Seventh Day of Advent (Saturday, December 7th, 2024)

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(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

Words of Reflection

When I taught writing at a local film school one of my favorite exercises was to break down the narrative structure of a good story. The students and I would watch a classic film and talk about concepts such as inciting incidents, rising action, story climax points, and resolutions as we mapped them out in the movie we were watching.

On important screenplay concept we would discuss was “turning points,” those places in the story where the narrative direction would shift, the stakes would be raised, and the pace would quicken. We would watch films and try to anticipate turning points, asking ourselves, “What moments did we see approaching which would change everything?”

The arrival of Jesus on earth is the biggest turning point in human history, as Zechariah proclaims in one of our Lectionary readings for this weekend:

“Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
—Luke 1:78-79 (NRSVUE)

Think of everything that changes because of Jesus—it’s a list that is to exhaustive to complete. Another one of our Lectionary readings for tomorow describes it poetically and dramatically, as John the Baptist quotes the prophet Isaiah:

“Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
—Luke 3:5-6 (NRSVUE)

There is no greater turning than a complete reversal of everything that has come before. That’s the kind of turning Jesus brings, and it’s a dramatic shift which echoes throughout Scripture and also in the music of this season. Perhaps the most striking example of this is in the song of Mary, known as the Magnificat, which is her heartfelt response to what God is doing in the birth of Jesus.

The Magnificat inspired today’s song, “Canticle of the Turning” by Rory Cooney. But where many sung renditions of Mary’s song evoke a prayerful and sometimes plaintive mood, Cooney strikes a rather different posture in his hymn. As one professor of hymnody put it:

From the very beginning, it is evident that this is no tame paraphrase of the Song of Mary…[this setting] identifies with, and draws energy from, the deeply revolutionary implications of what it means for the mighty to be put down from their thrones and the lowly to be lifted up.”—Carl P. Daw, Jr.

Indeed, “God is turning the world around.” It has been so…it will be so. May it be so for us today. Amen.


Scripture for Meditation:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name;
indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
—Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV)


Song: Canticle of the Turning (lyrics here)

Questions for Contemplation

What “turnings” have shaped and formed you in your journey with Jesus? How has he shepherded you through them? How have they changed you and brought you closer to Christ?

Spond some time prayerfully considering this line from today’s song: “This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound.” How does your soul respond to this statement?

How do the words of today’s song echo you own heart’s cry? What “turnings” do you most desire to see in the world today? In your own life? Offer those desires to God and ask him to remind you of his power to make the world over in ways that more and more resemble his kingdom.

Sixth Day of Advent (Friday, December 6th, 2024)

If you’re new to Advent Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

Words of Reflection

“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” is a carol that, in my opinion, packs a bit of a surprise for the listener who pays attention. It starts off innocently enough with a tranquil picture of the first Christmas, with the still and solemn world hearing the familiar and comforting proclamation of the angels:

“Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven's all-gracious King.”

I’d guess that most people who know this carol are pretty much only familiar with that first verse, drawing comfort from that familiarity and the poetic beauty of such lines as “angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold.” The Christ child has come to a world who needs him desperately, and the carol captures that gift so well.

If that were all there was to the carol, it would be enough.

But if you pay attention to what comes next, it commands your attention and surprises you with its timeliness and prophetic impact. Suddenly in verse two, those same angels visit our world, which the author notes is still filled with chaos as “Babel sounds.” The weary world still needs the gift of Christmas, and if we have ears to hear we can still catch the angel song which proclaims the peace still offered to us.

If that were all there was to the carol, it would be enough.

But then the carol makes it personal: it’s not just the world that is weary, it’s you and me. Can you resonated with that truth? Do you feel “life’s crushing load” acutely? Hear the author call us to attention: Look now! The angels are still singing, and we’re invited to rest and take it in.

If that were all there was to the carol, it would be enough.

But there is still more for us to hear, isn’t there? Because the angel song doesn’t just point us to the peace which God provides in the midst of this current chaos. It also reminds us that there is a greater peace yet to come, a day seen by the prophets of old. The one who came as a child will come again in glory, and the peace we know in part now will be known in whole. And the transformed world, which has been comforted by the angel song these many years, will send it back for eternity.

