Sunday, December 06, 2009

Music Monday--Every Valley Shall Be Exaulted

Handel's Messiah inevitably runs through the head of many a music lover during Advent. The old testament reading on second Sunday of Advent this year was taken from the prophet Baruch.

For God has decreed the flattening
of each high mountain, of the everlasting hills,
the filling of the valleys to make the ground level
so that Israel can walk in safety under the glory of God.

Other years, it is taken from Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 31
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
This message was reinforced in the Gospel of Luke this Sunday when John the Baptist
went through the whole Jordan district proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the sayings of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice cries in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley will be filled in,
every mountain and hill be laid low,
winding ways will be straightened
and rough roads made smooth.
And all mankind shall see the salvation of God.

4 comments:

Anne said...

Weren't those just the most lovely readings? My heart skips a beat over those wonderful words! Love the Messiah as well!

Staying in Balance said...

I love the readings during Advent. My head is full of such beautiful music!

TACParent said...

Nice music. Many different versions out there of it.

Staying in Balance said...

Very true. Some better than others!

Dymphna's favorite quotes


"Slavery ended in medieval Europe only because the church extended its sacraments to all slaves and then managed to impose a ban on the enslavement of Christians (and of Jews). Within the context of medieval Europe, that prohibition was effectively a rule of universal abolition. "— Rodney Stark

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