The Dark Night of the Soul

I.

In a dark night,
With anxious love inflamed,
O, happy lot!
Forth unobserved I went,
My house being now at rest.


II.

In darkness and in safety,
By the secret ladder, disguised,
O, happy lot!
In darkness and concealment,
My house being now at rest.


III.

In that happy night,
In secret, seen of none,
Seeing nought myself,
Without other light or guide
Save that which in my heart was burning.


IV.

That light guided me
More surely than the noonday sun
To the place where He was waiting for me,
Whom I knew well,
And where none appeared.


V.

O, guiding night;
O, night more lovely than the dawn;
O, night that hast united
The lover with His beloved,
And changed her into her love.

VI.

On my flowery bosom,
Kept whole for Him alone,
There He reposed and slept;
And I cherished Him, and the waving
Of the cedars fanned Him.


VII.

As His hair floated in the breeze
That from the turret blew,
He struck me on the neck
With His gentle hand,
And all sensation left me.


VIII.

I continued in oblivion lost,
My head was resting on my love;
Lost to all things and myself,
And, amid the lilies forgotten,
Threw all my cares away.

-- St. John of the Cross (1541-1591), (birth name: Juan de Yepes y Álvarez), Spanish Carmelite monk, poet, and mystic, friend of St. Teresa of Avila, translated by David Lewis, 1908.

Scripture reference: John 1:5, 1st Sunday after Christmas B,

Not Once

Not once—not when I toppled, rigid, a
5’7” pine felled,
stiff as a board, a five and a half foot
plank, 16x32,
and not while I wallowed on the rug among
his oxygen tubes and my cane and his 8
wheelchair wheels, and not when I sat by his
hospice bed, chirping I’m fine!,
and not the next day, when the brilliant violet
and black slash-slathered in my easy-life skin,
or days later when the purple turned to yellow and the
blue green—never once when I
said No pain, Nothing broken,
did I feel lucky, did I measure the force of the
blow, the floor speeding up like a heavy-weight’s
smash to my cheek and eyebrow, not until
today, did I begin to feel
grateful for my good fortune—no concussion, no
fracture—as if I expected to be able to be
struck by the earth, a wrecking ball,
and not feel it—
as when someone on the other side of the world
or the city, is struck in my name, I do not feel it.



--Sharon Olds (1942- ), American poet and professor, New York State Poet 1998-2000, winner of the Pulitzer and T. S. Eliot prizes, Guggenheim and NEA fellow.

I Am The Light of the World

I see your world in light that shines behind me,
Lit by a sun whose rays I cannot see,
The smallest gleam of light still seems to find me
Or find the child who’s hiding deep inside me.
I see your light reflected in the water,
Or kindled suddenly in someone’s eyes,
It shimmers through the living leaves of summer,
Or spills from silver veins in leaden skies,
It gathers in the candles at our vespers
It concentrates in tiny drops of dew
At times it sings for joy, at times it whispers,
But all the time it calls me back to you.
I follow you upstream through this dark night
My saviour, source, and spring, my life and light.

-- Malcolm Guite (1954- ) Anglican poet, priest, theologian, and musician 

Scripture Reference: John 8:12

Images: Lux Nova (2011) by Bernd Nestler, German, window made of float glass, treated twice with ceramic enamels, platinum mirror surface, and gold dust, at St. Christoffel Cathedral, Roermond, the Netherlands.

Solemn Blessings of Christmas

May the God of the angels, who heralded Christ's birth,
bring joy to your hearts this day and always.
Amen.

May the God of love, who gave his only Son to be born for you,
fill your life with love and peace.
Amen.

May Emmanuel, God with us,
be with you in all your doings and all your celebrations,
until he brings you into his eternal kingdom.
Amen.

And may almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless you now and forever.
Amen.


— Rev. Thomas Weitzel, ELCA pastor, found here.

