#it points you towards Christ (star of bethlehem)

[mademoisellesarcasme]

trying to psychoanalyse periods of my own life by personal aesthetic trends/tendencies because obviously i have nothing better to think about

[mytheoristavenue]

Day 1: Donatello + Mistletoe

Summary: Donnie catches you under the mistletoe with him!

Warnings: None!

Note: Yes I did make that banner in Canva, I tried my best! 😅

You stood back on the top step on the lair's entrance marveling at your work with a victorious grin. Somehow, you'd managed to convince Splinter to let you throw the guys a Christmas party, and you couldn't be more pleased with yourself. Of course there was a very tight guest list, but that's to be expected when you the hosts are mutants who shouldn't exist. Casey and April would be arriving shortly, and everything was decorated, it was nearly time. And to think, you'd managed to keep it all a surprise, just between you, the humans, and the rat.

"Guys, c'mere!" you shouted with uncontained glee. One by one, all the turtles filed in, each filled with wonder at the state of the living room. "Merry Christmas!" You chirped, exchanging an excited grin with their father, who had come in with them. "Well, don't be strangers! I put on some carols, we got a hot chocolate bar, and I even picked out a few movies for us to watch!"

"Wait-" Mikey froze, his eyes darting to the kitchen island, practically drooling over the assortment of cookies, hot milk, chocolate and toppings. "We get to make our own hot chocolate?!"

"Well, duh!" you laughed, walking over to him.

"Oh my gosh," he gushed, rocking on his heels and barely containing his enthusiasm. "That's so boss! I've never made hot chocolate before! Hey, by the way, what's hot chocolate?" Your jaw dropped as you scanned the boys' faces, all of them showing signs of confusion.

"You guys..." you chuckled, taking a cup from the selection. "C'mere, I'll show you." You demonstrated the process of making the treat, dropping a ball of chocolate into your mug, before pouring boiling milk over it. To their awe, the shell of melted to reveal a brown dust that floated around atop the liquid. After mixing it, you dropped a handful of marshmallows into the drink, before topping it with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. After you finished, you took a sip, humming with delight, beofre wiping away a small milk mustache. "That's just how I do it, but you can do it how ever you want! It's better with milk than water, though."

You barely had the chance to move out of the way before the bar was ransacked by grabbing hands, a chorus of bickering to accompany. You giggled, shaking your head and heading to the sofa, just in time for Casey and April to arrive.

-----

"So you guys have never celebrated Christmas before?" the ginger asked curiously, sipping her coco.

"Not exactly," Leo answered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not like this at least."

"Christmas is a little different in Japan," Donnie explained. "Master Splinter's culture is the only one we know. Plus it's hard to celebrate anything when you live in the sewers."

"We still get gifts though!" Mikey boasted, hoisting up his skateboard and pointing to a sticker on the bottom of it. "Master Splinter gave me this last year."

"It's more about spending time with family for us," Raph added with a playful smirk. "Now matter how much it hurts."

The conversation droned on, everyone sharing a bit of what the holiday meant to them, or how they normally celebrated. Eventually it shifted to traditions, and symbols and the stories behind them. "So all this stuff has a meaning to it?" the eldest turtle asked, glancing around the room. "Even the star on top of the tree?"

You hummed in response. "Mhm! It's supposed to symbolize the star of Bethlehem, from the story of the birth of Christ. It's a Christian thing, but I just think it looks pretty!"

"What about that little plant hanging from the doorway to the lab?" Raph asked, cocking a brow and tossing a thumb towards it.

"Oh, that's just mistletoe." you replied nonchalantly.

"Wait," Donnie objected, brows furrowing together. "Isn't mistletoe poisonous?"

"Only if you eat it," you snickered. "I strongly advise against eating any of the decorations though."

"What does it symbolize?" he asked, tilting his head as he looked down at you from his seat to your left.

"Peace and fertility, I think." you answered, tapping your chin to ensure you remembered correctly. "It originated in Greece. When two people get walk under it at the same time, their supposed to kiss and make peace with each other."

