Brighten Our Darkness
by Patrick Burgess
As, all too quickly, the shadows lengthened and night’s steely fingers invaded the dusk, a sense of gentle elation filled our Cathedral on Sunday the 30th November. Hope, as Bishop Richard said in his homily as we celebrated Solemn Pontifical Vespers for the first Sunday of Advent - and not just Hope but the promise of Light it brings - changes everything: it fills a whole dull winter month with the eager expectation of the blessings which the Child lying in a manger at Bethlehem will bring, and with the striking presentiment of the awe which His coming again will one day inspire in all of us ; no wonder we all thrilled at the prospect as we rose to sing, as our Office Hymn, ’ Lo, He comes with clouds descending: O what rapture!’
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