Artwork:
The Harrowing of Hell is a late Byzantine fresco of the Anastasis (rising from the dead), (image by Jim Forest CC 2.0) located in the parecclesion (side chapel) of the Church of Chora in Istanbul, Turkey. This particular fresco depicts Christ releasing Adam and Eve from their tombs.

Advent Devotional

This lovely lilting Baroque piece is often performed as an instrumental at weddings, but the composer who popularized it is the inimitable J.S. Bach who originally programmed it as the finale to a ten-movement liturgical work celebrating the miraculous pregnancies of Mary and Elizabeth from the Gospel of Luke, and God’s subversion of the world order through the birth of Christ. Under Bach’s design, this carol becomes a choir-song of praise to Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, our joy and our strength.

Even the light, bright major chords give way to a text that has a somewhat mystical quality, continuing advent allusions. “Word of God” and “uncreated light” suggest John 1:1 and John 1:4, respectively. Clearly connecting the biblical passage with the stanza, the phrase “un-created light” illuminates new meaning to some of us. In the Orthodox tradition, “uncreated light” is not natural light; and neither is it light that emanates from God or Christ. “Uncreated light” is the being of God, God’s Self and energy. This light is represented in the Transfiguration and Resurrection icons of the Orthodox Church by a white (or blue-tinted) light which surrounds the representations of the transfigured and resurrected Christ, signifying God’s presence at these pivotal points in Christ’s ministry and life. We are “drawn” to this Light, even “soaring, dying round thy throne.”

Jesus, He is our heart’s desire. He is The Word, The Life, The Light, the Creator of all things, the desire or every person’s heart, even if some may not realize it yet.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus,
You are the light of my life,
my heart’s desire. Draw
my soul to Thee.