Advent 2017

16th December

Luke 1:56

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.

Matthew 1:18-19

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

"Joseph the carpenter.

Joseph, a common man caught up in cosmic affairs;

Joseph, known to his neighbours, yet so unassuming that he sinks swiftly from Biblical sight;

Joseph, more mute in the Gospels than Zechariah, since the words of the latter are recorded in talk and in song, but of the former there are no words remembered, none;

Joseph, husband of Mary, adoptive father of Jesus - Joseph is just a man.

Because the Evangelists say so little about him, each word must bear enormous importance: Joseph is an 'upright' man. For raising his child, Papa Joseph shall be the very model of a righteous man - not so much in what he says as in what he does.

'He resolved to divorce her quietly.' He will make no accusation at all, although he has every right to do so. Joseph resolves to keep the Law, yes, but with such lenience that Mary's life will not be destroyed in the process.

What then is righteousness? These two things: the obedience we owe to God and the mercy God grants us to grant to others. It looks first to god, second to the other, never to the self - yet the self experiences a most holy peace in these relationships.

Come Lord Jesus: Come, live in my heart as you lived in the house of Joseph. I yearn to be as righteous as he. O Lord, become the source of righteousness in me. Amen."

W. Wangerin Jnr,  Preparing for Jesus

With grateful thanks to Gabriel Olude, International Photographer, for the Muses.

TFL!

Bernie x

Advent 2017

14th December

Luke 1:57-63

The Birth of John the Baptist

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.

"The Lord has shown great mercy to you! Literally, the word is: 'The Lord MAGNIFIED his mercy with you.' It's the same word Mary used in her hymn of praise.

And this great mercy shown to you, Elizabeth, is exactly what Mary meant when she sang: 'His mercy is on those who fear him.'   You fear him. You are one of low degree whom God your Saviour has exalted. You are the hungry whom he will fill with good things.

And this is how "mercy" always comes to us, isn't it? - like a baby delivered in old age: the miracle we thought we had outlived, the gift we thought impossible to receive. It always astonishes us.

And this is how "mercy" comes - like a baby: something which, through us, God gives to us; something completely new and whole on its own; the gift we ourselves must serve and nourish; the gift, nevertheless, that grows up and loves us and finally carries us when we tremble in our dotage.

And this is what "mercy" is: that which fulfils our heart's desire, that gives purpose to our lives, that which also allows us not only to be loved, but also to love completely.

So God grants you this child, and that is his mercy.

Then let no one call the gift by some earthly name. Though it is now I who much nourish the gift...let no worldly voice argue that I am the source, that I earned or deserved it.

The gift that developed within me was not passed down from my parentage to me, not from my race, my culture, my education, prestige or position. Nor could it arise from my own self, my nature or my doing.

This great mercy must receive the name God gives to it: John. Johanan: The Lord has been gracious.

Elizabeth, you bore the son

Who went before the holy one;

But it was you who went before the mother of our Lord.

'Twas you your cousin watched to see

How she might bear her own baby;

So I watch you, the one who bore

The mercy of the Lord.

Amen."

W. Wangerin Jnr,  Preparing for Jesus

TFL!

Bernie x

Advent 2017

13th December

Luke 1:46-49

Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat

And Mary said,

"My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

"Fill them, O Jesus!

Fill our hearts with your love.

Fill our songs with your Spirit.

Let nothing we sing be empty or noxious or foolish or false.

For if you will be the cause of our carols, then we will have joined the heavenly choirs.

We, with Mary, may be transported, and joy will shed joy on everyone. Amen. "

W. Wangerin Jnr,  Preparing for Jesus

With grateful thanks to Gabriel Olude, International Photographer, for the Muse.

TFL!

Bernie x

Advent 2017

12th December

Luke 1:41-45

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!”



"Here is the essence of response to God, to trust His word to be true and live in light of that belief. To be blessed is to be happy because God has touched one's life. Such divine benefit rains down on those who trust Him and His promises."
W. Wangerin Jnr, Preparing for Jesus

With grateful thanks to Gabriel Olude, International Photographer, for the Muse.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2017

11th December

Luke 1:39-41
Mary Visits Elizabeth

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

"Who am I?" she cries with a loud voice. "Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"

And so it begins. Now more than one is aware of the Advent stirring in the world: there are two who know and each confirms the glad anticipation of the other. Two is a communion. Two is necessary. Two is a perfect circle: one to speak of it, one to hear. The word is real. Christ is coming!
W.Wangerin Jnr, Preparing for Jesus
TFL!
Bernie x

Journal Your Christmas 2017

Day 1!
I want to try to combine more of the written word with a piece of art to illustrate that - if possible!
2017 has been a year of such great change but my faith is stronger than ever and I have learned so much and from quite unexpected sources!

Despite certain things remaining unsatisfactory and quite distressing, I find myself heading into Advent with more positivity and joy than in previous (recent) years.
TFL!
Bernie x

Sarah

Sarah

I tried something different today! Having prayed for inspiration, I opened my Bible at a random page. It fell to the Book of Tobit - not a Book I was overly familiar with! The 'story' within the Book is quite compelling!

Sarah, the woman in my piece, marries Tobit's son, Tobias. Sarah has been married 7 times before but was possessed by a demon, which killed each man who tried to get near her on their wedding nights.

When Sarah was told she was to marry Tobias, she must have been so fearful in case the same happened again - the events had had public as well as private implications for the family.

My piece is my imagining how Sarah must have felt through those times of grief, shame and sadness; she must have felt demorialised and perhaps resentful, wondering how and where this would all end. Yet there is a small glimmer of anxious hope when she sees Tobias arrive...
TFL!
Bernie x