Singing a New Song
The tradition for the third Sunday of Advent includes lighting a third sometimes pink candle that is a symbol of joy. This Sunday was traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.
Our focus reading for this Sunday will be Luke 1:47-55, also known as the Song of Mary. Mary is chosen by God for the special task of being Jesus’ mother. Mary is young; she has no status or power in her society, she is an unlikely person for such an important task. Mary’s prophetic song radiates love and celebrates God’s transformative vision of justice that challenges the powerful and lifts up the weak.
This week, I would like to share with you a new song, which has been adapted for our time in Advent this year.
Merciful God, May Mary’s song be heard through the ages,
drowning out the din of Christmas chaos.
This year, may it be heard by the victims of violence in the political turmoil in South Sudan, Syria, Somalia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Ethiopia, Haiti.
This year, may it ring in the ears of the traumatised in Iran, China, and Afghanistan.
This year, may it sing in the hearts of those stuck in the refugee camps of Pakistan, Turkey and Uganda
May it be an earworm song of hope
for all Indigenous peoples, all standing strong for land rights.
May it be the rally cry of peace
for the war-weary of the Ukraine.
May it nourish hope in the bellies
of those fearful of failed harvests.
May it be a song that stirs reverent fear
in the hearts of those who assume power.
And may the joyful promises of justice
and overturned power fill all our hearts
to overflowing action. Amen.
~ Adapted from a post on the Monthly Prayer page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/
This year, as we continue our Advent journey, may we find the courage of Mary to praise God for our blessings and to call out and name those places where power and injustice continue to suppress people.
In peace
Pastor Beryl