ADVENT HYMNS MONDAY 7 DECEMBER READINGS 35 REFLECTION PART II – “LO! HE COMES LIVE Psalm 85:7-end the Luke 5:17-26 WITH CLOUDS DESCENDING”, WORD “ ’m waiting.” The BY CHARLES WESLEY TUESDAY Iwords are often said SUSTAINING YOU 8 DECEMBER aroline Hodgson continues her series about the hymns of Advent, impatiently, perhaps by THROUGH THE WEEK :1-11 a parent to a naughty C their writers and composers. Psalm 96:1. 10-end Matthew 18:12-14 child, or even a boss to an In the late nineteenth century a certain Revd James King surveyed employee who’s stepped fifty-two hymnals from the member churches of the Anglican Edited by WEDNESDAY out of line. “I’m waiting. Communion and found that fifty-one of them included what he termed Caroline Hodgson 9 DECEMBER Explain yourself!” Isaiah 40:25-end the “Great Four Anglican Hymns”. Of these four, two were penned by and Psalm 103:8-13 In Advent’s waiting season, this week’s readings turn that scenario Charles Wesley – “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Lo! He Comes Heather Smith Matthew 11:28-end on its head. Not a figure of authority demanding an explanation, with Clouds Descending”. Revd King published his findings in 1885 in but God, the ultimate authority, offering the explanation to Anglican Hymnology: an account of the hymns of the highest merit THURSDAY according to the verdict of the Anglican Church. 10 DECEMBER impatient humans. Through Isaiah, God reminds us who created the :13-20 earth and stars, who made us, who strengthens the weak and will Charles Wesley (1707-1788), sometimes known as the “sweet singer of Psalm 145:1. 8-13 redeem us, and asks only love. And Jesus has to explain his identity Matthew 11:11-15 Methodism”, wrote a staggering six thousand or more hymns. “Lo! He and mission, sometimes to those who have earthly authority. Comes” is based on the and is rich with imagery FRIDAY Naughty children do feature (Friday) but only as an illustration of of the day of judgement. Wesley’s poetry takes us on an emotional 11 DECEMBER those who don’t join in, don’t accept God’s explanation. Fortunately, rollercoaster. Singing verse one we soar heavenwards with Wesley’s Isaiah 48:17-19 extravagant vision of the triumphant second coming, as though to Psalm 1 God is like a caring father (see Wednesday’s psalm), while Tuesday’s Matthew 11:16-19 parable reassures us that even if we go astray God will seek us out meet the descending Messiah, before we plumb the depths in verse and save us, as indeed Jesus did. two (“deeply wailing”), with his depiction of ’s bleakest SATURDAY moment. The language of verse three (“dazzling… exultation… 12 DECEMBER In Advent especially, we’re urged to wait patiently for the Lord, not rapture… glorious scars!”) lifts us up again, while verse four brings Ecclesiasticus only as a baby born at Christmas, but as a loving Saviour who will 48:1-4. 9-11 everything together in a spine-tingling finale –“Yea, Amen, let all come again in glory. or 2 Kings 2:9-12 adore thee”. Psalm 80:1-4. 18-19 Matthew 17:10-13 It’s classic Wesley – except that Wesley didn’t originally write it. A version of the hymn was first penned in 1750 by his friend John Merciful God, help us be patient with others Cennick. If anything, Cennick’s version is darker: “Lo! He cometh, as you are with us. countless trumpets, Blow before His bloody sign!... Welcome, Make us also patient with ourselves, welcome bleeding Lamb!” Nevertheless, Wesley’s version is the one admitting our mistakes but learning from them. Charles Wesley PRAYER Grant us a glimpse of your glory, which has endured to this day, doubtless due to his ability to conjure until we see its full radiance when our Saviour returns. up awesome images with visual immediacy. Second week of Advent 01420 88222 www.rpbooks.co.uk [email protected] @redemptorist 88222 www.rpbooks.co.uk 01420 “Lo! He Comes” is most commonly sung to the tune Helmsley, first Monday 7 December to Saturday 12 December published in 1763. It is said that Queen Victoria was displeased after an WEEK FSC 2020 organist played a different tune at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, redemp orist Live the Word. Written by Caroline Hodgson and Heather Cooke. Copyright © logo publications Redemptorist Publications, Chawton, Hampshire GU34 3HQ, A registered charity limited by guarantee. Registered in England 03261721. www.rpbooks.co.uk. and requested only Helmsley in future. ADVENT HYMNS MONDAY 14 DECEMBER READINGS Numbers 24:2-7. PART III – “HILLS OF THE LIVE 15-17 REFLECTION the Psalm 25:3-8 NORTH, REJOICE”, BY WORD Matthew 21:23-27 any people who’ve CHARLES EDWARD OAKLEY Mnever read it, SUSTAINING YOU TUESDAY aroline Hodgson continues her series about the hymns of Advent, or seen it performed, THROUGH THE WEEK 15 DECEMBER have heard of Waiting their writers and composers. Zephaniah 3:1-2. C for Godot. Whether 9-13 This hymn is sometimes called the missionary carol, although its Psalm 34:1-6. 