Advent 4 – 4 December 2021
Good morning,
Advent is a season with roots in prophecy. Sunday by Sunday there are readings from the Hebrew Bible, called the Old Testament by Christians, for example from Micah, Zephaniah, Jeremiah and Isaiah. Indeed, at one Alumni Carol Service I remember a reading being introduced as from the Gospel according to Isaiah, which isn’t quite right, but isn’t completely wrong.
At tomorrow’s service in St Salvator’s Chapel, on the second Sunday in Advent, we will hear a reading from the Old Testament prophet Malachi about a messenger being sent to prepare the way. And then in the New Testament reading from Luke we will hear of John son of Zechariah, popularly called John the Baptist. Indeed Luke interprets John’s work by quoting Isaiah, The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord…’ When Christians anticipate the birth of Jesus, it is because of the faith and hope held by the Hebrews, by Jewish people, expressed in the Hebrew Bible, and fulfilled in a child born and raised as a Jew.
When John was born, Luke records that Zechariah his father spoke words of prophecy. The Scottish composer Sir James MacMillan has written a gorgeous piece of music setting this text, called The Canticle of Zachariah, recorded by St Salvator’s Chapel Choir, found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVMffM3icVA
MacMillan, from Ayrshire, is a prolific composer of choral music, opera and orchestral music. His Catholic faith has inspired much of his music, and is sung not only by prestigious choirs but by congregations around the world. He is Professor of Theology, Imagination and the Arts here in St Andrews. Here is the text which he set:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel!
He has visited his people
and redeemed them.
He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour
In the house of David his servant,
As he promised by the lips of holy men,
Those who were his prophets from of old.
A Saviour who would free us from our foes,
From the hands of all who hate us.
So his love for our fathers is fulfilled
And his holy covenant remembered.
He swore to Abraham
our father to grant us,
that free from fear, and saved from the hands of our foes,
we might serve him in holiness and justice
all the days of our life in his presence.
As for you, little child,
you shall be called a prophet of God, the Most High.
You shall go ahead of the Lord
To prepare his ways before him.
To make known to his people their salvation
Through forgiveness of all their sins,
The loving-kindness of the heart of our God
Who visits us like the dawn from on high.
He will give light to those in darkness,
Those who dwell in the shadow of death,
And guide us into the way of peace.
We are in the midst of the festival of Hanukkah. This Jewish festival commemorates the rededication of the second Temple in Jerusalem at the beginning of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE, recalling a miracle of one day’s supply of oil lasting eight days, keeping the menorah in the Temple lit. Each night for eight nights a further candle is lit on a candelabrum called a menorah or hanukkiah. The flame from one candle is used to light the others. On the final night, which this year will be Monday 6 December, all nine will be lit.
Here is an image of lighting a Hanukkah candle at a friend’s house a few years ago.
Dawn from on high, light to those in darkness, Hanukkah candles, Advent candles, winter solstice candlelit labyrinth – we are in a season of growing light in the midst of all that is dark.
You are welcome to join in worship at the chapel tomorrow (Sunday 5 December) at 11 am, in person or via the livestream found here: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/chaplaincy/worship/ The second Advent candle will be lit, and our visiting preacher, Dr Joanna Leidenhag who until recently taught in St Mary’s College here, will reflect on the readings from Malachi and Luke on the one who prepares the way.
Yours,
Donald.