Advent Reflections

                            Isaiah 4:2-6   Psalm 122   Matthew 8:5-13 Advent is upon us.  It’s time to bring

Jeremiah 33:14-16    Psalm 25:1-9     1 Thessalonians 3:9-13     Luke 21: 25-36 As I write this in August, our televisions are still bombarding us with visual clips

National Gallery of Art. Leaf from a Choir Book (Antiphonary) 1450 1 Samuel 1: 19-28 Psalm 122 Luke 1:46-56 1 Samuel 1 and Luke 1 both speak about the praise

Psalm 33: 1-5, 20-22 Song of Songs 2: 8-14 Luke 1: 39-45 These readings are about praise and rejoicing, trusting in God’s love and mercy. If we associate praise and

Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24 Luke 1:26-38 Reflecting on Psalm 24 in the light of this year’s theme, ‘Waiting in Hope’, I find myself humbly questioning the relevance of this biblical

James Tissot (Nantes, France, 1836–1902, Chenecey-Buillon, France). Portrait of Zacharias and Elizabeth Jeremiah 23: 5-8 Psalm 72: 11-1 Matthew 1:18-25
 The gospel of Matthew harkens here to the Old Testament where

MagnificatSt Mary Magdalene Church Trimdon Village Bridget Jones design Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11 Canticle 18, The Song of Mary* 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24John 1: 6-8,19-28 The Song of Mary and

MIGUEL ADÁNWood relief, polychromed and gilded 1530-1600 Sirach 48:1-11 Psalm 80:1-3, 14-18 Matthew 17:9-13  In the reading from Matthew’s gospel, the disciples and Jesus have just shared an experience of “transfiguration.”  This

Panel depicting two angels in a scene from the Nativity; possibly from the Infancy of Christ window in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Glencairn Museum, Isaiah 48:17-19 Psalm

 Velino Shije Herrera, Story Teller, ca. 1925-1935, gouache and pencil on paperboard, sheet: 10 x 15 in. (25.6 x 38.2 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum Isaiah 41:13-20 Psalm 145:1-4, 8-13 Matthew 11:7-15 How do we communicate our experiences

Isaiah 40: 1-11 Psalm 96 Matthew 18:12-14 Lately, when I wake in the night, I have been going back to sleep listening to the words of Isaiah 40 in the

Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 85:8-13 Luke 5:17-26 Continuing our journey through the Advent season, our hearts yearn for peace and are filled with hope. Isaiah reminds us of God’s promise: “The

Mosaic from the arch of an Arian Baptistry. End of the fifth century. Ravenna,  Isaiah 40:1-11 Psalm 85:8-13 2 Peter 3:8-15a Mark 1:1-8 Travelling around the UK this summer, we

Dum Spiro/ While I Breathe, I Hope Seeking the Dove David W. Opheim Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26       Psalm 14, 7:1-12   Matthew 9:35-10:1,5-8 ‘God delights in expectant hope,

From a Book of HoursFlemish (Liege), c. 1250-1300The Hague, Koninklijk BibliotheekMS KB 76 G 17, fol. 20v  Isaiah 29:17-24 Psalm 27:1-6,17-18 Matthew 9:27-31 We are all familiar with the difference between

St Julian, Norwich, Stained Glass King & Son at St Thomas, Norwich Isaiah 26: 1-6 Psalm 118: 19 – 24 Matthew 7:15 -27 Sharing about the kingdom of God, Jesus

The Good Shepherd Mosaic 1859-1900 (made), 5th century (made) Victoria and Albert Museum Isaiah 25: 6-9 Psalm 23 Matthew 15: 29-39 It’s hard to pray the Lord is my Shepherd