The carol reminds us that there is more to come, and it will be enough.

Scripture for Meditation:

“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
—Isaiah 43:19 (NRSVUE)

“When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.”
—Colossians 3:4 (NRSVUE)

Song: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (lyrics here)
(as is sometimes the case, different countries sing this carol to different tunes, so we have included both below)

Questions for Contemplation

What “Babel sounds” in the world today have the ability to distract you or even annoy and frustrate you? How might you invite the Holy Spirit to bring you peace even in the midst of their chaos?

Spend some time in prayer for yourself or others you know who are particularly aware of “life’s crushing load” right now. Ask that God would be real even in the midst of it, and that the song of the angels would still resonate even in the midst of worry, sorrow, and confusion.

Which movement of this carol speaks to you most powerfully today—the reminder of the Christmas story, the truth that the angels still sing their song over the world, the invitation to hear that song in the midst of your weariness, or the promise of how the song will resonate through all eternity? Or maybe they all speak to you in some way. Spend time in prayer and conversation with God about the ways the song of peace and the promise of the peace yet to come speak to you in this moment.

Fifth Day of Advent (Thursday, December 5, 2024)

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Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

Words of Reflection

Psalm 121 may not be a text we traditionally associate with Advent, but in keeping with the theme of waiting and anticipation, it is one that fits perfectly. Advent is all about the coming of hope, and during these weeks we remind ourselves that for many generations that hope seemed a distant thing.

And yet even when it seemed distant, the people of Israel were reminded in texts like this one that hope was not absent. They were also reminded that the hope they longed for had one source and one source alone: God.

“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (v. 2)

When we are desperate for hope, we can fall prey to the temptation to seek it in places it can’t truly be found. Temporary pleasures, earthly powers, wealth, and other false sources of hope can present themselves to us with promises they are completely unable to keep, but which seem appealing when the promises of God seem far off.

When we face our own seasons of waiting, we do well to remember the Hebrews who looked for the hope that was yet to come. They looked to the hills of Jerusalem and were reminded that God watches over all their comings and goings, and that he neither slumbers or sleeps as he keeps guard over his people. During Advent our eyes are drawn to other hills as well—the hill country of Judea, where the village of Bethlehem will give testimony to God’s provision and hope in the most unbelievable way. The birth of the Christ child is the ultimate expression of the truth that “our help comes from God” Can we hold to that hope, even when in the midst of seemingly hopeless times?

Scripture for Meditation:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.”
—Psalm 121 (NRSVUE)

Song: Lift My Eyes (lyrics here)

Questions for Contemplation:

How has God brought hope to you in difficult times? Spend some time in prayerful thanksgiving for his faithfulness and the ways his love has kept your heart at peace.

When hope seems far away, what false sources can sometimes divert your gaze from God and his promises? What tools, practices, and disciplines might help you keep your head lifted and your eyes on him when those temptations come?

Spend some time sitting with these Scriptural descriptions of God used by Laura Story in her song. Which speak to you most right now? Why?

—Our help
—Our maker and creator
—Our sustainer
—Our protector
—Our defender
—Our saviour
—Our rescuer
—Our Lord and God
—The One whose promise is forever

Fourth Day of Advent (Wednesday, December 4th, 2024)

If you’re new to Advent Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

Words of Reflection

Advent can be a difficult time for those who plan worship services. There is a very real tension between the desire to embrace the theme of waiting that is part of Advent and the belovedness of Christmas music which the congregation has been looking forward to singing. Over the years I have heard more than one story of a pastor who had frustrated their congregation by not singing enough Christmas music during the season. Truth be told, in the past I have been that pastor.

But one day a voice broke through what had become, for me, a sense of theological smugness. It belonged to a member of our church, who told me one Sunday after the worship service, “Jack, these are some of the most beautiful, most theologically rich hymns ever written. And it’s a shame that we don’t get to enjoy them more as part of our preparation for Christmas.”