The terrapin's face heated as he imagined sharing his first kiss over such an occasion. "Seems like somebody's just dyin' to make peace with you, (Y/N)." Raph chided, nudging his younger brother's side. You simply laughed them off as they began to argue.

-----

You hummed softly to the carols that were playing on the radio as you bustled around the lair cleaning up after the party. All the attendees had retired to where ever it was they chose to rest, and Casey and April had gone home for the night. You decided to sleep over, claiming the couch as yours.

Suddenly, a soft voice made you jump as you dropped the dish you were washing. "Hey, (Y/N)?"

"Donnie," you recognized, before turning back to the sink. "Mind giving me a hand with the clean up? You guys really did a number on this kitchen."

His eyes fell downcast, before perking back up to look at you again. Maybe if he persisted, you'd notice. "Um, sure but first can you-"

"Don, sweetie, you're gonna have to speak up, I can't hear you over this water." you called from over your shoulder, wishing he'd just come to you and talk so you didn't have to yell.

"S-Sorry," he muttered, before clearing his throat and upped his volume by a few notches. He felt so embarrassed shouting the words he needed to say. "Uh, could you come over here for just a-"

Finally, your shoulders slumped with frustration, and you shut of the water, drying your hands on a towel. When you turned to face him. it took you a moment to process, and you, unfortunately needed it spelt out for you. "Um, (Y/N)? W-Would you come over here with me for just a minute?"

Your cheeks caught fire at the sight of him standing there timidly, patiently waiting for you to kiss him under the mistletoe. "D-Donnie... I-"

"Y-You don't have to," he stated, losing all his courage. "Sorry, this was a stupid idea, just forget about it."

"I'd love to..." you paused, deciding to rephrase, lest you let on to having the wrong idea. "Come over there with you..."

Your heart pounded in your head as you approached him, each step seemingly getting you no closer. Finally, you were standing directly in front of him, both of you sharing an awestruck expression. Suddenly, he cleared his throat, almost as if he had a reversed speech to recite. "Oh, look," he said nervously, his voice meek and barely there. "Looks like we're under the mistletoe..."

"Guess that means we gotta make peace then..." you trailed awkwardly.

"Guess so..." he replied, glancing around for anything he could use to buy him a little bit of time to calm down. "Guess we should-uh, k-kiss now?"

"Probably..." you encouraged, waiting less than patiently for your first kiss. Eventually, you sighed, shoulders dropping with the realization that he'd chickened out. And you couldn't be the one to initiate, since he was the one that invited you, it'd be weird! Right?

Donnie fought a war with himself, one part telling him to just buck up and go for it, and the other telling him it wasn't the right time, and that he'd made a fool of himself. When he finally glanced back at you and noticed the sadness in your eyes, and you body language queued that you were going to depart, he decided to go with the former.

"Aw screw it," he suddenly snapped, swiftly wrapping an arm around your waist, while his free hand came up to cup your cheek as he dipped you slightly, looming over you with the calmest expression. You were entranced by how suave he'd managed to become at the drop of a dime, staring up at him through half lidded eyes, lips parted and more than ready. With no more hesitation, his lips came down and claimed yours, holding that connection for a few moments.

To the both of you, it felt like hours could have ticked by in the span of just a few seconds. When you finally parted, you gasped, having forgotten about the need for air almost completely. As you collected your breath, you began to feel his touch leaving you, prompting you to leap forward and catch him in another kiss, this one much shorter.

"Sorry," you blushed, pulling back. "I've just been waiting for that for a while."

"Well, if I would've known, you wouldn't have." he chuckled, pulling you into his chest for an embrace. "Merry Christmas, (Y/N)."

Taglist:

@sunshinesdaydream @helpyaw @thelaundrybitch @momii @camillahorne26 @turtle-babe83 @fyreball66 @sharpwindow @roseygardenfan @pheradream15 @post-apocalyptic-daydream @hyunonion

[jdgo51]

He Has Come

Today's inspiration comes from:

Streams in the Desert

by L.B. Cowman

"Rejoice today, because Jesus has come!"

— Psalm 118:24

They will call Him Immanuel — which means, “ God with us.” — Matthew 1:23

Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6

"'There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky!

