1 Samuel 1:24-28 I don’t think I could imagine a more poignant scene if I tried than that of Hannah leaving her child Samuel in the Temple at Shiloh. Everything about the story raises a huge question. Hannah had longed for a child and saw the birth of Samuel as the greatest blessing. And yet, …
Monthly Archives: December 2021
21st Dec
Song of Songs 2:8-14Luke 1:39-45 There’s an air of joy and urgency that weaves through the readings and prayers of our liturgy today. The first reading today comes from the Song of Songs. It’s not used very often in the lectionary, though is an option for Weddings and Religious Professions. The writer imagines their Beloved …
20th Dec
Isaiah 7:1014 As Christmas draws closers our readings focus on the key figures in God’s plan for humanity. The text from Isaiah 7 in the first reading provides the background to Gospel story of the Annunciation. Isaiah’s words speak directly to the political situation of 736 BC. In the face of the growing power of …
Advent, Sunday 4
Micah 5:1-4Luke 1:39-45 We’ve become so familiar with the elements of the Christmas story that they can lose a little of their impact. We sing ‘O little town of Bethlehem’ perhaps without realizing just how insignificant this little town was. It was a small hilltop town, just 5 miles south of Jerusalem. In today’s first …
18th Dec
Jeremiah 23:5-8 Matthew 1:18-24 The theme of kingship looms large in the story of our salvation. The transition from the people of Israel living as 12 tribes to their anointing of a king involved twists and turns. They were influenced by what they saw around them and began to long for a king: “We want …
17th Dec
The Church now silently selects its top liturgical gear as we move towards Christmas Eve. At Vespers we will sing the first of the Great O Antiphons, O Sapientia. At Mass the prayers and readings are tightly focused. Today our text is from Genesis 49. Jacob in his old age asks his twelve sons to …
Thursday, Advent, Week Three
Today’s reading from Isaiah 54 is also used in the Liturgy of the Word at the Easter vigil. In the light of the Paschal candle this reading speaks to the promise of rescue from death and the hope of new life. In our Advent liturgy we can hear it as a text of eager longing …
Wednesday, Advent, Week Three
Isaiah 45:6c-8,18 21b-25Luke 7:18b-23 We’re back to the Prophet Isaiah for our first reading today. Our anticipation of the coming of the Messiah gains momentum and Isaiah contrasts God’s powers with those of the popular Babylonian gods: Apart from me all is nothing.I am the Lord, unrivalled,I form the light and create the dark.I make …
Tuesday, Advent, Week Three
Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 The third week of Advent continues to offer us challenging texts, texts that don’t yield their meaning on first reading. Today our text comes from the prophet Zephaniah. Zephaniah is called, as all prophets are, to see the world as God sees it. There is a crisis looming for the people in …
Monday, Advent, Week Three
Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17 Today’s first reading is a rather unfamiliar text from the Book of Numbers. We hear one of the oracles of the prophet Balaam. How fair are your tents, O Jacob!How fair your dwelling, Israel!Like valleys that stretch afar,like gardens by the banks of a river,like aloes planted by the Lord,like cedars beside …