Saturday of the Second Week of Advent - St. Thomas More
In those days, like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace. Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; By the Lord's word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! - Sirach 28:1-4 In the Advent carol “Watchman Tell Us Of the Night,” the lyricist, Sir John Bowring , presents a dialogue between a watchman and a traveler. In the song, the night is far spent and the morning star announces the coming of the dawn: Watchman, tell us of the night, What its signs of promise are. Traveler, o’er yon mountains height, See that glory beaming star. Watchman, does its beauteous ray Aught of joy or hope foretell? Traveler, yes—it brings the day, Promised day of Israel . The prophet, like the traveler in this carol, is the one who is able to discern the presence and action of God at work in the world and who i...