Thursday 10 December

Reveal among us the light of your presence, that we may behold your power and glory.

Readings (Click the links to see the readings)

Isaiah 41.13-20 | Ps 145.8-13 | Matthew 11.11-15

Baptist

"Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist" (Matthew 11.11).
Pieter Bruegel the Elder (ca. 1520-69). The Preaching of St. John the Baptist (1566). Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest,

John The Baptist
by Simon Foulkes

'after me comes one you do not know' John 1.26

The locust is a bitter food without honey sweetness;
For years life was bitter—scorched, desert-ed
Nazirite eyes black pin-pricks of pain, waiting—
And taking ridicule. But I marked out a highway
In the spirit and power of Elijah.
I am not The one to Come. I am not the Prophet. I am not worthy.
I am not Messiah. I am Baptist.

Look! The lamb of God!
I baptise with water—but after me comes another,
He stands among you—visible but unseen,
Present but not noticed, unremarked, disregarded; the cloaked traveller.
You ask me who I am—ask who He is!
In the Isaiah words: 'Here is your God'
Here–is–your–God

I cry out
From the bitter food
But here is the honey
The sweetness of God
O Jerusalem, O lost and shattered city
City of dreams
Of stonings and defeat
Tenderly, sweetly,
Your work, your pain is done
Hard service finished
Sins deleted, paid for
Tenderly, sweetly,
Jerusalem—I am Baptist—
Here–is–your–God.

Prayer

O Lord,
kindle in us the fire of your Spirit
that when your Christ comes again
we may shine as lights before his face;
who is alive and reigns now and for ever.

"The Lord is gracious and compassionate"
(Ps 145.8) — Bridget Moses.

May the Lord, when he comes, find us watching and waiting. Amen.