I have included two settings, one of which from a favourite British composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams, performed by the Choir of Keble College. The second a more traditional setting performed by the Daughters of Mary, a congregation of traditional Catholic Sisters. In both compositions you hear the beauty of the occasion and I will allow the music to speak of its own accord. 

 

- Meagan Thorlakson

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Popular posts from this blog

December 1, 2021 - Advent Week 1

Image
      O nce again the cycle of the year rolls back to Advent. Each cycle has its beauty and trials. Advent is from the Latin Adventus meaning a coming or arrival. What in your life is coming or arriving in your life to make your life different? I always think of the advent of spring and waiting for the arrival of the flowers, warmer weather, longer days and new life.   Advent is when Christians await the arrival of our King. How are we preparing for the arrival of Christ? In your home getting ready for a guest to arrive takes time and preparation so all will go well when the guest arrives. For me getting the house clean and ready, spending time thinking about what will make my guest comfortable and welcome. How will the house be decorated, how will I dress, will everything be ready when my guest arrives? Today’s scripture from Amos 3:12-4:5   tells of how the Israelites were far from ready from being what God wanted them to be.   They kept sinning and wanting to co
Read more

December 3, 2021 - Advent Week 1

Image
             SEEK THE LORD… Who Are You Seeking? – Mark Lawrence   Amos 5:1-17 American artist Mark Lawrence specializes in Bible verse inspired contemporary Christian abstract paintings. On his website Lawrence says, “I am driven by a mission and a vision to share God’s Word with the billions of searching people who need Jesus in their lives". I have to admit that I was not familiar with the first of today’s readings or the history behind Amos’ call or what it had to do with Advent. But what was clear to me is that four times in this short passage we find the word “seek” - three times it is used as an encouragement and one time as a warning. As I read and re-read these verses, I came to realise that this was the center of the Holy Spirit’s message to me that day and I hope you can glean something from these my ramblings. We are in the first week of Advent and it is the week of “Hope” or prophecy. This fifth chapt
Read more

November 30, 2021 - Advent Week 1

Image
    Lamb of God  (in Latin,  Agnus Dei ) is an oil painting completed between 1635 and 1640 by the Spanish  Baroque  artist  Francisco de Zurbarán . It is housed in the  Prado Museum  in  Madrid , Spain   “Come, all you who are thirsty,      come to the waters; and you who have no money,      come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk      without money and without cost.   Why spend money on what is not bread,      and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,      and you will delight in the richest of fare.   Give ear and come to me;      listen, that you may live.” Isaiah 55:1-3 “The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples,   and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’” John 1:35-36 The word “come” appears 12 times in today’s readings. Of course it does! During Advent we hear and speak the word often. We repeat our request, “Come, Lord Jesus, come.” The expression comes
Read more