Readings (Click the links to see the readings)

Malachi 3:1-14 | Song of Zechariah, Benedictus (APBA, p. 10) | Philippians 1:1-11 | Luke 3:1-6

The Wicked Fairy at the Manger U. A. Fanthorpe

My gift for the child:
No wife, kids, home;
No money sense. Unemployable.
Friends, yes. But the wrong sort —
The workshy, women, wogs,
Petty infringers of the law, persons
With notifiable diseases,
Poll tax collectors, tarts;
The bottom rung.

…His end?
I think we'll make it
Public, prolonged, painful.

Right, said the baby. That was roughly
What we had in mind.
— From Christmas Poems - BC:AD, Peterloo Poets.

Prayer

God of love, Father of all,
the darkness that covered the earth
has given way to the bright dawn of your Word made flesh.
Make us a people of this light.
Keep us faithful to your Word
that we may bring your life to the waiting world.
We ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
—International Committee on English in the Liturgy

Justice, mercy and peace

Today is UN International Anti-Corruption Day, a day to campaign for government transparency, checks on government powers, and uniform enforcement of law.

Windows in the Basilíca de la Sagrada Família, Barcelona.

Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah) from the The Armed Man mass by Karl Jenkins, sung by Rhydian Roberts at Jenkins' birthday concert in Cardiff on 14th November 2009.