21-22 interpreted as a Christian author, Charles Edward Oakley, doesn’t appear to have travelled Edited by Matthew 21:28-32 or anti-Christian allegory, very much in his short life. Born in 1832 and educated at Oxford, Caroline Hodgson Samuel Beckett’s most WEDNESDAY he took Holy Orders in 1855 before becoming Rector of Wickwar in and famous work has been 16 DECEMBER Gloucestershire and later Rector of St Paul’s in Covent Garden. Heather Smith :6b-8. 18. called the play in which Axel Werner and Michael Rothmann in Waiting for Godot, directed by George Tabori, Berliner Ensemble, Berlin. He died in 1865. 21b-end nothing happens, twice. 360b / Shutterstock.com Psalm 85:7-end But as we draw nearer to Different versions of the words are found in different hymn books, but Luke 7:18b-23 Christmas, this week’s readings remind us that in God’s storyline Oakley’s original in particular takes us on a tour of faraway places. As we sing we travel to all four points of the compass. The second verse THURSDAY something does happen, twice. And will happen again. 17 DECEMBER summons the “Isles of the southern seas”; the third verse commands In both creation and the incarnation God has already arrived. God Genesis 49:2. 8-10 the “Lands of the East” to awake; the fourth is addressed to the is with us, the meaning of “Emmanuel”, as Friday’s angel reveals Psalm 72:1-5. 18-19 “Shores of the utmost West”, while last verse brings them all together: Matthew 1:1-17 to Joseph. Godot’s character in the play remains mysterious. But and prophets this week show us God’s character: righteous Shout, while ye journey home; FRIDAY judge, merciful, forgiving; almighty creator, yet caring for those who Songs be in every mouth. 18 DECEMBER Lo, from the North we come, Jeremiah 23:5-8 are poor or troubled, a beacon of hope and peace. The promised Psalm 72:1-2. Saviour will arrive, legally descended from (Thursday) yet From East and West and South. 12-13. 18-end born of God’s Spirit, for Jesus embodies God’s healing, helping City of God, the bond are free, Matthew 1:18-24 nature, as he reminds the Baptist’s messengers on Wednesday. We come to live and reign in Thee!

SATURDAY Advent finds us waiting for God, waiting to celebrate the birth of The theme of nature and the elements runs throughout and as we sing 19 DECEMBER Jesus, and looking for his coming again in glory. In Beckett’s play, we can almost feel the “warring breeze” and hear the “restless waves” Judges 13:2-7. Godot never turns up. In Jesus, God did, does, and will. Come, that are referred to in verse two. 24-end Lord Jesus! Psalm 71:3-8 The words and the tune to which they are generally set may be Luke 1:5-25 inextricably linked as far as we’re concerned, but Oakley never heard Glorious God, you created us, care for us, and understand us better than we know ourselves. it sung this way, as he died ten years before the birth of the composer, The mountains of Glencoe Help us to understand and care for all your children. Martin Shaw (1875-1958). The version that Oakley heard was named This we pray in the name of him who was, and is, Darwall, after the clergyman and hymnodist John Darwall (1731-1789). Third week of Advent PRAYER and is to come, [email protected] @redemptorist 88222 www.rpbooks.co.uk 01420 Shaw named his composition Little Cornard, after the Suffolk village Monday 14 December to Jesus Christ, our Lord. Saturday 19 December

where he spent his honeymoon. Each line starts restrained, as though WEEK FSC 2020 the words are lurking in the “coral caves” of the “southern seas”, but by redemp orist Live the Word. Written by Caroline Hodgson and Heather Cooke. Copyright © logo publications Redemptorist Publications, Chawton, Hampshire GU34 3HQ, A registered charity limited by guarantee. Registered in England 03261721. www.rpbooks.co.uk. the end of each verse they leap out with a triumphant, joyful flourish. MON 21 DECEMBER ADVENT HYMNS Zephaniah 3:14-18 Psalm 33:1-4. 11-12. 