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| St John the Baptist by Leonardo da Vinci |
Matthew 3:1-12
Gospel Reading for the Second Sunday of Advent
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.” ’
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’
The Uninvited Christ
Thomas Merton
Into this world, this demented inn
in which there is absolutely no room for him at all,
Christ comes uninvited.
But because he cannot be at home in it,
because he is out of place in it,
and yet he must be in it,
His place is with the others for whom
there is no room.
His place is with those who do not belong,
who are rejected by power, because
they are regarded as weak,
those who are discredited,
who are denied status of persons,
who are tortured, bombed and exterminated.
With those for whom there is no room,
Christ is present in this world.
Lectio Divina (“Divine Reading”)
Lectio divina is a form of contemplative praying of the scriptures kept alive within the monastic, particularly the Benedictine tradition. Choose a gospel passage, perhaps the one in this leaflet, then follow the four steps below :-
Lectio (Reading) Read the passage aloud. Listen for a word or phrase that captures your attention. Focus your attention on that word, repeating it. Slowly read the text again. Focus your attention on how the word, phrase or idea speaks to your life this day.
Meditatio (Reflection) What does it mean for you today? How is Christ, the Word, speaking to you about your life through this word or phrase or idea? What is the word saying to you about your life? Ruminate upon it so that you take from it what God wants to give.
Oratio (Response) Reflecting on the Word of God, leave thinking aside and simply let your heart speak to God.
Contemplatio (Rest) Let go of all this and simply rest in the Word of God. Listen at the deepest level of your being to God who speaks within you with a still small voice.
(Notes from John Francis Friendship and the London Centre for Spiritual Direction)
Advent and Christmas Services at St Stephen Walbrook
Carols by Candlelight & Blessing of the Crib
Wednesday 18th December at 6.00pm
Join us to sing a selection of your favourite Christmas Carols at our Annual Parish Carol service, with music from our Choral Scholars and Community Choir. Followed by mulled wine & mince pies.
Midnight Mass Sung by the St Stephen Voices
Tuesday 24th December at 11.30pm
Join us to celebrate the birth of Christ. Music sung by The St Stephen Voices. Followed by refreshments.
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