Wednesday 19 December

Reveal among us the light of your presence, that we may behold your power and glory.

Antiphon
O Radix Jesse

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths,
to you the nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.
(cf Isaiah 11.10, 45.14, 52.15; Romans 15.12)

Readings (Click the links to see the readings)

Judges 13.2-7, 24-25 | Ps 71.17-21 | Luke 1.5-25

Carol
Thomas Merton

Flocks feed by darkness with a noise of whispers,
In the dry grass of pastures,
And lull the solemn night with their weak bells.

The little towns upon the rocky hills
Look down as meek as children:
Because they have seen come this holy time.

God's glory, now, is kindled gentler than low candlelight
Under the rafters of a barn:
Eternal Peace is sleeping in the hay,
And Wisdom's born in secret in a straw-roofed stable.

And O! Make holy music in the stars, you happy angels.
You shepherds, gather on the hill.
Look up, you timid flocks, where the three kings
Are coming through the wintry trees;

While we unnumbered children of the wicked centuries
Come after with our penances and prayers,
And lay them down in the sweet-smelling hay
Beside the wise men's golden jars.

Be-Attitude: Blessed are the meek who practise self-restraint and self-control.

Prayer

Eternal God,
as Mary waited for the birth of your Son,
so we wait for his coming in glory;
bring us through the birth pangs of this present age
to see, with her, our great salvation
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Justice, mercy and peace

Homelessness Australia is the national peak body working to prevent and respond to homelessness in Australia.

"God's glory, now, is kindled gentler than low candlelight under the rafters of a barn."

Paul Gauguin. Christmas night. 1894, Pont-Aven, France. Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). In dulci jubilo, Introduced by actor Simon Russell Beale and performed by The Sixteen, conducted by Harry Christophers.