There’s a mother’s deep prayer,

And a baby’s low cry! And the star rains its fire

While the beautiful sing,

For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King.

A number of years ago a remarkable Christmas card was published by the title “If Christ Had Not Come.” It was based on our Savior’s own words, “If I had not come,” in John 15:22. The card pictured a minister falling asleep in his study on Christmas morning and then dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.

In his dream, he saw himself walking through his house, but as he looked, he saw no stockings hung on the chimney, no Christmas tree, no wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort and gladden hearts or to save us. He then walked onto the street outside, but there was no church with its spire pointing toward Heaven. And when he came back and sat down in his library, he realized that every book about our Savior had disappeared.

The minister dreamed that the doorbell rang and that a messenger asked him to visit a friend’s poor dying mother. He reached her home, and as his friend sat and wept, he said, “I have something here that will comfort you.” He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended with Malachi. There was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and all he could do was bow his head and weep with his friend and his mother in bitter despair.

Two days later he stood beside her coffin and conducted her funeral service, but there was no message of comfort, no words of a glorious resurrection, and no thought of a mansion awaiting her in Heaven. There was only “dust to dust, and ashes to ashes,” and one long, eternal farewell. Finally he realized that Christ had not come, and burst into tears, weeping bitterly in his sorrowful dream.

Then suddenly he awoke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing these words in his church nearby:

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!

Come and behold Him, born the King of angels, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Let us be glad and rejoice today, because He has come. And let us remember the proclamation of the angel:

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. — Luke 2:10-11

He comes to make His blessing flow, Far as the curse does go.

May our hearts go out to the unconverted people of foreign lands who have no blessed Christmas day.

Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. — Nehemiah 8:10"'

Excerpted with permission from Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman, copyright Zondervan.

[10yrsyart]

Signs of Jesus return

i felt lead recently to compile some of the signs and current events pointing to Jesus’ soon return. i don’t know who this is meant for, but i know it’s for someone. so i hope that whoever reads this finds it helpful and informative 💙 (this is not complete either, as there are too many to list)

The Fig Tree Generation:

Jesus often used a fig tree to describe the country of Israel in His prophecies. “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know His return is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.” (Matthew 24:32-34)

In Psalm 90, Moses describes a generation being “70-80 years,' and Isaiah 66:7-8 says, “Before the birth pains even begin, Jerusalem gives birth to a son. Who has ever seen anything as strange as this? Who ever heard of such a thing? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment?” This did happen. In 1948, Israel became a nation in a day, after almost 2000 years. Israel needed to be a nation to fulfill its part in the Tribulation, so the countdown couldn't start without them. The imagery of birth pains is used in the Bible to describe the troubles that the world will go through before the Day of the Lord, meaning Israel must become a nation before the Lord's return.

1948+80 year generation= 2028. But since Jesus said “everything” (Rapture and Tribulation) would happen before the fig tree generation passed away (turns 81), we have to take away 7 years from the 2028 final count. That leads us to 2021-May 2022 approximately (right before they turn 74).

The Jewish Temple:

The book of Daniel speaks of the time during the 7 year Tribulation, when the Antichrist will come and take over Israel. “The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the (daily) sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.” (Daniel 9:27) “The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about- the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” (Matthew 24:15)

The second Jewish Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D., and hasn't been rebuilt since. The Holy Place is a specific spot inside the Temple, and the daily sacrifices and offerings that go along with the Jewish Law are only performed with the Temple in use.

As of 2021, the preparations for the Third Temple are nearly complete. The plans are laid out, the priests have been trained in the rules and rituals, the materials are all gathered. One source even says that theoretically the Temple could be built in a matter of 3-6 months. All they are waiting for is the go ahead. Those of the Jewish faith don't believe that Jesus is their Messiah, and many expect that the building of Third Temple will coincide with their own messiah making his appearance.. It's noteworthy that they're so close to building it after all this time.

