Tag Archives: Isaiah

Advent and Christmas

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Long time no blog.

Yet another family crisis (how many can there be in one year I wonder to myself!) has rather occupied my life for the last three weeks –

BUT in that time, people have been beavering away on my behalf and I am delighted and quite excited to announce (cue fanfares, streamers, glitter explosions etc…)

2015-09-14 16.04.19

I have been encouraged to produce some of the reflections from this blog into a book, and decided to start with this collection of reflections for Advent and Christmas.  They are not new, but reworked for print.

Voices for Advent and Christmas contains 24 prayers and meditations on the familiar voices of the Christmas Story, from Adam through to Rachel weeping.  It covers the traditional readings of the Nine Lessons and Carols Service, plus others through to Jesus Presentation in the Temple.

It would work as a resource for worship, or as personal reflections to prepare ourselves in this busy season.

There has been a delay at the printers, but I hope it will be available later this week.

The price is £4 plus postage (70p second class within the UK, for other prices please ask)

To order or ask more please complete the form below and I can give you details for paying and you can give me your address.  Payment can be made via paypal or by sending me a cheque.

Thanks to everyone who has encouraged and cajoled me into this 🙂  And for anyone who is willing to buy one

 

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I’m Here

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I don’t know if you’ve ever been to a book reading.  A book, read by its author, with the understanding and emphases that they intended for it, can be quite different to how we read it ourselves.  It can have a whole new meaning and impression.

Luke 4:14-21

Jesus Begins His Work

14 Jesus returned to Galilee with the power of the Spirit. News about him spread everywhere. 15 He taught in the Jewish meeting places, and everyone praised him.

The People of Nazareth Turn against Jesus

16 Jesus went back to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and as usual he went to the meeting place on the Sabbath. When he stood up to read from the Scriptures, 17 he was given the book of Isaiah the prophet. He opened it and read,

18 “The Lord’s Spirit
has come to me,
because he has chosen me
to tell the good news
to the poor.
The Lord has sent me
to announce freedom
for prisoners,
to give sight to the blind,
to free everyone
who suffers,
19 and to say, ‘This is the year
the Lord has chosen.’”

20 Jesus closed the book, then handed it back to the man in charge and sat down. Everyone in the meeting place looked straight at Jesus.

21 Then Jesus said to them, “What you have just heard me read has come true today.”

You’ve got to love this passage – Jesus begins his work, and within one verse, the people of Nazareth turn against him.  That is some going, quite a response!  In Galilee they praised him, but when he “came home” to Nazareth, they’re not so keen on what he has to say.  But more about that next week…

For now, let’s look at what it is Jesus says.

Jesus is given the prophecy from Isaiah to read.  He reads it, and then says to them quite plainly,

What you have just heard me read has come true today

Wow!  Quite a claim.  Jesus is pulling no punches.  Right from the start of the ministry, he tells them that he is the one who has come to fulfil what God promised. He is here – to do God’s thing.  He has come to bring good news to the poor; to announce freedom for those who are imprisoned; to give sight to the blind; and to free the suffering.  And here, now, this is the year the Lord has chosen.

This is what Jesus has come to do.  Are they ready.  Are they going to welcome him, receive him and all he has to bring?

Jesus comes today to us.  He’s still saying the same thing.  Still offering the same deal, fulfilling the same promises.  What is our response?

Lord,

in my life,

in this place,may I allow you

to still do your thing:

to tell the good news

to the poor’

to announce freedom

for prisoners,

to give sight to the blind,

to free everyone

who suffers,

 and to say,

‘This is the year

the Lord has chosen’

In me

and through me,

in your name