Advent: Light of the World – Lesson 4

Lesson 4:  Isaiah 62 Lectio Divina (lectio in groups)

Lectio:  Read Isaiah 62.  Highlight the promises given to the city of Zion and the people who dwell there.  Divide your paper and list the names of the city and her inhabitants in two columns:  the old names and the new names.

Meditatio:  Note the contrast of names, the transformation from desolation to fulfillment  Meditate on what brings about this change, and what this means for the future.

Oratio:  Note that this chapter is a prayer for the fulfillment of the promises for the New Jerusalem.  Pray the prayer along with the writer of these words.

Contemplatio:  Close your eyes and try to envision a world in which these words have already been fulfilled.  Thank God for the gift of Jesus, the Savior of the world.

 Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel Translated: John Neal, 1818-66

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, 
And ransom captive Israel, 
That mourns in lonely exile here 
Until the Son of God appear. 
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high, 
And cheer us by your drawing nigh, 
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, 
And death’s dark shadows put to flight. 
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind 
In one the hearts of all mankind; 
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease, 
And be yourself our King of Peace. 
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 
Shall come to you, O Israel!