20-end READINGS Luke 1:39-45 PART IV – “O COME, O LIVE REFLECTION the TUE 22 DECEMBER COME, EMMANUEL”, BY WORD 1 Samuel 1:24-end “ aiting room this way.” JOHN MASON NEALE Psalm 113 WWe’ve all seen sign like this SUSTAINING YOU Luke 1:46-56 at railway stations or hospitals. aroline Hodgson concludes her series about the hymns of Advent, THROUGH THE WEEK Sometimes, however, we don’t WED 23 DECEMBER C their writers and composers. Malachi 3:1-4; 4:5-end need a specific place to wait. Psalm 25:3-9 John Mason Neale was born in London in 1818, and named after Throughout Advent we’ve been Edited by Luke 1:57-66 the Puritan cleric and hymn writer John Mason (1645-1694), from waiting, perhaps longingly, as in Monday’s psalm. Stories Caroline Hodgson whom his mother was descended. THU 24 DECEMBER about babies this week (Jesus, John the Baptist, Samuel) and Heather Smith 2 Samuel 7:1-5. 8-11. 16 underline the importance of waiting and preparing – there’s Despite his Puritan heritage, Mason Neale was strongly high church Psalm 89:2. 19-27 so much to be done before any baby arrives! But the story in his sympathies. He translated the Eastern liturgies into English Acts 13:16-26 and wrote a mystical and devotional commentary on the psalms. Luke 1:67-79 of Jesus makes clear that we can wait for him, and find him, anywhere. Traditional Christmas readings remind us that he However, it is as a hymn writer and translator that he is best FRI 25 DECEMBER wasn’t born in a palace, or even in the inn, for there was no known. Another of his well-loved carols is “Good King Wenceslas”, Christmas Day room there. The birth of the Son of David illustrates something which he set to the melody of a thirteenth-century spring carol Set I that David himself learns in Thursday’s reading Tempus adest floridum (“The time is near for flowering”). The 1875 :2-7 edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern included no fewer than fifty- Psalm 96 for the morning of Christmas Eve – that buildings are not, in Titus 2:11-14 themselves, important. eight of his translated hymns. Luke 2:1-14 [15-20] Set II Of course, many of us find comfort in our local church, or are The origins of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” stretch right back :6-end moved by the grandeur of a cathedral. But Christmas reminds into Christianity’s roots, to the marvellous and mysterious prophecy Psalm 97 us that God came among us, as a human (“Son of Man” as in :14: “Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear Titus 3:4-7 Stephen recognises in Saturday’s reading from Acts) and a son, and shall name him ”. This text, in turn, provides Luke 2:[1-7] 8-20 the basis for the last of the Great O Antiphons (an antiphon being a Set III meets us wherever we are. The only waiting room we need for :7-10 Jesus, Son of God, is room in our hearts. short sentence sung or recited before or after a psalm or canticle), a Psalm 98 series of plainchant antiphons attached to the Magnificat which are Hebrews 1:1-4 [5-12] traditionally sung in Latin at Vespers during the last week of Advent. John 1.1–14 Eternal God, at your Son’s birth the universe sang As we grow up we learn that Advent isn’t all about chocolate as heaven touched earth. SAT 26 DECEMBER calendars and anticipating presents. Indeed, there’s something Stephen, deacon, We join the celebration, decidedly unsettling about it. In this season of penitence, our first martyr and pray for those still waiting to know 2 Chronicles 24:20-22 childish excitement is tempered by a trembling anticipation of

PRAYER the joy of your presence. Christ’s coming again – and this carol perfectly encapsulates it. John Mason Neale or Acts 7:51-end Open their hearts, and ours, Psalm 119:161-168 to your saving love, in Jesus’ name. There’s something about the dark tune which suggests that we’re Fourth week Acts 7:51-end 01420 88222 www.rpbooks.co.uk [email protected] @redemptorist 88222 www.rpbooks.co.uk 01420 fearful of what we’re invoking as we sing. The words slide into one of Advent or Galatians 2:16b-20 Christmas Matthew 10:17-22 other in a hasty mumble – are we quite sure we want to see Jesus? WEEK FSC But by the chorus we burst into the jubilant “Rejoice!” there’s no Monday 21 December to redemp orist Live the Word. Written by Caroline Hodgson and Heather Cooke. Copyright © logo Saturday 26 December publications Redemptorist Publications, Chawton, Hampshire GU34 3HQ, A registered charity question – we’re ready to greet Emmanuel – “God with us”. limited by guarantee. Registered in England 03261721. www.rpbooks.co.uk. 2020 BOOKS OF THE

