What shall we name it?

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name...

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The world we do not (yet) see

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,    and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.    Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me,    and holy is his name. His mercy...

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Light has come into the world

 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. … And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their...

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Preparation and expectation

Ember days Today, Wednesday, December 16th, is the first “Ember” Day of this new Christian year. Ember days are days when Christians are called to additional prayer and fasting. These days are celebrated four times a year, in Advent, Lent, Pentecost and Holy Cross Day. In each season the Wednesday,...

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Jesus’ Table

When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of...

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Of Advent, Zoom bombing and the new Jerusalem

  Luke 21.20-28 20 ‘When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it; 22 for these are days of...

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Mary, Waiting: Two Poems

Advent Litany Lord Jesus, come soon! I am stretched to breaking with waiting for you, Beyond repair, Though not beyond grace.   Oh, come quickly! For though I know neither the day nor the hour, Still, I know you will come; That there will be a time, outside of time,...

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Of God and Emperor

Today’s Gospel passage is Luke 20:19-26, in which the scribes and chief priest try to trap Jesus with a trick question: “Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with...

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Longing

John 1:35-42 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!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said...

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The flowering of the rod

Today’s story from Numbers brings us a miracle: the flowering of the rod. Moses and the Hebrew people are in the wilderness, apparently indefinitely, having fled their bondage in Egypt, but not yet having come to the Promised Land. The Hebrews are becoming antsy with their long journey, and have...

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