Good News of Great Joy (eBook)

Through 24 meditations Max Vincent explores the four canticles, or “little songs,” in the Gospel of Luke’s story of Jesus’ birth. By interrupting the flow of the story, these songs make us reflect on the deeper meaning of what is happening. Vincent invites us to ponder the significance of the stories, to make connections with scriptures prophesying the Messiah’s birth, and to think about how the words of these songs intersect with our lives today.

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It’s hard to imagine Advent or Christmas without music, and that goes beyond popular carols and handbells. Author Max Vincent invites readers to discover the music in the biblical story of Christmas. Four canticles (“little songs”) precede, announce, and celebrate the birth of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. These canticles invite readers to pause and consider the deeper meaning of the events surrounding his birth.

In Good News of Great Joy, 24 daily readings explore the context, content, and spirituality of these canticles. Each of the four canticles has six daily readings. The daily readings include practices and questions to encourage further reflection on these little songs. In addition, the book provides a Leader’s Guide for group study.

Luke’s canticles were some of the earliest songs of the church and are still prayed daily in some Christian traditions. Vincent encourages readers to pause and notice God’s comforting presence as they reflect on these joyous songs of Advent.