‘O Radix Jesse’ … the Tree of Jesse (1703), an icon in the Museum of Christian Art in Iraklion, Crete (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)
Patrick Comerford
We are in the final days of the Season of Advent, and Christmas Day is less than a week away. The week began with the Third Sunday of Advent (Advent III, 15 December 2024), also known as Gaudete Sunday.
Before today begins, I am taking some quiet time this morning to give thanks, to reflect, to pray and to read in these ways:
1, today’s Gospel reading;
2, a short reflection;
3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary;
4, the Collects and Post-Communion prayer of the day.
The Birth of Saint the Baptist (see Luke 1: 57-66) … an icon from the Monastery of Anopolis in the Museum of Christian Art in Iraklion, Crete (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)
Luke 1: 5-25 (NRSVA):
5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.
8 Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. 10 Now at the time of the incense-offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. 13 But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’ 18 Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.’ 19 The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.’
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, 25 ‘This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favourably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.’
Saint John the Baptist as a child with his mother Saint Elizabeth … a stained-glass window in Saint Mary’s Church, Dingle, Co Kerry (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)
Today’s Reflection:
In the Gospel reading at the Eucharist today (Luke 1: 5-25), we continue in a series of readings before Christmas that draw on the two nativity narratives found in Matthew 1: 1-24 and Luke 1: 5-79.
During the week before Christmas, the great canticle
Magnificat at Evensong traditionally has a refrain or antiphon attached to it proclaiming the ascriptions or ‘names’ given to God through the Old Testament. Each name develops into a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah.
O Sapientia, or
O Wisdom, is the first of these days, and was marked on Tuesday (17 December). It was followed yesterday (18 December) by
O Adonai, and then
O Root of Jesse today (19 December),
O Key of David tomorrow (20 December), and then
O Dayspring,
O King of the Nations, and, finally on 23 December,
O Emmanuel.
In the old Sarum rite, these were sung one day earlier, beginning on 16 December, requiring another ascription for 23 December, this being
O Virgin of Virgins. Since this was clearly apposite to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and not a ‘title’ of God, it was not adopted much beyond Sarum and, with the revision of the Calendar, Anglicans have adopted the more widely-used formulæ and dating.
The seven majestic Messianic titles for Christ are based on Biblical prophecies, and they help the Church to recall the variety of the ills of humanity before the coming of the Redeemer as each antiphon in turn pleads with mounting impatience for Christ to save his people.
The Gospel reading at the Eucharist today (Luke 1: 5-25), tells the story of the birth of Saint John the Baptist.
The story of Saint John the Baptist is central to the Nativity narrative, but it is interesting to note that Saint John the Baptist is also revered as a prophet in Islam and that, as Yaḥyā ibn Zakariyā, he is mentioned five times in the Qur’an.
The passages on Yāhya in the Qur’an describe his God-given gift of wisdom which he acquires in youth, as well as his parallels with Jesus. The Qur’an frequently mentions Zechariah (Zakariya) and his continuous praying for the birth of a son. Zakariya's wife Elizabeth (Isha') was barren and therefore the birth of a child seemed impossible. As a gift from God, Zakariya was given a son named Yāhya.
Islamic tradition says John the Baptist or Yāhya greeted Muhammad on the night of the Al-Isra al-Mi’raj, along with Jesus (Isa), on the second heaven. His story was also told to the Abyssinian king during the Muslim migration to Abyssinia. According to the Qur’an, Yahya was one on whom God sent peace on the day that he was born and the day that he died.
Although most Muslims do not celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus is also described in two places in the Qur’an: Sura 3 (
Al Imram) and Sura 19 (
Maryam), and in popular Muslim belief the second coming or return of Jesus is to take place at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.
The Minaret of Jesus is the tallest of the three minarets of the Umayyad Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus mosque. Muslims and Christians alike also revere that mosque as the burial place of the head of John the Baptist.
Syria itself is a central location in understanding the beginnings of Christianity: in his popular hymn ‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’, John Greenleaf Whittier locates Christ’s ministry and miracles ‘by the Syrian Sea’; Saint Luke’s Gospel dates the first Christmas to the time ‘while Quirinius was governor of Syria’ (Luke 2: 2); later, Saint Paul experiences his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9: 1-22); and it was in Antioch, long a part of Syria, that the disciples are first called ‘Christians’ (Acts 11: 25).
Recent events in Syria are a reminder that the Christmas story is a story shared by all people in that region. When Syrians celebrated the fall of the Assad regime at Friday prayers last week (13 December), they converged in their thousands on the Umayyad Mosque.
Saint John the Baptist remains a key figure for all who are engaged in Christian-Muslim dialogue.
The Chapel and the Hospital of Saint John Baptist without the Barrs, Lichfield (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2024)
Today’s Prayers (Thursday 19 December 2024):
The theme this week in ‘Pray With the World Church’, the Prayer Diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel), is ‘Joy – Advent’. This theme was introduced on Sunday with Reflections by the Revd Sonja Hunter, Priest at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Samoa, Diocese of Polynesia.
The USPG Prayer Diary today (Thursday 19 December 2024) invites us to pray:
Father, we pray for the Anglican Church in Samoa and all dioceses across the Communion who welcome many to church over the Christmas period. We pray that churches may be places of welcome, and the services may glorify you and be moments of great joy.
The Collect:
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
The Post-Communion Prayer:
We give you thanks, O Lord, for these heavenly gifts;
kindle in us the fire of your Spirit
that when your Christ comes again
we may shine as lights before his face;
who is alive and reigns now and for ever.
Additional Collect:
God for whom we watch and wait,
you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son:
give us courage to speak the truth,
to hunger for justice,
and to suffer for the cause of right,
with Jesus Christ our Lord.
Yesterday’s Reflection
Continued Tomorrow
Saint John the Baptist depicted in a window in the Chapel of Saint John’s Hospital, Lichfield (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2024)
Scripture quotations are from the
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
http://nrsvbibles.org
Saint John the Baptist depicted in the east window in the south chapel of the Church of Saint John the Baptist, Spon Street, Coventry (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2023)