Christmas Affirmation: Love dwell within us

Let the love that shaped earth and heaven
dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that created humanity
dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that overcomes suffering and hatred
dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that causes us to rejoice with loved ones
dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that forgives and renews
dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that brings reconciliation after separation
dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that brings the blessing of peace
dwell within us this Christmas.

And may we share that peace
with all people near and far. Amen.



-- from Prayers for Christmas, posted on the Christian Aid (UK) website. 

Benediction for Christmas

The child is born! Alleluia!
Our God has come among us!
Let the whole earth rejoice!
Let us leave the manger and return to our daily routines,
knowing that we have seen the Lord,
and glorifying and praising God
for all that we have heard and seen.


Alleluia! Our God is now here!
Go forth, with full confidence and joy
that you have seen the Messiah.


Alleluia! Our God is now here!
Go forth to spread the Good News wherever you go,
sharing God’s love and promise with all whom you meet.
Go into the world to find the lost,
    heal the broken,
      feed the hungry,
        release the prisoner,
          rebuild the nations,
            bring peace among people,
              and make music in every heart.


Alleluia! Our God is now here!
In the name of our God,
Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit,
we cry out with the angels in the heavens
and the shepherds in the fields:
Alleluia! Our God is now here! Amen.


-- from Miracle in the Manger, posted on the Society of Saint Andrew's Advent e-Book 2013

Christmas Benediction: Our Savior born; a seed planted

Our Savior born.
A seed planted.
Roots driven into the earth.
Soil quakes.
A mighty tree shoots toward the heavens.
Branches sprout, extending hands of praise.
Leaves flower, shouting glory and grace.

The family tree made complete.
Singular.
All-encompassing.
Perfect.

God the Father.
We the family.

Brothers, sisters, kindred.
The seed has been planted.
And we are one.
Halleluia.


-- adapted from a benediction written by Mike Yager, and posted on Ecclesia Houston. 

Litany of Commitment Based on John 1

Come and see!
The light of God has come into our world
to proclaim God’s justice and love;
It has overcome the darkness and brought new life.

Come and follow!
Christ our companion has redeemed our world
He draws us into a loving family
From every tribe and family and culture.

Go and tell!
The Spirit has equipped us for service
To love our neighbours as we do ourselves
To bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth.

Come and see, come and follow, go and tell!
In God’s Love the nations of the earth will put their hope.


-- adapted from a prayer by Christine Sine

Christmas

The bells of waiting Advent ring,

The Tortoise stove is lit again
And lamp-oil light across the night
Has caught the streaks of winter rain
In many a stained-glass window sheen
From Crimson Lake to Hookers Green.

The holly in the windy hedge
And round the Manor House the yew
Will soon be stripped to deck the ledge,
The altar, font and arch and pew,
So that the villagers can say
'The church looks nice' on Christmas Day.

Provincial Public Houses blaze,
Corporation tramcars clang,
On lighted tenements I gaze,
Where paper decorations hang,
And bunting in the red Town Hall
Says 'Merry Christmas to you all'.

And London shops on Christmas Eve
Are strung with silver bells and flowers
As hurrying clerks the City leave
To pigeon-haunted classic towers,
And marbled clouds go scudding by
The many-steepled London sky.

And girls in slacks remember Dad,
And oafish louts remember Mum,
And sleepless children's hearts are glad.
And Christmas-morning bells say 'Come!'
Even to shining ones who dwell
Safe in the Dorchester Hotel.

And is it true,
This most tremendous tale of all,
Seen in a stained-glass window's hue,
A Baby in an ox's stall ?
The Maker of the stars and sea
Become a Child on earth for me ?

And is it true ? For if it is,
No loving fingers tying strings
Around those tissued fripperies,
The sweet and silly Christmas things,
Bath salts and inexpensive scent
And hideous tie so kindly meant,

No love that in a family dwells,
No carolling in frosty air,
Nor all the steeple-shaking bells
Can with this single Truth compare -
That God was man in Palestine
And lives today in Bread and Wine.

