The Adventure of Advent III

Ma Vie En Rose

“O pure of heart! thou need'st not ask of me

What this strong music in the soul may be!

What, and wherein it doth exist,

This light, this glory, this fair luminous mist,

This beautiful and beauty-making power.

         Joy, virtuous Lady! Joy that ne'er was given,

Save to the pure, and in their purest hour,

Life, and Life's effluence, cloud at once and shower,

Joy, Lady! is the spirit and the power,

Which wedding Nature to us gives in dower

         A new Earth and new Heaven,

Undreamt of by the sensual and the proud—

Joy is the sweet voice, Joy the luminous cloud—

                We in ourselves rejoice!

And thence flows all that charms or ear or sight,

         All melodies the echoes of that voice,

All colours a suffusion from that light.” — Coleridge

St. Paul to the Thessalonians

Always be joyful;

17 pray ceaselessly;

18 and for all things give thanks — this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not stifle the Spirit

20 or despise the gift of prophecy with contempt;

21 test everything and hold on to what is good

22 and shun every form of evil.

23 May the God of peace make you perfect and holy; and may your spirit, life and body be kept blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 He who has called you is trustworthy and will carry it out.