MONDAY READINGS 28 DECEMBER PART XXIX – JOEL – A LIVE The Holy Innocents REFLECTION the Jeremiah 31:15-17 BOOK ABOUT JUDGEMENT WORD Psalm 124 his week’s 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 Treadings mention ichard Greatrex continues our book-by-book series about the Bible. SUSTAINING YOU Matthew 2:13-18 just some of the many R THROUGH THE WEEK biblical witnesses to TUESDAY The is short – three chapters comprised of twelve prophetic Christ. On Tuesday we 29 DECEMBER units – sharp, full of vivid, at times brutally descriptive language; and John, Apostle remember John the significant, being cited by Peter during his explanation of Pentecost in Edited by and Evangelist Apostle and Evangelist Exodus 33:7-11a Acts 2 and by Paul to describe one principal strand of his understanding Caroline Hodgson and our reading Psalm 117 of the Gospel: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be and from John’s Gospel 1 John 1 saved” (Romans 10:13, quoting Joel 2:32). Heather Smith John 21:19b-25 encourages us because Statue of St John in Loreto, Italy the book which carries his name is based upon the testimony of We know nothing about the prophet, even the dates of his activity are WEDNESDAY someone who knew and lived alongside Jesus. contentious, although many scholars suggest a timeframe between 30 DECEMBER 500 and 350 BC, after has fallen. Joel refers to without 1 John 2:12-17 Our other Gospel readings mention more people who met Christ and Psalm 96:7-10 mentioning Israel, but alludes to a trading partnership between Tyre, acted as his witnesses: the shepherds and the prophet Anna, who Luke 2:36-40 Sidon and Philistia, which occurred during this period. However, his were so excited to see the baby Jesus that they immediately told prophetic trigger is clear – a ferocious, devastating swarm of rapacious THURSDAY others all about him, and also John the Baptist, who sought to make locusts overwhelming the land, stripping it bare of all sustenance, 31 DECEMBER people ready for the Messiah. 1 John 2:18-21 crushing its inhabitants through famine and the unbearable weight of Psalm 96:11-end Our Gospel readings also quote from those who acted as witnesses insect numbers. John 1:1-18 to Christ before he was even born: the Old Testament prophets Hosea This cataclysmic incursion of locusts sparks Joel’s core message: and Jeremiah, whose prophecies pointed forward to events such as FRIDAY his announcement of the coming day of the Lord. These voracious the holy family’s flight to and the massacre of the innocents. 1 JANUARY creatures are God’s elemental army, a fearsome manifestation of God’s Naming and The testimonies of these people remind us of something noted in awesome glory. There is a cosmic dimension to their inescapable Circumcision of Jesus the book of Hebrews: we can be encouraged to persevere in the invasion, turning daylight to darkness, blackening the mountain tops; Numbers 6:22-end Christian journey by remembering that we are surrounded by a great but more significantly it precipitates profound changes in the minds and Psalm 8 cloud of witnesses from centuries past. They have shown us the way spirits of a people who had persistently rebelled against their Lord. Joel Galatians 4:4-7 and are cheering us on. reminds them that if they return to God, praying patiently for mercy, Luke 2:15-21 then God will mercifully respond. The penultimate three prophetic units SATURDAY Thank you, Lord, for those who have gone before us offer a sobering counterpoint to this picture of divine graciousness: 2 JANUARY and passed on the Christian message those nations who have opposed God’s commands will be forcefully, 1 John 2:22-28 by word of mouth and in their writings. decisively judged. Psalm 98:1-4 Help us to be assured of the good evidence for our faith, First week of Christmas John 1:19-28 PRAYER In the book’s opening verses Joel instructs his readers that his words so we can keep following you [email protected] @redemptorist 88222 www.rpbooks.co.uk 01420 in a world that so often questions belief. are for all generations, not just his own time. His message of the Monday 28 December 2020 to Saturday 2 January coming day of the Lord reminds us that no one is exempt from the need WEEK FSC 2021 redemp orist Live the Word. Written by Richard Greatrex and Caroline Fletcher. Copyright © logo for repentance and trust in God, which leads to transformation through publications Redemptorist Publications, Chawton, Hampshire GU34 3HQ, A registered charity limited by guarantee. Registered in England 03261721. www.rpbooks.co.uk. divine grace, a message that Paul declares is truly fulfilled in Christ.