Magnificat: Advent Daybook 15
An Advent daybook for these weeks of prayerful expectation.
Pray: Heavenly Father, make me more like Jesus and more like the true self you've created as I welcome your loving presence today. Please guide my thoughts and impressions by your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Look: Collection of Mary and the Apocalypse images
Sources - Pietro Annigoni | Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey, Iowa | Tim Okamura | Miguel Cabrera | Jyoti Sahi | Robert Campin dit Le Maitre de Flémalle | Our Lady of the Apocalypse | Tintoretto | Matthew Whitney
For a history: Woman of the Apocalypse (and interpretation as Virgin Mary)
Listen*: Vivaldi's Gloria & Magnificat in G Minor, RV 610A, Le Concert Spirituel, Herve Niquet - Spotify | YouTube
Read**: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 ; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28; John 1:19-28
**For today's readings, I combined readings from both the Revised Common Lectionary and the (2019 ACNA) Book of Common Prayer.
Excerpts:
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
For I the Lord love justice;
I hate robbery and wrong;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their offspring shall be known among the nations,
and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge them,
that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to sprout up before all the nations."
*
"And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 * Luke 1:46b-55 (ESV)
Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for Third Sunday in Advent
O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient toward the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world, we may be found a people acceptable in your sight; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Do: Fill your house with fragrance today!
There’s something peaceful and satisfying about enjoying the aroma of fragrance at its source. If you’re not baking or cooking something aromatic today, try simmering fruits and spices on the stovetop. Here's my favorite DIY potpourri for Advent: Holiday Stove Top Potpourri Mix
For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook Explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.
* Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify: Advent 2020: Gracious Invitation. Add it to your account by clicking right clicking on the three dots and selecting "Save to Library".
** Sunday Scripture readings are taken from Year B of the Book of Common Prayer 2019 (Anglican Church of North America). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and include both Morning and Evening Psalms (Year 1).