Thoughts for the Day

Luke 2:1-5 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in…

DETOUR CONTINUED Revelation 22:7,12,17,20 “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.”‘The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears…

DETOUR Revelation 1:7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.” Advent is a time to look forwards as well as back.  According to the headings in my…

Luke 1:68-80 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy…

Luke 1:56-66  Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.  When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.  On the eighth day they came to…

Luke 1:46-55  And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name.His mercy extends to…

DETOUR Mary the lyricist? Some question whether Mary would have been capable of composing the song ascribed to her in Luke 1 – the Magnificat.  The argument seems to be that it is simply too sophisticated for an uneducated peasant girl of the time and Luke must have put the words into her mouth as…

Luke 1:40-45 … she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favoured, that the…

Luke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea… Encouraged by the angel, Mary set off to visit Elizabeth.  This was a journey of around 80-100 miles taking maybe a week’s walking, less if she could join a caravan.  We are not told exactly when…

DETOUR Ponderings on theVirgin Birth  In producing these ‘Thoughts for the Day’ I’ve done the odd bit of web-research, including looking at different perspectives on the Virgin Birth.  For a matter that appears to be pretty much universally affirmed in every Creed or other denominational statement of Christian belief, it is amazing how quickly one…