-- Sir John Betjeman (1906-1984), English poet, writer, and broadcaster; British Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death in 1984.

Christmas Eve Benediction

We rejoice in God’s steadfast presence in our lives,
and in God’s unique presence in the life of Jesus of Nazareth—
born of Mary, growing through childhood into an adult ministry,
in all his life manifesting the peace, love, and justice of God;
his voice undimmed by the centuries
his call and his promise as clear to us as it was to his disciples so long ago.

Come to us, Lord Jesus,
Be born in us this night, in our hearts, our minds, our lives.
May the light of your life be kindled in us,
And lead us to the shining truth,
of God with us, God for us, God in us. Amen.


-- Jeanyne Slettom, found at Re:Worship.

Praying the O Antiphons, day 6: December 22- O Rex Gentium (King of All Nations)

To be prayed at Evening Prayer or Vespers before the Magnificat

Questions for meditation: 
How does Jesus model for us inclusion and obligation to all? 
Where do you hear references to the Magnificat in the Antiphon or its scriptural sources?

Antiphon for December 22: 
O King of the Gentiles and Desired of All, You are the Cornerstone that binds two into one: Come, and save humanity whom You have fashioned out of clay.

Then pray the Magnificat:
And Mary said,
My soul overflows with your greatness, O Adonai;
        My spirit rejoices in you, O Savior of All the Nations!
For the light of your countenance has dawned over me
        despite my humble state.
From now and throughout eternity
        even those yet born will call me Blessed
                and sing of the great things you have done for me,
                exulting in the holiness of your Name.
You pour out your mercy on those who stand in awe of you,
        those who revere you, 
                from ages untold to ages yet to come.
Your strong arm shields the humble
        and levels the proud in their isolating conceit.
You have razed the thrones of those who rule by might
        while setting the lowly and gentle upon seats of honor.
You have satisfied the hungry with abundant delights
        while giving the rich a begging bowl, 

                sending them away empty-handed.
You have come to the aid of your people unfailingly
        fulfilling your promises to our ancestors,
                to the children of Hagar, Sarah, and Abraham forever,
                standing among us from time immemorial.

Repeat the antiphon:
O King of the Gentiles and Desired of All, You are the Cornerstone that binds two into one: Come, and save humanity whom You have fashioned out of clay.

Prayer references for the antiphon:
Jeremiah 10:7; Haggai 2:7
Who would not fear you, O King of the nations?
For that is your due;
among all the wise ones of the nations
and in all their kingdoms
there is no one like you. (Jer. 10:7)

and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendour, says the Lord of hosts. (Hag 2:7)

Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:42; Ephesians 2:20
therefore thus says the Lord God,
See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone,
a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation:
‘One who trusts will not panic.’ (Is 28:16)

Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes”? (Mt 21:42)

...built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. (Eph 2:20)

Genesis 2:7
then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.

Praying the O Antiphons, day 5- December 21- O Oriens (Dayspring or Morning Star)

To be prayed at Evening Prayer or Vespers before the Magnificat

Questions for meditation: 
How does Jesus serve as a light to guide us or orient us, setting out a path for our own lives?
Where do you hear references to the Magnificat in the Antiphon or its scriptural sources?

Antiphon for December 21: 
O Rising Dawn, Radiance of the Light eternal and Sun of Justice: Come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Then pray the Magnificat:
And Mary said,
My soul overflows with your greatness, O Adonai;
        My spirit rejoices in you, O Savior of All the Nations!
For the light of your countenance has dawned over me
        despite my humble state.
From now and throughout eternity
        even those yet born will call me Blessed
                and sing of the great things you have done for me,
                exulting in the holiness of your Name.
You pour out your mercy on those who stand in awe of you,
        those who revere you,
                from ages untold to ages yet to come.
Your strong arm shields the humble
        and levels the proud in their isolating conceit.
You have razed the thrones of those who rule by might
        while setting the lowly and gentle upon seats of honor.
You have satisfied the hungry with abundant delights
        while giving the rich a begging bowl, 

                sending them away empty-handed.
You have come to the aid of your people unfailingly
        fulfilling your promises to our ancestors,
                to the children of Hagar, Sarah, and Abraham forever,
                standing among us from time immemorial.

