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Category Archives: Advent Word
Paradox: Advent Word 13
Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit—Divine Subcommittee for Selection of Advent Words—are having a good chuckle as they watch from on high the consternation of avid participants in their program, all of whom are scratching our heads as we ponder … Continue reading
Posted in Advent, Advent Word, hasten, John Donne, paradox, pardox, poetry, St. Francis of Assisi
Tagged #AdventWord, Advent, Advent Word, hasten, John Donne, paradox, poetry, St. Francis of Assisi
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Patience: Advent Word 12
Advent is all about waiting. However, I don’t believe it was standing in lines at Walmart, checking the door every five minutes for the UPS man, or even children sleeping with one eye open on Christmas Eve that inspired today’s … Continue reading
Posted in Advent, Advent Word, patience
Tagged #AdventWord, Advent, Advent Word, patience
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Truth: Advent Word 11
Postmodernism as articulated in the mid-20th century was bad enough—bad enough, in fact, to persuade me not to pursue a PhD in English when I realized how thoroughly that philosophy of deconstruction, epistemological and moral relativism, and rejection of meaning … Continue reading
Posted in Advent, Advent Word, religion, scripture, truth
Tagged #AdventWord, Advent, Advent Word, John 1, post-truth, postmodernism, truth, word
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Wait without Hope: Advent Word 9
At a loss for words In truth, today’s official Advent Word is herald. However, other than a vain effort at wordplay because of the homophonic association with my father’s name, Harold, I could think of nothing original to offer for this … Continue reading
Posted in Advent, Advent Word, poetry, T. S. Eliot
Tagged #AdventWord, Advent, Advent Word, literature, Lord of the Dance, poetry, religion, T. S. Eliot, The Four Quartets
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Glory: Advent Word 8
I often get my ideas for these assignments with a quick round of “Advent Word Association.” Today, the first thought that came to mind was the poignant plea of the once and future king at the end of Camelot. Addressing the boy … Continue reading
Awake: Advent Word 7
Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” was first performed on November 25, 1731, the 27th Sunday after Trinity. Based on the parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13), this message of this stunning cantata … Continue reading
Posted in Advent, Advent Word, Bach, music
Tagged #AdventWord, Advent, Advent Word, awake, Bach
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Watch: Advent Word 6
Words are my lifeblood, so I want to understand them deeply and fully–to know them and to own them. Thus, I frequently consult the Online Etymology Dictionary, a favorite site for enriching my store of words as I explore their … Continue reading
Posted in Advent, Advent Word, church, etymology, language, religion
Tagged Advent, Advent Word, etymology, King James vesion, watch
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Grace: Advent Word 5
I delight in volubility and could write thousands of words on the idea of grace, so antithetical to American culture beginning with our Puritan forefathers and continuing right through the rugged individuals of the frontier. However, I also delight in … Continue reading
Posted in Advent, Advent Word, catechism, grace
Tagged #AdventWord, Advent, Advent Word, Book of Common Prayer, catechism, grace, sacraments
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Peace: Advent Word 4
Give Peace a Chance? Most Advent meditations have no need of a trigger warning, but here goes: If you’re expecting warm fuzzies, you should make a peace sign and hum a few bars of “Kumbaya.” My thoughts as I pondered … Continue reading
Posted in Advent, Advent Word, church
Tagged Advent, First Amendment, peace, religion
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