Behold, I Send my Messenger
“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”
A tryptic from contemporary Ukranian artist Lyuba Yatskiv depicts St. John the Forerunner, Angel of the Desert (2019). In the tradition of Byzantine iconography, John is depicted as an intense and serious figure, with wings and wild hair. On the left panel, he preaches repentance, and on the right, he baptizes our Lord.
The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
— The Prophet Malachi (Mal 3:1)
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.
Aspiciens a longe - Advent Matins Responsory
The Gesualdo Six — a UK-based ensemble specializing in English Renaissance music — sing the traditional Matins Responsory, composed by Palestrina and arranged and popularized by Sir David Wilcox in contemporary Anglican celebrations of Advent.
For an expression of Advent that is very different — but powerful in its own way — Sho Bakara’s Maranatha is worth a listen.
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.