Repeat the antiphon:
O Rising Dawn, Radiance of the Light eternal and Sun of Justice: Come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.




Prayer references for the antiphon:
Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12:
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. (Jer 23:5)

Now listen, Joshua, high priest, you and your colleagues who sit before you! For they are an omen of things to come: I am going to bring my servant the Branch. (Zech 3:8)

...say to him: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Here is a man whose name is Branch: for he shall branch out in his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. (Zech 6:12)

Habakkuk 3:4; Wisdom 7:26; Hebrews 1:3:
The brightness was like the sun;
rays came forth from his hand,
where his power lay hidden. (Hab 3:4)

For she is a reflection of eternal light,
a spotless mirror of the working of God,
and an image of his goodness. (Wisdom 7:26)

He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high… (Heb 1:3)

Malachi 4:2:
But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.

Psalm 107:10; Luke 1:78:
Some sat in darkness and in gloom,
prisoners in misery and in irons… (Ps 107:10)

By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us… (Lk 1:7-8)

Praying the O Antiphons, day 4: December 20- O Clavis David (Key of David)

To be prayed at Evening Prayer or Vespers with the Magnificat

Questions for meditation
How does Jesus serve as a key to unlock our understanding of God—and the universal love of God-- in new and radical ways?
Where do you hear references to the Magnificat in the Antiphon or its scriptural sources?

Antiphon
O Key of David, and Scepter of the house of Israel: You open and no man closes; you close and no man opens. Come, and deliver from the chains of darkness those from the chains of prison who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Then pray the Magnificat:
And Mary said,
My soul overflows with your greatness, O Adonai;
        My spirit rejoices in you, O Savior of All the Nations!
For the light of your countenance has dawned over me
        despite my humble state.
From now and throughout eternity
        even those yet born will call me Blessed
                and sing of the great things you have done for me,
                exulting in the holiness of your Name.
You pour out your mercy on those who stand in awe of you,
        those who revere you,
                from ages untold to ages yet to come.
Your strong arm shields the humble
        and levels the proud in their isolating conceit.
You have razed the thrones of those who rule by might
        while setting the lowly and gentle upon seats of honor.
You have satisfied the hungry with abundant delights
        while giving the rich a begging bowl, 

        sending them away empty-handed.
You have come to the aid of your people unfailingly
        fulfilling your promises to our ancestors,
                to the children of Hagar, Sarah, and Abraham forever,

                standing among us from time immemorial.

Repeat the antiphon
O Key of David, and Scepter of the house of Israel: You open and no man closes; you close and no man opens. Come, and deliver from the chains of darkness those from the chains of prison who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.



Prayer references for the antiphon:
Isaiah 22:22
I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open.

Revelation 3:7
‘And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of the holy one, the true one,
who has the key of David,
who opens and no one will shut,
who shuts and no one opens:

Numbers 24:17
I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near—
a star shall come out of Jacob,
and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the borderlands* of Moab,
and the territory* of all the Shethites.

Psalm 107:

Some sat in darkness and in gloom,
prisoners in misery and in irons...

Praying the O Antiphons, day 3: December 19- O Radix Jesse (Root/Branch of Jesse)

To be prayed at Evening Prayer or Vespers along with the Magnificat

Question for meditation:

How is Jesus’s descent from the lineage of David (Jesse’s son) expand the Beloved Community beyond national differences or boundaries?
Where do you hear references to the Magnificat in the Antiphon or its scriptural sources?

Antiphon for December 19:
O Root of Jesse, sign for all peoples: before You kings shall keep silence and to You all nations shall have recourse. Come, save us, and do not delay.

