today bears great significance
of earthly and spiritual relevance
allow me to spin the yarn and splice
a steinback patch on my quilt of men and mice

first canticle to sing to mother dear
82 years of life to clear

without whom, my siblings and i would not be here
to make our separate journeys but bound together by her, far and near
she taught us not to fear but now fear has taken over her
now out-of-step with life, all is a slur and blur
alice peered through her looking glass and wonderland
this phase of life never planned
our wish for thee is not try so hard
instead let go, make the most of your dealt card
“in the days of my youth,” as father williams decreed
“i remember’d that youth could not last
i thought of the future whatever i did,
that i never might grieve for the past.”

at today’s worship, the magnificat reminded us the reason for the season
magnificat is latin for “to magnify Him”
recorded in luke 1:46-55, also called the canticle of mary responding to cousin, a song lesson
when mary learned she was to be mother of the Messiah, here goes her joyous prayer praise hymn

my soul doth magnify the Lord.
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid;
for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
because He that is mighty, hath done great things for me; and holy is His name.
and His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him.
He hath shewed might in His arm:
He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He hath received israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy:
as He spoke to our fathers, to abraham and his seed for ever.

today also marks “advent” which means “arrival” or “coming”
advent is the beginning of the church year, symbolized by candle-lighting
it begins on the fourth sunday before christmas day
and ends on christmas eve, december 24 before His birthday
the focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus in His first advent
and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in His second advent, a fallen babylon event

bernard bell’s askesis today is which city – babylon or new jerusalem – will your earthly life be spent?