The Second Sunday of Advent
“The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.”
The pulpit at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh — typical of Richardson Romanesque style of architecture and adornment — displays a beautiful synthesis of classic ancient Christianity, and reformed sensibilities. In this distance, a towering mosaic of the Transfiguration looms above the Altar: and indeed, in this transfiguration, only Jesus remains. But in the foreground, the austere stone pulpit is fixed solely to elevate the Word of God: its panels — often, in other contexts, adorned with images of the Evangelists — are blank, its very starkness drawing attention to the Word proclaimed.
It was not uncommon, in churches of the Reformation, to give attention to the design of the pulpit that would both serve the utility of a new, engaging, longer form of preaching, and also serve to symbolize the centrality and ultimacy of the Word over the life of faith. This triple-decker pulpit from a chapel in Gibside, England is an example of the most robust expression of this trend. The first ambo would be used by the clerk for the reading of the prayers, and announcements pertaining to the life of the congregation. The second gave space for the lector, for the reading of the Scriptures. Last, the high pulpit reserved for the proclamation of the Word. The Sacraments, when celebrated, would be celebrated on a moveable table at the foot of the pulpit, emphasizing that the flow from the Word, and are the Word made intimate and near.
This is a monument to a beautiful intention: the Word proclaimed — as the Word of God — indeed has a life-giving, and even sacramental character to it. But in displacing the Altar as the center of attention and replacing it with the Pulpit, the ultimate, actual effect is to minimize the mystery of God’s action celebrated in the Eucharist, and emphasize the preacher and his or her cleverness, rather than the gift of salvation, represented by the Cross and the Altar.
Although we recognize the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God containing all things necessary for salvation, the challenge within Christian worship is always to maintain that balance between Word and Sacrament: the dynamic interplay in which the Spirit works, blowing through and stirring the Church to renewal and refreshment, anticipating the completion of God’s good work, wherein — though heaven and earth pass away — his word remains.
Knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
— The Apostle Peter (II Peter 3:17-18)
Second Sunday of Advent
Texts for this Week
Prayer
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Veni Redemptor gentium— Come, Redeemer of the Earth!
In this stunning acapella arrangement, contemporary composer Andrew Smith brilliantly and beautifully interpolates St Ambrose’s hymn — one of the oldest Latin hymns of Advent — with “Savior of the Nations Come:” the English translation of Luther’s adaptation, Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland. Even in weaving a rich polyphany, Smith retains the medieval feel of the hymn; and the images of a cold and desolate modern world accompanying the song speaks well to the particular mood of Advent 2020. For geeking out in the Latin purposes, here is the text of the hymn with commentary and translation by John Mason Neale.
Introitus
Populus Sion
This week’s introit comes from Isaiah 30:19 and Psalm 80:1. Here is a translation of the Latin from the antiphoner:
People of Zion, behold! The Lord shall come to save the nations: and the Lord shall make the glory of His voice to be heard, in the joy of your heart. Ps. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel: you that lead Joseph like a sheep.
Here it is, sung by the by the Congregation of St. Lazarus Autun; and here is a simple English version of the chant. And while we’re at it, Dutch Renaissance composer Heinrich Isaac (d 1517) composed a polyphonic setting of the introit so popular that it inspired a guitar arrangement by Noel Akchote.
