Tag: faith

Morning Reading: Luke 1.46-56 NLT w/ “Magnificat” (YouTube)

Magnificat
Magnificat
Luke 1:46-56 NLT
The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise

Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors,to Abraham and his children forever.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.

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.