The Abraham Accords:

In September 2020 the Abraham Accords were officially signed, setting up a peace deal with multiple Middle Eastern countries, including the United States. Since then other countries have added themselves to the peace treaty. There hasn't been a deal like this in the Middle East in a long time, much less centered around Israel. When the Antichrist comes to power, he strengthens a treaty or proposal of peace that already exists, and so the Abraham Accords have come at a significant time.

“Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom (ethnicity) against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.” (Luke 10-11)

Wars:

So many of the great wars in history have been within the last hundred years. War is not an uncommon thing for humanity, but the impact is much greater now, as is the frequency of wars on the horizon. Currently, many of the World Powers are already declaring war and/or making preparations. China threatening war against Taiwan and it's allies, Iran desiring to destroy the US and wipe Israel out as a nation, and many more threatened. It's not a question of if but of when.

Earthquakes:

The frequency of earthquakes has drastically gone up over the last couple years, not only in numbers but also in magnitude power. As I'm writing this (8/22/2021), we've had over twelve 7.0+ earthquakes in the last two weeks. That's not a normal level, not even taking into account all the earthquakes of lower magnitudes. Volcanic activity is rising as well. Many volcanoes that were previously thought to be dormant are awakening, some even erupting. Iceland's volcano Fagradalsfjall was thought to be dormant for 6000 years, until it erupted last March. (“Dutchsinse” on Youtube is a good source for seismic activity.)

Famines:

Because of the change in weather patterns, with flooding and wildfires and droughts, many of the worlds “bread baskets” (where a large portion of their food is grown) are not producing enough food. A shortage is already coming on America, not to mention all the other nations that are in the midst of one. Greece, Turkey, Australia, Italy, California and Oregon (US) are all burning at record rates. And mass  flooding is impacting just as much area, like Indonesia, China, New York (US), Haiti, Germany, and more.

Plagues/ Diseases:

Everyone is aware of the effect of the C Virus on the world, and now a new variant is appearing. Diseases like Ebola and the Bubonic Plague are re-emerging. Animals are experiencing these effects as well. Massive animal die offs are happening all over the world, from mysterious diseases and unknown causes. Various plagues have swarmed countries, for instance the mass attacks of locusts that have eaten through parts of Africa, and the infestation of billions of mice in Australia.

Signs in the Heavens:

“And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth- blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives.” (Joel 2:30-31)  

As I mentioned earlier, volcanoes all over the world are waking up and erupting at an alarming rate. The super volcano centered in Yellowstone Wyoming (US) has been showing worrying signs of stirring as well.

In 2014, two Blood Moons landed on two of God's Feasts, which carry significance. Then in 2015 there was a Solar Eclipse, followed by another two Blood Moons that landed on the same Feasts as the previous year. In 2017, the Great American Solar Eclipse drew a line across the US. In 2020, the “Bethlehem Star” made an appearance as Jupiter and Saturn almost merged in the sky. Though it's not the same cosmic event as the true “Star” that heralded Christ's birth, its rarity and symbolism is important. This August 2021 we just had a rare Blue Moon.

The Revelation 12 Sign:

“Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labor pains and the agony of giving birth.” (Revelation 12:1-2)

In September 2017, this sign appeared in the sky for the first time ever. The constellation Virgo represents the woman, and the nine stars of Leo plus 3 wandering stars lined up as her crown. The moon was near her feet in the constellation and the sun was at her shoulder shining on her “clothes.” Then Jupiter entered the middle of the constellation (her stomach) and stayed there for nine months and left. Jupiter is generally considered to represent a ruler, and the child in Revelation is believed to represent the Church (Jesus' Body). The rest of Revelation 12: 3-5 speaks of the child being snatched away from the Dragon (the devil), which represents the Rapture of the Church before the Tribulation. So it's incredibly significant that the first part of this prophecy was fulfilled in the stars. (There's also a type of 4 year grace period before judgment in scripture (Luke 13:6-9), so 2017+ 4 years warning = 2021).

