There are many layers of thought in today's readings.

The reading from Numbers, follows on from a much more famous reading in which we would have 'Balams' Ass' . It appears in a common enough put down in common use today but usually by people who know nothing of the origins. If the poor donkey had not spoken then the prophet would not have become the Lord's Prophet, but would have continued to be the vassal of a human King. John the Baptist had the same risky relationship with his King - refusing to say what the king wanted to hear.

In the Gospel, Jesus confounds the Temple leaders by posing them an unanswerable question. In the following sequence of readings from Matthew's Gospel, Jesus digs in - really annoying them by pointing out to them how wrong they were about their relationship with God. This was to lead - in short course - to the crucifixtion.

If you are wondering why we have readings at the end of Advent, clearly relating to the build up to Easter - then you should also ponder why did Jesus come to Earth at all?

Those of us celebrating a birthday on this auspicious saint's day, can choose to celebrate his memorial as we say our daily prayers.

He was bishop of Myra, in Lycia (now part of Turkey) and died about the middle of the fourth century. He has been venerated throughout the Church, especially since the 10th century. Because of his help to the poor he is the patron saint of pawnbrokers, whose insignia of three golden balls represent the three purses of gold he is said to have given secretly to a poor man who could not afford dowries for his three daughters.

St Nicholas may be part of the inspiration for the 'secular' saintly figure of Santa Claus - or he may not. But the real 'Saint Nick' is an inspiration to generosity, helping others out when possible from his personal store of wealth. We would do well to remember the christian motive that led Bishop Nicholas to help out one of his flock - it was probably just one example of generosity - as we plan our Christmas time.

Today's Gospel is just one of many healings that Jesus performed among the people just after the sermon on the mount. Our first reading is Isaiah 29:17-24: Blink and you. might think you are reading the Beatitudes - Matt 5 3-12, the core of that sermon. This is one of those many links that connect the Old Testament with the new - a foreshadowing of the same idea, in the OT where Jesus adds a sense of authority and 'now' ness to the message in the way he tells it. There is no sense in which we can say that the New Testament replaces the Old. Jesus himself said that he came to complete the law, not to abolish it, so we need to continue to read and try to understand the old and new testaments.

God has always insisted that the poor are blessed. Not because of their suffering, but because of the promise that they have of heavenly wealth to come. When the kingdom comes - then shall they be blessed. And the kingdom has come - the king lived and walked among is and continues to do so within all the faithful.

So we have to make the blessings flow to the poor, in every way that we have means to do so.

The Cathedral, indeed the civic centre of the town, was moved to Salisbury from Sarum, it is said, because the monks did not like the wind that blew across salisbury plain. Salisbury still claims to be the inter for Stonehenge - but old Sarum is indeed much closer.

The old Sarum Rite was written in the cathedral at Sarum, and has a certain beauty about it.

By the favor of God we all arrived in Japan in perfect health on the 15th of August, 1549. We landed at Cagoxima, the native place of our companions. We were received in the most friendly way by all the people of the city, especially the relations of Paul, the Japanese convert, all of whom had the blessing to receive the light of truth from heaven, and by Paul’s persuasion became Christians. During our stay at Cagoxima the people appeared to be wonderfully delighted with the doctrines of the divine law, so entirely new to their ears. Japan is a very large empire entirely composed of islands. One language is spoken throughout, not very difficult to learn…The Japanese are very ambitious with honors and distinctions, and think themselves superior to all nations in military glory and valor…They are, in short, a very warlike people, and engaged in continual wars among themselves; the most powerful in arms bearing the most extensive sway. They have all one sovereign, although for one hundred and fifty years past the princes have ceased to obey him, and this is the cause of their perpetual feuds. \

~From a letter to the Jesuits in Europe, from Saint Francis Xavier

All of our first readings in Advent come from Isaiah. But who was Isaiah?

The more correct question is who were Isaiah, as there were at least two, and probably three authors. This is evident from the different styles of writing used, but also clues relating to events that are know for specific dates spanning at least two centuries.

Overall the prophesies speak of an overwhelming, glorious and transcendent God, which is contrasted strongly with the sinful, weak nature of humans. Israel - the people of God - have been stubborn in their refusal to follow God's commands, and God's holiness demands much better from us! Although these are written about historical behaviour, we must individually take our own behaviour into this space - how do we compare with the way we should be?

In Advent we particularly read Isaiah as pointing forward to the promised saviour to come. In His day - all will be well - even babies safe to sleep with cobras!. As ever - we have our part to play in the building of this future for ourselves and our loved ones. But the target we are aiming for is so Wonderfull!

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Alexander Briant (or Bryant) was born in Somerset (1556), and entered Hart Hall, Oxford (now Hertford College), at an early age. While there, he became a pupil of Father Robert Parsons, which led to his conversion to the Catholic Church. Having left the university he entered the seminary at Douai, and was ordained priest in 1578. He was assigned to the English mission in August of the following year to work as a priest in his own county of Somerset. After working only briefly he was arrested in April 1581 by a group who were searching for Father Parsons. After spending some time in Counter Prison, London, he was taken to the Tower where he was subjected to tortures that, even in Elizabethan England, stand out for their viciousness. The rack master admitted that Briant was “racked more than any of the rest,” and following a public outcry was imprisoned for a few days for cruelty. With six other priests Briant was arraigned, on November 16, 1581, on the charge of high treason, and condemned to death. In a letter to the Jesuit Fathers in England written from prison he says that he felt no pain during the various tortures he underwent, and adds: “Whether this that I say be miraculous or no, God knoweth, but true it is.” He also asked that he might become a Jesuit, having vowed to offer himself should he be released. Accordingly he is numbered among the martyrs of the Society. He was scarcely more than twenty-five years old on 1 December, the day of his martyrdom. He suffered with Edmund Campion and Ralph Sherwin.   [from Universalis - About Today]

Many of the following surnames (I noticed on the occasion of the service at the Cenotaph for the fallen) are inscribed into the town's Great War and Second World War memorials. These often familiar names are the Beatified Martyrs of Clifton Diocese:

For those of us educated by Carmelites, or with relatives in on of the Carmelite orders, we might wish to celebrate with them the Feast of All Carmelite Saints. This is an optional feast - but worth observing, as our Carmelites, both those in communities (discalced, nuns and monks) and OFM (the carmelite friars) have long connections with our area. The Whitefriars established and ran a school for boys in Charlton Kings (which lives on in part within the school of St Edwards), and the White Friars also had a monastery in Gloucester before the reformation. There are some archeological remains of the friary in Gloucester.