Wednesday 5 December

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

Isaiah 25.6-10 | Ps 23 | Matthew 15.29-37

Byzantine mosaic from the Church of the Loaves and Fishes, Tabgha, at the foot of the Mount of the Beatitudes, marking the site where Jesus fed the crowd. Matthew 15.29-37

God Christ's Deity Came Forth
Ephrem of Edessa (4th century)

From God Christ's deity came forth,
his manhood from humanity;
his priesthood from Melchizedek,
his royalty from David's tree:
praised be his Oneness.

He joined with guests at wedding feast,
yet in the wilderness did fast;
he taught within the temple's gates;
his people saw him die at last:
praised be his teaching.

The dissolute he did not scorn,
nor turn from those who were in sin;
he for the righteous did rejoice
but bade the fallen to come in:
praised be his mercy.

He did not disregard the sick;
to simple ones his word was given;
and he descended to the earth
and, his work done, went up to heaven:
praised be his coming.

Who then, my Lord, compares to you?
The Watcher slept, the Great was small,
the Pure baptized, the Life who died,
the King abased to honor all:
praised be your glory.
— St. Ephraim the Syrian, Hymns on the Faith, translated by John Howard Rhys, adapted and altered by F Bland Tucker, for the (Episcopal) Hymnbook 1982.

Prayer

Come, Lord God, change us and we shall be changed.
Come, increase our awareness of your presence.
Come, strengthen our love for you.
Come, fill our hearts with holiness.
Come, awaken us to be ready and watchful for your coming.
Come, Lord God, change us and we shall be changed.
—David Adam. Glimpses of Glory, SPCK, 2000.

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