Reflections from Turvey Abbey
Isaiah 9:1-7Luke 2:1-14 The people that walked in darknesshas seen a great light;on those who live in a land of deep shadowa light has shone.You have made their gladness greater,you have made their joy increase;they rejoice in your presenceas men rejoice at harvest time,as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils. The first …
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CHRISTMAS EVE 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a,16Luke 1:67-79 On this last day of Advent the Church lays before us a pivotal text in the Old Testament, 2 Sam 7. Walter Brueggemann describes it as ‘the taproot of the Messianic idea in Israel’. After successfully bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and putting it …
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Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24Luke 1:57-66 Read through the Scripture texts, notice the words and phrases which strike you. ‘And the Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter his Temple; and the angel of the covenant who you are longing for, yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.’ What do you most long for as …
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WEEK FOURTHURDAY 1 Samuel 1:24-28Luke 1:46-56 Today the Church lays side by side the story of Hannah bringing her precious child Samuel to the Temple, with Mary singing her Magnificat. 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 …
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WEEK FOUR WEDNESDAY Song of Songs 2:8-14Luke 1:39-45 An air of joy and urgency 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 …
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WEEK FOURTUESDAY Isaiah 7:10-14Luke 1: 26-38 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 …
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FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENTMONDAY Judges 13:2-7. 24-25Luke 1:5-25 During this week the Liturgy of the Word lays before us the stories in our history that tell of the promise of a child to childless couples. We know this motif so well. A God-fearing couple long for a child, they pray and what had seemed impossible, …
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FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT Isaiah 7:10-14Matthew 1:18-24 Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?Who shall stand in his holy place?The man with clean hands and pure heart,who desires not worthless things. Today the Psalmist paints for us the portrait of the archetypal righteous person. The ‘clean hands and pure hearts’ are metaphors for actions …
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17th DecemberO Sapientia Gen 49:2, 8-10Mat 1:1-17 O Wisdom, O holy Word of God,you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care.Come and show your peoplethe way to salvation. Today the Church silently selects her top liturgical gear. In the seven days before Christmas every collect, every antiphon and every piece of scripture has …
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THIRD WEEK OF ADVENTFRIDAYIsaiah 53:1-3. 6-8John 5:33-36 Read through the Scriptures texts. Notice the words and phrases which strike you. ‘Have a care for justice, act with integrity, for soon my salvation will come and my integrity be manifest’ (Isaiah 53) What might salvation mean in your life today?