She was right. The hymnody of the incarnation is some of the most moving, most thoughtful, and most worshipful ever written. And here I was, holding all of it back for a single Christmas Eve service, one that many people in our congregation missed because they were out of town celebrating with family. As a result, they never had the opportunity to sing these beloved carols with their church family.

Music is an integral part of the Christmas story, dating back all the way to the very first Christmas—from Mary to Zechariah to the heavenly host appearing to the shepherds, songs are woven into the fabric of our celebration. The rich history of Christmas music ever since points to the power of the incarnation to inspire us and fill us with wonder and praise, and in a world where there is so much “seasonal noise” assaulting our senses, isn’t it wonderful that we have so many amazing songs and carols to help us refocus and give thanks?

There are still some carols I don’t use in worship until Christmas Eve—”Joy to the World” and “Silent Night” being two of them. But in the years since my “carol conversion,” I have been reminded over and over again that embracing a rhythm of both waiting and celebration is a healthy choice. We need both in our lives, and there is room for both. Just like we celebrate “mini-Easters” during Lent, let’s make sure we celebrate “mini-Christmases” during Advent.

Scripture for Meditation:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”—Colossians 3:16-17 (NRSVUE)

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!”—Psalm 100:1-2 (NRSVUE)

Song: What Sweeter Music (lyrics here)

Questions for Contemplation:

How do you balance the spiritual posture of waiting and celebration in your own life? How might you make Advent an intentional time of anticipation while also engaging the glorious truths of which the carols speak?

Today’s song is a modern setting of a 17th century text that reminds us that celebrating the birth of Christ radically impacts how we view and experience the world, as we sense the “chilling winter’s morn smile” in a way that shows “December turned to May.” How does the celebration of this season reorient you and change your perspective on the world?

What carols or songs have been particularly meaningful for you as you have celebrated Advent and Christmas in the past? Track down a recording of one you love in particular and listen again. What about it speaks to you? What invitation do you find in that song?

Third Day of Advent (Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024)

If you’re new to Advent Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

Words of Reflection

The first sermon of Jesus reveals to us his own awareness of his mission. He knows why he has come to earth, and the words from Isaiah capture his purpose perfectly:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (vv. 18-19)

In just a brief collection of words so much is promised and proclaimed: the poor receive good news, the captives are promised freedom, the blind are told they will regain their sight, and the oppressed are told their time of bondage is coming to and end. It is, indeed, the year of the Lord’s favor.

I’ve always been struck by the quick reversal of the synagogue crowd in this passage. Luke tells us that they, at first, “spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came out of his mouth.” (v. 22) You can feel the power of his words hanging in the air, but then doubt starts to sink into the crowd with a turn towards “Wait, we know this guy, who does he think he is anyway?” When Jesus points out that prophets are rarely welcomed in their hometown, and that others will be open to the message, their doubt quickly turns to anger and violent intent.

When Jesus was promising good things for them, the crowd seems amenable to his message. It appears as though they don’t get offended until he mentions the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian, as if it’s the idea that God’s grace is available even to Gentiles that raises their ire. I’ve always been taught that the crowd in Nazareth reacted to Jesus’ claim that he fulfills the text, which I’m sure is there, but it seems they’re also reacting to his claim that the text includes all the people of the world. They’re not just showing their incredulity, they’re also showing their bigotry.

One thing this text highlights for me is that the crowd in Nazareth isn’t really able to see themselves in the text from Isaiah: they don’t recognize that they suffer a poverty of spirit, a captivity to pride, a blindness to God’s covenant promises, and an oppression that has nothing to do with the Roman Empire. They are unable to see the reality of their need, and as such they reject the One who came to meet it.

As we reflect during Advent on God’s salvation promises coming to earth, it is good to be reminded that sometimes we fail to appreciate the richness of the gift because we fail to appreciate the depth of our need. Apart from the grace of God shown in Christ, we, too, remain poor, captive, blind, and oppressed by sin. But the truth of Christmas resonates with Isaiah’s promise: God’s favor has come to earth, and our need for a Savior has been met most miraculously!


