Advent Reflection 03 December

On Jordan's bank, the Baptist's cry

 

Pause for a moment

 

Where do you get your news from?

 

Listen to the music

On Jordan's bank, the Baptist's cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Awake, and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings of the King of kings!

  

Then cleansed be every soul from sin;
Make straight the way of God within;
Prepare we in our hearts a home
Where such a mighty Guest may come.

For Thou art our Salvation, Lord,
Our Refuge, and our sure Reward.
Shine forth, and let Thy light restore
Earth's own true heavenly grace once more.

All praise, eternal Son, to Thee
Whose advent sets Thy people free,
Whom, with the Father, we adore,
And Holy Spirit, evermore.

Learn about the carol

 

Charles Coffin wrote this text in Latin (“Jordanis oras praevia”) for the Paris Breviary of 1736, a Roman Catholic liturgical collection of psalms, hymns, and prayers. Latin remained the language of scholarship and of the Roman Catholic liturgy in the eighteenth century. An English translation by John Chandler was first published in Hymns of the Primitive Church in 1837.

The hymn is laced with various scriptural phrases. John the Baptist's announcement "Prepare the way for the Lord" (Matt. 3:3, a quote from Isa. 40:3) is its primary basis. Verses 1 and 2 apply that message to people today; verse 3 is a confession by God's people of their need for salvation; verse 4 is a prayer for healing and love; finally there is a doxology (an expression of praise to God – often naming the Trinity).

 

Time for reflection

 

For a lot of people, the Christmas Story is a cute nativity play that they see at school – although sometimes the play bears little resemblance to the version in the Bible. Gentle Jesus meek and mild, the baby in the manger, is very inoffensive and undemanding – we can look and say ‘Ah!’ – but just like our grandchildren, we can hand him back.

But here we are called to see Jesus grown up! John is no longer the ‘slightly older cousin who sometimes gets a mention’, but a prophet who speaks an uncomfortable truth.  We can respond to the call however we like – but we can’t pretend it’s not there.

 

Time for Action

 

‘Make straight the way of God within’ – but what does that mean for you?