Reflection on the Word in our Worship
Meditation on the Mystery of the Timeless entering Time.
Wonder! God is come among humanity; he who cannot be contained is contained in a womb; the timeless enters time, and great mystery: his conception is without seed, his emptying past telling! So great is this mystery! For God empties himself, takes flesh and is fashioned as a creature, when the angel tells the pure Virgin of her conception: “Rejoice, you who are full of grace; the Lord who has great mercy is with you!”
-John the Monk, in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: John 1-10
The Collect for Advent 4
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and as we are sorely hindered by our sins from running the race that is set before us, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
The Word:
(Click on the links below to read Sunday's passages)
First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-17
Psalm 132 (posted below the Playlist)
Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38
A downloadable Home Liturgy with Spiritual Communion follows the Psalm
(click below to listen to Incarnation's Advent Playlist)
Psalm 132
1 Lord, remember David, *
and all his tribulations,
2 How he swore unto the Lord, *
and vowed a vow unto the Almighty God of Jacob:
3 “I will not come within the tabernacle of my house, *
nor climb up into my bed,
4 I will not allow my eyes to sleep, nor my eyelids to slumber, *
neither the temples of my head to take any rest,
5 Until I find a place for the temple of the Lord, *
a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.”
6 Lo, we heard of the ark at Ephrathah *
and found it in the wood.
7 We will go into his tabernacle, *
and fall low on our knees before his footstool.
8 Arise, O Lord, into your resting-place, *
you and the ark of your strength.
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, *
and let your saints sing with joy.
10 For your servant David’s sake, *
turn not away the presence of your Anointed.
11 The Lord has made a faithful oath unto David, *
and he shall not shrink from it:
12 “Of the fruit of your body *
shall I set upon your throne.
13 If your children will keep my covenant, and my testimonies that I shall teach them, *
their children also shall sit upon your throne for evermore.”
14 For the Lord has chosen Zion for himself; *
he has longed for her to be his habitation:
15 “This shall be my rest for ever; *
here will I dwell, for I have a delight therein.
16 I will bless her provisions with increase, *
and will satisfy her poor with bread.
17 I will clothe her priests with salvation, *
and her saints shall rejoice and sing.
18 There shall I make the horn of David flourish; *
I have prepared a lantern for my Anointed.
19 As for his enemies, I shall clothe them with shame; *
but upon his head shall his crown flourish.”
(from the New Coverdale Psalter as found in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer)