Friday 15 December 2023

Friday 15 December 2023

Dec 15, 2023

Music Info

Grounded

Grounded

By Salt of the Sound

Meditations Vol. 5 | © Salt Of The Sound

Link to the artist's websiteLink to the song on SpotifyLink to the song on Apple Music

O Light

O Light

By Gungor

O Christmas | Musicbed (Used with a license)

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Script

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Today is Friday the 15th of December, in the second week of Advent.

Gungor featuring All Sons and Daughters sing 'O Light'.

O light come to reconcile, come in like a child

Holy night

O light our hopes and all our fears, met within your sight

Holy night

Hallelujah,God is with us,

Hallelujah, A light has come

O light God and man entwine, of earth and of divine

Holy night

O light mending fractured earth, the soul now felt its worth

O Holy night

A light has come, oh, a light has come

Hallelujah Holy God is with us, love is always born within

Hallelujah Light will chase and find us, love is facing us again oh

Hallelujah, God is with us

Hallelujah, A light has come

A light has come, oh a light has come

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 11:16-19

‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,

“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;

 we wailed, and you did not mourn.”

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’

In today’s reading, Jesus sounds exasperated by those around him who are sceptical and critical of his ministry and the ministry of John the Baptist.

Can you relate to this? Perhaps you’ve been criticized for your faith? Perhaps for the way that you live as a Christian?

What does it feel like to be on the receiving end of this?

For the generation in our scripture today, perhaps what their words show is a lack of understanding, or resistance, or different expectations. Can you perhaps identify with these reactions in today’s generation?

As you listen to the reading again, call to mind these two men, steadfast in their work…John by the river Jordan as he baptises, and Jesus, as he teaches and heals.

Jesus is being called a friend of tax collectors and sinners and, although meant to be a derogatory remark, is so true.

“Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds’, says Jesus.

Take a few moments now to reflect on the deeds of Jesus, his true friendship and his sacrificial love for all.

O Wisdom

Lord and Ruler

Root of Jesse

Key of David

Rising Sun

King of the Nations

Emmanuel.

Come, Lord Jesus.