Readings (Click the links to see the readings)

Malachi 4 | Ps 80.14-19 | Matthew 17.10-13

That Holy Thing
George MacDonald

They all were looking for a king
To slay their foes and lift them high;
Thou cam'st, a little baby thing
That made a woman cry.

O Son of Man, to right my lot
Naught but Thy presence can avail;
Yet on the road Thy wheels are not,
Nor on the sea Thy sail!

My how or when Thou wilt not heed,
But come down Thine own secret stair,
That Thou may'st answer all my need—
Yea, every bygone prayer.

"But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings." (Malachi 4.2)

Edvard Munch. The Sun. 1916. Oslo University, Norway.

Prayer

Blessèd are you, Sovereign God, our light and our salvation,
to you be glory and praise for ever!
In the beginning you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
To dispel the darkness of our night,
you sent forth your Son, the first-born of all creation.
He is our Christ, the light of the world,
and him we acclaim, as all creation sings to you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessèd be God for ever!
— Celebrating common prayer.

Sometimes a light surprises
the child of God who sings;
it is the Lord who rises
with healing in His wings:
when comforts are declining,
he grants the soul again
a season of clear shining,
to cheer it after rain.

'it can bring with it nothing
but God will bear us through;
who gives the lilies clothing,
will clothe his people too:
beneath the spreading heavens
no creature but is fed;
and he, who feeds the ravens,
Will give his children bread.'

In holy contemplation
we joyfully pursue
the theme of God's salvation,
and find it ever new;
set free from present sorrow,
we cheerfully can say:
'Now let the unknown morrow
bring with it what it may:

Though vine nor fig tree neither
their looked-for fruit should bear;
though all the fields should wither,
nor flocks nor herds be there,
yet, God the same abiding,
his praise shall tune my voice;
for while in him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.