B103 - Advent 3 (Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Luke 1:46-55; John 1:6-8, 19-28)

Dr Angela Sawyer returns to speak about Isaiah 61, a passage that reflects the concerns of returned exiles, the difficulty of life under colonial rule, and hope in God reversing the fortunes of the marginalised. The alternate to the Psalm this week is Mary’s Magnificat, a song that continues these themes hundreds of years later. And the gospel reading gives us another view on John “the Baptist” presenting him as a witness, inviting reflection on how we witness or testify to Christ today.  We refer to Ched Myers’ Binding the Strong Man. Vivaldi’s Business Plan by Samuel Wells