I know I haven’t done them in a while, but this morning -up early and venturing into the splendid Office of Readings (OOR)- I thought I would share them with you. As we approach the end of the liturgical year, the readings are full of end-times scripture and prophecy, and the lessons are full of love, and warming us up for Advent. I can’t help but think they would be appealing to Catholics and Evangelicals, alike.

Unfortunately, it turns out that recording as I have done in the past, right into the computer, won’t work with the laptop; way too much noise.

I’m kind of sad about that. I’d been considering reading A Christmas Carol, or something else, for Advent. Have I ever mentioned how much I love this graphic novel of A Christmas Carol? So wonderfully well-illustrated, it’s a nice alternative to the movies! That Amazon link let’s you look inside.

Anyway, podcasts seem to be over, (I will continue to host the ones that still exist, here) but sadly (for me, anyway) I won’t be doing anything special for the run-up to Christmas, as I did last year.

Last year’s recordings might still be worth listening to, if you’re in the mood. I may listen to a few of them, myself, as I have no idea what I said in my little “homiliettes.”

I don’t understand how others with laptops manage to record; they must have different equipment than I do. For me, running audacity on the laptop, with a head mic -it’s not happening.**

Anyway, getting back to the OOR: when I was finished with this morning’s prayer, I went back to Tuesday’s lesson, which I liked very much. It was written by St. Andrew of Crete, a 7th century bishop who is also known as Andrew of Jerusalem, and I think you’ll like it too.

Let us say to Christ: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel. Let us wave before him like palm branches the words inscribed above him on the cross. Let us show him honor, not with olive branches but with the splendor of merciful deeds to one another. Let us spread the thoughts and desires of our hearts under his feet like garments, so that entering with the whole of his being, he may draw the whole of our being into himself and place the whole of his in us. Let us say to Zion in the words of the prophet: Have courage, daughter, of Zion, do not be afraid. Behold, your king comes to you, humble and mounted on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.

He is coming who is everywhere present and pervades all things; he is coming who came to call to repentance not the righteous but sinners, coming to recall those who have strayed into sin. Do not be afraid, then: God is in the midst of you, and you shall not be shaken.

Receive him with open, outstretched hands, for it was on his own hands that he sketched you. Receive him who laid your foundations on the palms of his hands. Receive him, for he took upon himself all that belongs to us except sin, to consume what is ours in what is his. Be glad, city of Zion, our mother, and fear not. Celebrate your feasts. Glorify him for his mercy, who has come to us in you. Rejoice exceedingly, daughter of Jerusalem, sing and leap for joy. Be enlightened, be enlightened, we cry to you , as holy Isaiah trumpeted, for the light has come to you and the glory of God has risen upon you.

What kind of light is this? It is that which enlightens every man coming into the world. It is the everlasting light, the timeless light, revealed in time, teh light manifested in the flesh although hidden by nature, the light that shone round the shepherds and guided the Magi. It is the light that was in the world from the beginning, through which the world was made, yet the world did not know it. It is that light which came to its own, and its own people did not receive it.

And what is this glory of the Lord? Clearly it is the cross on which Christ was glorified, he, the radiance of the Father’s glory, even as he said when he faced his passion: Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him, and will glorify him at once. The glory of which he speaks here is his lifting up on the cross, for Christ’s glory is his cross and his exaltation upon it, as he plainly says: When I have been lifted up, I will draw all men to myself.

If you want something to chew on and ponder and maybe journal on, there is a lot there. That’s an all-day sucker of praise and wonderment.

Responsory:
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
- The Lord our God has let his light shine upon us.

The Lord has done this,
and it is wonderful to our eyes.
– The Lord our God has let his light shine upon us.

And thanks to Zoe, enjoy these glorious and wonderful pictures of the monks of Mt. Athos

**Note: You can always still access Compline (the prayers before sleep), the 4 Rosary Podcasts and the Litany of the Sacred Heart in the righthand sidebar.