The Second Sunday in Advent
admin | 7 December 2014The collect for today, the Second Sunday in Advent, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):
BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Epistle: Romans 15:4-13
The Gospel: St. Luke 21:25-33
Artwork: Willem Kerricx the Elder and WiIlem Ignatius Kerricx, Confessional showing the Last Judgment, before 1720, St. Paul’s Church, Antwerp. Photograph taken by admin, 13 October 2014.
The Christ of the Last Supper stands above the priest’s box accompanied by a trumpet-blowing angel. In front, on the left, St. Albertus Magnus, who founded the original St. Paul’s Church in 1276, makes a gesture of greeting and welcome. Between him and the Madonna and Child on the right appear two angels symbolising important virtues. Honesty, to the right, shows her true face and bears instruments of penitence. Humility, to the left, with head bowed, tramples on a laurel wreath of worldly accolades and holds the lamb of meekness and a fives ball: “and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). Against the wall, the notorious, remorseful sinners St. Mary Magdalene, King David, the Prodigal Son and the Repentant Thief encourage the confessant to confess all.