Then pray the Magnificat:
And Mary said,
My soul overflows with your greatness, O Adonai;

        My spirit rejoices in you, O Savior of All the Nations!
For the light of your countenance has dawned over me
        despite my humble state.
From now and throughout eternity
        even those yet born will call me Blessed
                and sing of the great things you have done for me,

                exulting in the holiness of your Name.

You pour out your mercy on those who stand in awe of you
        those who revere you,
                from ages untold to ages yet to come.

Your strong arm shields the humble
        and levels the proud in their isolating conceit.
You have razed the thrones of those who rule by might
        while setting the lowly and gentle upon seats of honor.
You have satisfied the hungry with abundant delights
        while giving the rich a begging bowl, 

                sending them away empty-handed.
You have come to the aid of your people unfailingly
        fulfilling your promises to our ancestors,
                to the children of Hagar, Sarah, and Abraham forever,

                standing among us from time immemorial.

Repeat the antiphon:
O Root of Jesse, sign for all peoples: before You kings shall keep silence and to You all nations shall have recourse. Come, save us, and do not delay.



Prayer references for the antiphon:

Isaiah 11:1
A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

Isaiah 11:10
On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Isaiah 52:15
so he shall startle* many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him;for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.

Habakkuk 2:3
For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie.If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.

A poem of farewell

What is left to say?

All the large words
have been spoken.

I’d take one of the
smallest words, like love,
wrap it in a warm breath,
tie it in a knot of flax,
and leave it, nonchalantly
on your papers.

A small green leaf
among the river stones.

Don’t throw it out
by accident, or crush it.
Put it in your pocket
where its touch
might sometimes
warm your fingers.

-- Adrienne Jansen (1947- ) New Zealand teacher, editor, and poet 

Praying the O Antiphons, day 2: December 18- O Adonai (King and Ruler)

 

To be prayed at Evening Prayer or Vespers with the Magnificat

Question for meditation:
How does Jesus and his ministry embody the Reign of God, and call us to faithful obedience to God’s commandment to love and care for each other?
Where do you hear references to the Magnificat in the Antiphon or its scriptural sources?

Antiphon for December 18:
O Adonai and Captain of the house of Israel: You appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai gave him Your Law. Come, and with an outstretched arm redeem us.

Then pray the Magnificat:
And Mary said,
My soul overflows with your greatness, O Adonai;

        My spirit rejoices in you, O Savior of All the Nations!
For the light of your countenance has dawned over me
        despite my humble state.
From now and throughout eternity
        even those yet born will call me Blessed
                and sing of the great things you have done for me,

                exulting in the holiness of your Name.

You pour out your mercy on those who stand in awe of you
        those who revere you,
                from ages untold to ages yet to come.

Your strong arm shields the humble
        and levels the proud in their isolating conceit.
You have razed the thrones of those who rule by might
        while setting the lowly and gentle upon seats of honor.
You have satisfied the hungry with abundant delights
        while giving the rich a begging bowl, 

                sending them away empty-handed.
You have come to the aid of your people unfailingly
        fulfilling your promises to our ancestors,
                to the children of Hagar, Sarah, and Abraham forever,

                standing among us from time immemorial.

Repeat the antiphon:
O Adonai and Captain of the house of Israel: You appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai gave him Your Law. Come, and with an outstretched arm redeem us.



Prayer references for the antiphon:

Exodus 3:14 

God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ He said further, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.” ’

 

Matthew 2:6; Micah 5:1; 2 Samuel 5:2

“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a ruler   who is to shepherd* my people Israel.” ’ (Matt 2:6)

 

Now you are walled around with a wall;*    siege is laid against us;with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel    upon the cheek. 

 *But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,    who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me    one who is to rule in Israel,

whose origin is from of old,    from ancient days. (Micah 5:1)

 

For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.’ (2 Sam 5:2)

 

Exodus 3:2

There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.

 

Exodus 20:1-17

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me….

 

Jeremiah 32:21

You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror…