Celtic Odyssey

HAIL King! hail King! blessed is He! blessed is He! Hail King! hail King! blessed is He! blessed is He! Hail King! hail King! blessed is He, the King of whom we sing,          All hail! let there be joy! This night is the eve of the great Nativity, Born is the Son of Mary the Virgin, The soles of His feet have reached the earth, The Son of glory down from on high, Heaven and earth glowed to Him,          All hail! let there be joy! The peace of earth to Him, the joy of heaven to Him, Behold His feet have reached the world; The homage of a King be His, the welcome of a Lamb be His, King all victorious, Lamb all glorious, Earth and ocean illumed to Him,          All hail! let there be joy! The mountains glowed to Him, the plains glowed to Him, The voice of the waves with the song of the strand, Announcing to us that Christ is born, Son of the King of kings from the land of salvation; Shone the sun on the m...

I AM lying down to-night as beseems In the fellowship of Christ, son of the Virgin of ringlets. In the fellowship of the gracious Father of glory, In the fellowship of the Spirit of powerful aid. I am lying down to-night with God, And God to-night will lie down with me, I will not lie down to-night with sin, nor shall Sin nor sin's shadow lie down with me. I am lying down to-night with the Holy Spirit, And the Holy Spirit this night will lie down with me, I will lie down this night with the Three of my love, And the Three of my love will lie down with me.

I LIE down to-night With fair Mary and with her Son, With pure-white Michael, And with Bride beneath her mantle. I lie down with God, And God will lie down with me, I will not lie down with Satan, Nor shall Satan lie down with me. O God of the poor, Help me this night, Omit me not entirely From Thy treasure-house. For the many wounds That I inflicted on Thee, I cannot this night Enumerate them. Thou King of the blood of truth, Do not forget me in Thy dwelling-place, Do not exact from me for my transgressions, Do not omit me in Thine ingathering.      In Thine ingathering.

IN name of the Lord Jesus, And of the Spirit of healing balm, In name of the Father of Israel,     I lay me down to rest. If there be evil threat or quirk, Or covert act intent on me, God free me and encompass me,     And drive from me mine enemy. In name of the Father precious, And of the Spirit of healing balm, In name of the Lord Jesus,     I lay me down to rest. *         *         *         * God, help me and encompass me,     From this hour till the hour of my death.

O JESU without sin, King of the poor, Who wert sorely subdued Under ban of the wicked, Shield Thou me this night      From Judas. My soul on Thine own arm, O Christ, Thou the King of the City of Heaven, Thou it was who bought’st my soul, O Jesu,      Thou it was who didst sacrifice Thy life for me. Protect Thou me because of my sorrow, For the sake of Thy passion, Thy wounds, and Thine own blood, And take me in safety to-night      Near to the City of God.

SPIRIT, give me of Thine abundance, Father, give me of Thy wisdom, Son, give me in my need,      Jesus beneath the shelter of Thy shield. I lie down to-night, With the Triune of my strength, With the Father, with Jesus,      With the Spirit of might.

I AM placing my soul and my body On Thy sanctuary this night, O God, On Thy sanctuary, O Jesus Christ, On Thy sanctuary, O Spirit of perfect truth,      The Three who would defend my cause,      Nor turn Their backs upon me. Thou, Father, who art kind and just, Thou, Son, who didst overcome death, Thou, Holy Spirit of power, Be keeping me this night from harm;      The Three who would justify me      Keeping me this night and always.

O JESU! to-night, Thou Shepherd of the poor, Thou sinless person Who didst suffer full sore, By ban of the wicked, And wast crucified. Save me from evil, Save me from harm, Save Thou my body, Sanctify me to-night, O Jesu! to-night, Nor leave me. Endow me with strength, Thou Herdsman of might. Guide me aright, Guide me in Thy strength, O Jesu! in Thy strength Preserve me.

Isaiah 61.1-4, 8-11 (CEB) Psalm 126 (CEB) 1 Thessalonians 5.16-24 (CEB) John 1.6-8, 19-28 (CEB) Sometimes I don’t understand the lectionary. Sunday would have been a perfect time to tie in the lesson from the Jewish Scriptures with Jesus reading the same passage in the Gospels. I mean, I get it. It’s Advent. We are about preparing for God’s coming. Isaiah talks about what to expect when God finally comes; when God’s promised Reign begins ( Mark 1.14-15; NLT ). But Jesus stating that it began with his ministry is so powerful. Especially when we see what’s entailed in that promise as spoken through Isaiah: The LORD God’s spirit is upon me,   because the LORD has anointed me. He has sent me   to bring good news to the poor,   to bind up the brokenhearted,   to proclaim release for captives,      and liberation for prisoners,   to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor    This is w...

COME I this day to the Father, Come I this day to the Son, Come I to the Holy Spirit powerful; Come I this day with God, Come I this day with Christ, Come I with the Spirit of kindly balm, God, and Spirit, and Jesus, From the crown of my head To the soles of my feet; Come I with my reputation, Come I with my testimony, Come I to Thee, Jesu--      Jesu, shelter me.

BE Thy right hand, O God, under my head, Be Thy light, O Spirit, over me shining. And be the cross of the nine angels over me down, From the crown of my head to the soles of my feet,      From the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. O Jesu without offence, crucified cruelly, Under ban of the wicked Thou wert scourged, The many evils done of me in the body! That I cannot this night enumerate,      That I cannot this night enumerate. O Thou King of the blood of truth, Cast me not from Thy covenant, Exact not from me for my transgressions, Nor omit me in Thy numbering,      Nor omit me in Thy numbering. Be the cross of Mary and of Michael over me in peace, Be my soul dwelling in truth, be my heart free of guile, Be my soul in peace with thee, Brightness of the mountains. Valiant Michael, meet thou my soul,      Morn and eve, day and night. May it be so.

GOD guide me with Thy wisdom, God chastise me with Thy justice, God help me with Thy mercy, God protect me with Thy strength. God fill me with Thy fullness, God shield me with Thy shade, God fill me with Thy grace, For the sake of Thine Anointed Son. Jesu Christ of the seed of David, Visiting One of the Temple, Sacrificial Lamb of the Garden, Who died for me.

A PALMFUL for thine age,      A palmful for thy growth, A palmful for thy throat,      A flood for thine appetite. For thy share of the dainty,      Crowdie and kail; For thy share of the taking,      Honey and warm milk. For thy share of the supping,      Whisked whey and milk-product; For thy share of the spoil,      With bow and with spear. For thy share of the preparation,      The yellow eggs of Easter; For thy share of the treat,      My treasure and my joy, For thy share of the feast      With gifts and with tribute; For thy share of the treasure,      Pulset of my love. For thy share of the chase      Up the face of the Beinn-a-cheo; For thy share of the hunting      And the ...

I AM bathing my face In the mild rays of the sun, As Mary bathed Christ In the rich milk of Egypt. Sweetness be in my mouth, Wisdom be in my speech, The love the fair Mary gave her Son Be in the heart of all flesh for me. The love of Christ in my breast, The form of Christ protecting me, There is not in sea nor on land That can overcome the King of the Lord's Day. The hand of Bride about my neck, The hand of Mary about my breast, The hand of Michael laving me, The hand of Christ saving me. ~~~ Variant--   Force in my mouth,   Sense be in my speech,   The taste of nectar on my lips,   Till I return hither.

I BATHE my face In the nine rays of the sun, As Mary bathed her Son      In the rich fermented milk. Honey be in my mouth, Affection be in my face; The love that Mary gave her Son      Be in the heart of all flesh for me. All-seeing, all-hearing, all-inspiring may God be, To satisfy and to strengthen me; Blind, deaf, and dumb, ever, ever be      My contemners and my mockers, The tongue of Columba in my head, The eloquence of Columba in my speech; The composure of the Victorious Son of grace      Be mine in presence of the multitude.

GOD, I am bathing my face In the nine rays of the sun, As Mary bathed her Son      In generous milk fermented. Sweetness be in my face, Riches be in my countenance, Comb-honey be in my tongue,      My breath as the incense. Black is yonder house, Blacker men therein; I am the white swan,      Queen over them. I will go in the name of God, In likeness of deer, in likeness of horse, In likeness of serpent, in likeness of king,      More victorious am I than all persons.

I WILL wash my face In the nine rays of the sun, As Mary washed her Son      In the rich fermented milk. Love be in my countenance, Benevolence in my mind, Dew of honey in my tongue,      My breath as the incense. Black is yonder town, Black are those therein, I am the white swan,      Queen above them. I will travel in the name of God, In likeness of deer, in likeness of horse, In likeness of serpent, in likeness of king:      Stronger will it be with me than with all persons.

When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it - always. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

MAY I speak each day according to Thy justice, Each day may I show Thy chastening, O God; May I speak each day according to Thy wisdom, Each day and night may I be at peace with Thee. Each day may I count the causes of Thy mercy, May I each day give heed to Thy laws; Each day may I compose to Thee a song, May I harp each day Thy praise, O God. May I each day give love to Thee, Jesu, Each night may I do the same; Each day and night, dark and light, May I laud Thy goodness to me, O God.

THOU angel of God who hast charge of me From the dear Father of mercifulness, The shepherding kind of the fold of the saints To make round about me this night; Drive from me every temptation and danger, Surround me on the sea of unrighteousness, And in the narrows, crooks, and straits, Keep thou my coracle, keep it always. Be thou a bright flame before me, Be thou a guiding star above me, Be thou a smooth path below me, And be a kindly shepherd behind me, To-day, to-night, and for ever. I am tired and I a stranger, Lead thou me to the land of angels; For me it is time to go home To the court of Christ, to the peace of heaven.

Mark 13:24-37 (CEB): “In those days, after the suffering of that time, the sun will become dark, and the moon won’t give its light. The stars will fall from the sky, and the planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken. Then they will see the Human One coming in the clouds with great power and splendor. Then he will send the angels and gather together his chosen people from the four corners of the earth, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven. “Learn this parable from the fig tree. After its branch becomes tender and it sprouts new leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that he’s near, at the door. I assure you that this generation won’t pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away. “But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the angels in heaven and not the Son. Only the Father knows. Watch out! Stay alert! You don’t know ...

THE cross of the saints and of the angels with me From the top of my face to the edge of my soles.          +         +         + O Michael mild, O Mary of glory, O gentle Bride of the locks of gold, Preserve ye me in the weakly body, The three preserve me on the just path.      Oh! three preserve me on the just path. Preserve ye me in the soul-shrine poor, Preserve ye me, and I so weak and naked, Preserve ye me without offence on the way, The preservation of the three upon me to-night.      Oh! the three to shield me to-night.

BEHOLD the Lightener of the stars On the crests of the clouds, And the choralists of the sky      Lauding Him. Coming down with acclaim From the Father above, Harp and lyre of song      Sounding to Him. Christ, Thou refuge of my love, Why should not I raise Thy fame! Angels and saints melodious      Singing to Thee. Thou Son of the Mary of graces, Of exceeding white purity of beauty, Joy were it to me to be in the fields      Of Thy riches. O Christ my beloved, O Christ of the Holy Blood, By day and by night      I praise Thee.

ON the Rock of rocks, The peace of Peter and Paul, Of James and John the beloved, And of the pure perfect Virgin,      The pure perfect Virgin. The peace of the Father of joy, The peace of the Christ of pasch, The peace of the Spirit of grace, To ourselves and to our children,     Ourselves and our children.

IT were as easy for Jesu To renew the withered tree As to wither the new Were it His will so to do.      Jesu! Jesu! Jesu!      Jesu! meet it were to praise Him. There is no plant in the ground But is full of His virtue, There is no form in the strand But is full of His blessing.      Jesu! Jesu! Jesu!      Jesu! meet it were to praise Him. There is no life in the sea, There is no creature in the river, There is naught in the firmament, But proclaims His goodness.      Jesu! Jesu! Jesu!      Jesu! meet it were to praise Him. There is no bird on the wing, There is no star in the sky, There is nothing beneath the sun, But proclaims His goodness.      Jesu! Jesu! Jesu!      Jesu! meet it were to praise Him.

As Thou art the Shepherd over the flock Tend Thou us to the cot and the fold, Sain us beneath Thine own glorious mantle;       Thou Shield of protection, guard us for ever, Be Thou a hard triumphant slave To shield us securely from wicked hell, From the fiends and from the stieve snell gullies,       And from the lurid smoke of the abyss. Be my soul in the trustance of the High King, Be Michael the powerful meeting my soul.

I AM bending my knee In the eye of the Father who created me, In the eye of the Son who died for me, In the eye of the Spirit who cleansed me,      In love and desire. Pour down upon us from heaven The rich blessing of Thy forgiveness; Thou who art uppermost in the City,      Be Thou patient with us. Grant to us, Thou Saviour of Glory, The fear of God, the love of God, and His affection, And the will of God to do on earth at all times As angels and saints do in heaven; Each day and night give us Thy peace.      Each day and night give us Thy peace.

Matthew 25:31-46 (CEB): “Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left. “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to we...

James 1:27 (CEB): True devotion, the kind that is pure and faultless before God the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their difficulties and to keep the world from contaminating us. ‘Keep the world from contaminating us.’ Many times, I’ve heard that to mean ‘sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll’ (or there abouts). But I don’t think that’s what St. James was getting at here. It’s seem pretty clear that ‘worldly corruption’ would be just the opposite of what St James admonished his audience - namely, not taking care of orphans and widows in their difficulties would be ‘worldly corruption’. This is the same that Jesus talked about in his story in Matthew 25. A story that has it’s place of fulfillment with the lives of his contemporaries, but the message is clearly applicable for all generations. There, Jesus said: Matthew 25:31-46 (CEB): “Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. All the nations will be g...