Tag: Christians

Morning Reading: Luke 1.39-45

visitation(1)
Mary and Elizabeth
Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890)

Luke 1.39-45

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

“Ave Maria” – Classical Paintings w/ Kenny G (Schubert)

Peanut Gallery: “The Annunciation” has inspired artists over the centuries, just as it inspires us today. The classical paintings included here come from the amazing website – The Life of Jesus Christ… please check it out, it is a treasure trove of clasical paintings and includes many more of the Annunciation.

I have included Kenny G’s rendition of “Ave Maria” to complement quiet reflection. Please click on audio link.

Annunciation, John William Waterhouse, 1914
Annunciation, John William Waterhouse, 1914
Annunciation, Fra Angelico, 1438
Annunciation, Fra Angelico, 1438
Annunciation, Titian, 1522
Annunciation, Titian, 1522
Annunciation, Antonello da Messina, 1474
Annunciation, Antonello da Messina, 1474
The Cestello Annunciation, Sandro Botticelli, 1489
The Cestello Annunciation, Sandro Botticelli, 1489
Annunciation, John Collier
Annunciation, John Collier
Annunciation, Jean Hey, Master of Moulins, 1490-5
Annunciation, Jean Hey, Master of Moulins, 1490-5

Annunciation, Peter Paul Rubens, 1610
Annunciation, Peter Paul Rubens, 1610
Annunciation, George Hitchcock, 1887
Annunciation, George Hitchcock, 1887

Please follow this link to The Life of Christ for more “Annunciation” paintings.

Morning Reading; Luke 1.26-38

Luke 1.26-38

"Annunciation," Dante Gabriel Rosetti, 1850
“Annunciation,” Dante Gabriel Rosetti, 1850

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”

But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”

And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Then the angel departed from her.

“On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” – Advent Carol Service 2012 – Trinity College Chapel (YouTube)

Advent Carol Service 2012 - Trinity College Chapel
Advent Carol Service 2012 – Trinity College Chapel

Peanut Gallery: “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” – by Charles Coffin (1676-1749)

The Hymn may be found in the middle of the Trinity College Chapel Advent Carol Service:

    • Beginning at 39.14 – Reading: Matthew 3.1-12 “John the Baptist Prepares the Way”
    • Beginning at 41.17 – Hymn: “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry”

_______________________

“On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry announces that the Lord is nigh. Awake and harken, for he brings glad tidings of the King of kings!”


Please note: The words sung are slightly different from those printed here.

“Then cleansed be every life from sin: make straight the way for God within, and let us all our hearts prepare for Christ to come and enter there.

“We hail you as our Savior, Lord, our refuge and our great reward. Without your grace we waste away like flowers that wither and decay.”

“Stretch forth your hand, our health restore, and make us rise to fall no more. O let your face upon us shine and fill the world with love divine.”

“All praise to you, eternal Son, whose advent has our freedom won, whom with the Father we adore, and Holy Spirit, evermore.”

Morning Reading: Luke 1.11-17 NLT

Luke 1.11-17 NLT

Bonifazio Veronese, 1487-1553, "The Archangel Gabriel announces the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah."
Bonifazio Veronese, 1487-1553, “The Archangel Gabriel announces the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah.”
While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him.

But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”