Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17

Today, with the Feast of the Lord’s Baptism, we have the end of Christmas, and the end of the Epiphany. In the West from quite early times a separate Feast of the Baptism fell out of use, being simply absorbed into the Feast of the Epiphany.

Isaiah 60:1-6   Ephesians 3:2-6   Matthew 2:1-12

I have a long-standing friend who is a distinguished academic. She has occupied university chairs in several countries, including here in the UK, and published many books and articles. In recent years, the current crisis in academia itself has become one of her main interests. So she has turned her attention to the fate of the University as an established and yet constantly evolving institution in our society.

“Comfort, comfort my people!”

These words of the Lord taken from the Book of Isaiah ring out all through Advent right up to Christmas. There then come several comforting messages, including the following one: “All flesh is grass and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand for ever.”

Isaiah 9:2-7   Titus 2:11-14   Luke 2:1-14

Once upon a time there was “a land of deep darkness”. In fact, it was more like an empire spread over all over the world as we humans know it. Under the “yoke of its burden”, “the rod of the oppressor”, under “the boot of the trampling warrior”, to use the prophet Isaiah's phrases, everyone suffered. All people “walked in darkness”.

The quarterly magazine which generally includes a letter from Fr Abbot, a diary of recent activity at the Abbey, book reviews and articles by monks, oblates or visitors.

Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?

This question of St. John the Baptist is a very good one for us to pose as we prepare to celebrate Christmas. If Jesus is not the one - if he is not the promised Messiah of Israel - indeed if he is less than God Incarnate - then we should cancel Christmas, close the monastery, and give up coming to Mass.

St Anselm, one of the great medieval champions of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, wrote some beautiful prayers addressed to Our Lady. The first of the three included in his famous Prayers and Meditations is spoken from the position of a grave sinner.

Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt 3:2).

Once again we hear the cry of St. John the Baptist, always valid, always relevant, always urgent. John calls us to prepare for the coming of the Lord: to know that the Lord is even now among us; to be certain that nothing whatever in our life is more important than knowing him, receiving him, listening to him, following him.

Sunday 7 December: Ecumenical Carol Service at the Abbey, 6.00 p.m., followed by refreshments.