Day Six — Friday, 30 December 2022
those who do the will of God live for ever.
Simeon en Anna, de presentatie in de tempel, by Jan van t’Hoff (Netherlands, 1959-)
In the drab waiting-room
the failed travellers, resigned, sleep
on the hard benches, inured
to postponement and foul coffee.
Hope has given up on them.
There are also the impatient,
pacing platforms, and the driven,
purple with frustration, abusing
their mobiles, for the hardest part
of waiting is the not doing.
Truly to wait is pure dependence.
But waiting too long the heart
grows sclerotic. Will it still
be fit to leap when the time comes?
Prayer is waiting with desire.
Two aged lives incarnate
century on century
of waiting for God, their waiting-room
his temple, waiting on his presence,
marking time by practicing
the cycle of the sacrifices,
ferial and festival,
circling onward, spiralling
towards a centre out ahead,
seasons of revolving hope.
Holding out for God who cannot
be given up for dead, holding
him to his promises—not now,
not just yet, but soon, surely,
eyes will see what hearts await.
1 John 2.12-17
I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven on account of his name.
I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young people,
because you have conquered the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young people,
because you are strong
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live for ever.
Psalm 96.7-9
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in holy splendour;
tremble before him, all the earth.
Luke 2.36-40
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
We pray you, Lord, to purify our hearts that they may be worthy to become your dwelling place. Let us never fail to find room for you, but come and abide in us that we also may abide in you, who as at this time was born into the world for us, and lives and reigns, King of kings and Lord of lords, now and for evermore.
—William Temple.
Two Ukrainian Christmas Carols, performed by Kyiv Chamber Choir with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine.
Святі сиділи, каміння били | Saints sat, in stone.
Святі сиділи, каміння били,
Славен єси Тройце, Боже наш, на небеси.
Каміння били, церкву робили,
Славен єси Тройце, Боже наш, на небеси.
З трьома дверями, з трьома вікнами,
Славен єси Тройце, Боже наш, на небеси.
З трьома верхами,з трьома дверями,
Славен єси Тройце, Боже наш, на небеси.
Saints sat, in stone,
Glory be to the Trinity, our God, in heaven.
Stones were broken, a church was built,
Glory be to the Trinity, our God, in heaven.
With three doors, with three windows,
Glory be to the Trinity, our God, in heaven.
With three tops, with three doors,
Glory be to the Trinity, our God, in heaven.
Спи, Ісусе, спи. | Sleep, Jesus, sleep.
Спи, Ісусе, спи,
Очка зажмури,
Я Tебе му колисати,
Пісеньками присипляти,
Спи, Ісусе, спи, маленький,
Спи, серденько, спи.
Спи, Лелійко, спи,
Голову склони
Та на рученьки Марії,
Бач Вона Тебе леліє,
Спи Ісусе, спи маленький,
Спи, Лелійко, спи.
Спи, Ісусе, спи,
А серце втвори,
Най при Ньому спочиваю
Ту на землі і там в раю,
Спи, Ісусе, спи, маленький,
Спи, серденько, спи.
Sleep, Jesus, sleep,
Close your eyes,
I will rock you,
Put you to sleep with songs,
Sleep, Jesus, sleep, little one,
Sleep, dear, sleep.
Sleep, Leliyka, sleep,
Bend your head
But on Mary's little hands,
See, she caresses You,
Sleep Jesus, sleep little one,
Sleep, Leliyka, sleep.
Sleep, Jesus, sleep,
And make up your heart,
May I rest with Him
Here on earth and there in paradise,
Sleep, Jesus, sleep, little one,
Sleep, dear, sleep
May the Lord, who has called out of darkness into his marvellous light, bless us and fill us with peace. Amen.