Advent Sunday 4 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a,16Romans 16:25-27Luke 1:26-38 My heart leapt when I saw the readings for this last Sunday in Advent. I have always looked forward to Advent for the prominence given to Old Testament texts. I think I would describe myself as having an Old Testament heart. Today’s first reading from …
Author Archives: Turvey Nuns
O Radix Jesse
December 19th Judges 13:2-7, 24-25Luke 1:5-25 O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples;kings stand silent in your presence;the nations bow down in worship before you.Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid. O Radix Jesse All of us sprung from one deep-hidden seed,Rose from …
O Adonai
December 18th Jeremiah 23:5-8Matthew 1:18-24 O Lord of ancient Israel,who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush,who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain;come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. O Adonai Unsayable, you chose to speak one tongue,Unseeable, you gave yourself away,The Adonai, the TetragramatonGrew by a wayside in …
O Sapientia
December 17th Liturgy of the WordGen 49:2, 8-10Mat 1:1-17 O Sapientia I cannot think unless I have been thought,Nor can I speak unless I have been spoken.I cannot teach except as I am taught,Or break the bread except as I am broken.O Mind behind the mind through which I seek,O Light within the light by …
O Clavis David
December 20th Liturgy of the Word Isaiah 7:10-14Luke 1:26-38 O Key of DavidO royal power of Israelcontrolling at your willthe gate of Heaven:Come, break down the prison wallsof death for those who dwell in darknessand lead your captive people into freedom. O Clavis David Even in the darkness where I sitAnd huddle in the midst …
The Light
Advent Sunday 3 Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11 Thessalonians 5:16-24John 1:6-8, 19-28 Two themes intertwine in this week’s Liturgy of the Word. It’s the moment in Advent when we rejoice that the Lord is at hand and also commit ourselves to preparing for that coming. The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,for the Lord …
Prepare
Advent Sunday 2 Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-112 Peter 3:14-18Mark 1:1-8 ‘Console my people, console them, says your God. ‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and call to her that her time of service is ended…’ It’s impossible for me to read or hear the quote above without also hearing the plaintive melody from Handel’s Messiah. Texts …
Stay Awake
Advent Sunday 1 Year B Isaiah 63:16-17,64:1,3-81 Corinthians 1:3-9Mark 13:33-37 ‘O that you would tear the heavens open and come down’ Is 63 Our Advent journey begins on a rousing note with a request so direct and graphic that it can almost shock us. This is no polite request to a God who operates somewhere …
Our King is calling…
I’ve come to a rather slow realisation of the importance of the concept of Kingship in my own faith and the life of the Church. Some Old Testament study at school began to broaden my horizons. For the first time at A level I was being introduced to the role that archaeology plays in understanding …
The Handiwork of God’s Grace
‘We are gathered together to celebrate the dedication of a house of prayer. This is our house of prayer, but we too are a house of God. If we are a house of God, its construction goes on in time so that it may be dedicated at the end of time. The house, in its …