Scripture for Meditation:

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.”
—Galatians 4:4-5 (NRSVUE)

“Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." —Hebrews 4:16 (NRSVUE)


Song: In Need of a Savior (lyrics here)

Questions for Contemplation:

Spend some time in prayer before God reflecting on your need for a Savior and the way God has met that need in Jesus. In what places of darkness has he met you, and how does that move you to gratitude? In what places are you still waiting, and how might you offer those to God in prayer?

Spend some time praying with this song’s simple refrain: “Come O Lord, Emmanuel. Come in our hearts to dwell.”

Read again the promises that Jesus proclaims from Isaiah—how do they speak to your soul today? What faces come to mind of people who need the truth of those promises in their own life, and how can you pray for them?

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (vv. 18-19)

Second Day of Advent (Monday, December 2nd, 2024)

If you’re new to Advent Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

Words of Reflection

In the 63rd chapter of Isaiah, the prophet reflects on God’s actions on behalf of his people and their stubborn rebellion even in the face of his faithfulness. He looks out and sees the people suffering from their own self-destructive choices, and he pleads with God to do something radical in the face of their selfishness and failure. His cry reaches a dramatic and climactic point at the beginning of chapter 64:

“O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!”—Isaiah 64:1-3 (NRSVUE)

Isaiah has in mind a terrifying revelation of God that would strike fear into Israel’s enemies and echo the “awesome deeds” of old, like the days of Moses and Joshua. He wants to see God "tear the heavens open” and come as a mighty warrior to smite the wicked and cause the very foundations of the earth to shake. It’s an awe-inspiring image.

But even though it didn’t take place exactly as the prophet envisioned, the basic thrust of what Isaiah wanted to see is exactly what happened—God did, in fact, “tear the heavens open and come down.” The mountains may not have quaked, the nations may not have (yet) trembled, but the cosmic impact of what took place on that first Christmas morn was beyond measure. Heaven came to earth, the power of creation’s author was found in a tiny child, and (as songwriter Michael Card puts it) “eternity stepped into time.” The true scope of what took place at the incarnation is far too vast for any human mind to comprehend, and yet during the Advent season we are invited to dwell in the wonder and mystery of it all the same.

We are also invited, I think, to make Isaiah’s prayer our own as part of our Advent journey. “O that you would tear the heavens open and come down” is still the cry of our heart during these particularly chaotic times. Every concern we bring to God is a plea for God to be known in the midst of it, for a fresh revelation of his supernatural power and peace to be manifest in difficult and painful situations. Even as we ponder the Incarnation, we ask God to be made real anew in our world through the power of his Spirit and the ministry of his people.

The ancient carol “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” invites us to do both of these things—to sit with the glory of the Incarnation as we “ponder nothing earthly minded,” and to join our voice with Isaiah’s in a plea for God to intercede where evil still has the upper hand “that the powers of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away.”

And through it all we join the ceaseless chorus in a cry of worship: “Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia God Most High!”

Amen.

Scripture for Meditation:

“From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.”—Isaiah 64:4 (NRSVUE)

“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross." —Colossians 1:19-20 (NRSVUE)

Song: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (lyrics here)

Questions for Contemplation:

As we hear the carol’s invitation to “ponder nothing earthly minded,” what does that mean for you personally? How do you find ways to set aside the concerns of the day in order to simply sit with the mystery and wonder of the Incarnation? If you find it a struggle, ask God to reveal to you ways of quieting yourself before the manger. The Spirit is faithful to guide us in our desire for time with him.

Into what particular situations are you asking God to “tear open the heavens and come down” right now? Sit for a moment of intercession and ask God to help you offer these concerns with confidence and assurance in his goodness and faithfulness.

“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” was originally a Eucharistic hymn that has since transitioned to an Advent/Christmas carol. This is particularly noticeable in the line “He will give to all the faithful his own self for heav’nly food.” How might a celebration of Communion be particularly powerful for us during Advent? How has it spoken to you in the past about the depth of God’s love for you?