St Philip's Anglican Church, O'Connor: Advent 2015 : 14 December

Monday 14 December

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

Readings (Click the links to see the readings)

Numbers 4.2.2-7, 15-17 | Ps 25.4-10 | Matthew 21.23-27.

"…a sceptre shall rise out of Israel" (Numbers 24.17)
The Sceptre with the Cross, symbol of the authority of the Crown of the United Kingdom.

The chief priests and the elders asked Jesus, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" (Matthew 21.23).

Part of Psalm 25, sung by about 300 people during a psalm zangavond ('singing evening') on April 19, 2013 in the Martini Church in Bolsward on 19 April 2013. Organist André Nieuwkoop. This is part of a project to introduce higher, treble, parts into traditional Dutch psalm singing.

Stanzas of Ps. 25 in traditional Dutch rhyme (slightly different from the words sung here).	Equivalent verses from the NRSV (not an exact translation).
3. Gedenk Heer! aan Uw goedheden, Stel U voor ogen voortaan Uw grote barmhartigheden Die Gij voormaals hebt gedaan; Doch vergeet de zonden zwaar, Mijner jonkheid zeer lichtvaardig; Gedenk mijns goed'lijk eenpaar; Tot mijn hulpe zijt volvaardig.	6. Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sake, O Lord!
6. Wie is hij, die altijd spoedig Onzen God vreest bovenal? Die werd geleerd overvloedig Van den weg, dien hij gaan zal. Die zal bezitten zijn goed, Met stilheid ende met vrede; Zijn zaad zal in overvloed Het land ook bezitten mede.	12. Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose. 13. They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.

Corrupt Authority
by Sylvester R. Cade

Who gave you the authority?
Even this superiority
To overrule a helpless minority
How can you lead
When you're not able to follow
Such simple commands so easy to swallow
We are not recipients of empty promises and words
Hastily spoken nouns and verbs
Who gave you this position
You should no longer have any vision You were created in splendor
But were sidetracked with pride
God found hidden agendas inside
As you portrayed a Jekyll and Hyde
You dictate who can vote
Who can elect, who is worthy of respect
Dictating who shall praise you and raise you up high
Your authority is corrupt like a Babylonian empire
And this is the reason you should be sentenced to hell fire.

[But God is forgiving and merciful. – ed.]

—Very Thought Provoking Poems and Poetry, vol 2. Houston: Kingdom World, 2007.

Prayer

God of transformation, be present in our struggles and our search for integrity. Every person, every family, every neighbourhood, every community and every nation relies on your help to become who we truly are as members of one global family. Send your Spirit to move among us afresh and give us a new vision of who we are and what we can become, in the likeness of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. (ABM)

May the Lord, when he comes, find us watching and waiting. Amen.