The Vaxx System:

“He required everyone- small and great, rich and poor, free and slave- to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing the name.” (Revelation 13:16-17)

This is not about whether or not to take the vaxx, it's about the mentality around it. The animosity in the world media keeps growing towards those who don't wish to take it. The results don't add up to how single minded they are becoming, and it's easily paving the way for regulations to be carried out by brute force. There are stricter and stricter limitations to those who don't feel safe taking it, like being unable to shop at a grocery story or go to work... In the future, the world won't blink twice about a universal Mark of much greater magnitude and greater consequences. The consequences of refusing won't just mean an inability to buy or sell, but death.  

Alien Disclosure:

As of 2021, the US government has released the information they have on Unidentified Flying Objects, confirming the possibility of aliens. The first main stream event involving the alien conspiracy was the Roswell Incident of 1947, about a year before Israel became a nation. The reason why this is so significant is because 1) the Fig Tree prophecy was about to start when Israel revived, beginning the End Times countdown and 2) 2 Thessalonians 2:11 says the people left after the Rapture will believe a “Great Delusion.” Even a couple years ago, the thought of aliens coming down and taking people away would have been laughed at, but not now. Satan is the Prince of the Air; he uses his demons and spirits to appear as other things, so as to lead people away from the Truth of God. He knew when Israel became a nation the clock was ticking for the need of a believable lie. Now people could easily believe that all the Christians that disappeared were “beamed up” by aliens. (We don't know specifically what the Delusion will be yet, but this is certainly a possibility.)

Dreams and Visions:

“ 'In the Last Days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophecy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out My Spirit even on my servants- men and women alike- and they will prophecy.' “ (Acts 2:17-18)

Around the end of 2019 to the beginning of 2020, End Times dreams skyrocketed. The sheer amount that can be found on Youtube is astounding and it continues to grow. Dreams about the Rapture, dreams from Jesus, dreams about disasters that are coming; people from all over the world are sounding the alarm. And these aren't internet celebrities or self proclaimed prophets; these are every day normal people, some of which weren't even Christian to begin with. The amount of non-Believers that have had Jesus appear to them to save them continues to grow as well.

I personally felt an awakening through the Holy Spirit sometime around early 2020, that Jesus was returning soon. And the more I've studied Bible prophecies and current events I know that it's fast approaching. Although it's important to test the spirits of dreams to see if it's really from God or not, the message of the majority is clear. Time is short.

(This was just a small selection of the MANY signs that God continues to send as warnings. The frequency and intensity is rising like it never has before. A more in depth list can be found, along with Bible references and news sources, at https://www.ithasbeenwritten.com/ )

To You:

For those of you who are un-Believers, I am not writing this to be a fear monger. When evidence and reports come in that there's a bomb in a building, the people inside need to know about it. Even if it ends up being fake, the risk isn't worth it. This isn't just one fanatic Christian with a dream trying to convince everyone the end is near, this is the whole world. No matter what you believe about Bible prophecies, these current events are real things that are happening, and show no signs of slowing down. The good news is that Jesus died to save you from all this. He died to clear our sin debt and give us the hope of Heaven, a place we could never get to on our own. And His signs are saying He's coming soon to rescue everyone who accepted His sacrifice and entered His family.

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

For those Believers that don't think Jesus is returning soon, please pray about it and study His word. He was angry at the Pharisees of the generation of His first coming, because He said, “You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don't know the how to interpret the signs of the times!” (Matthew 16:3).

Matthew 24's “no one knows the day/hour” is not saying that we won't know the season in which He will return. If it were, He wouldn't have gone to all the trouble of giving so many signs of the closeness of the event. “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42) “But you aren't in the dark about these things (signs), dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the Day of the Lord comes like a thief.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4) Are you watching? Let's do our best to be a light as much as possible before it's too late.

“So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation draws near!” (Luke 21:28)

[mrlnsfrt]

The Cure for Spiritual Lethargy

(This is not a Christmas post, though it also applies to Christmas)

It is December and all around me I hear Christmas songs and see Christmas decorations. This is the time we usually talk about God’s great gift, the gift of Sis Son! This post is about God’s great gift, but more specifically this post will focus on our response to God’s gift. When we think of the birth of baby Jesus, of His eternal humiliation to live and die in this sinful world, do we stop to think about what our proper response should be? I do, I often think about this. In my post Reflecting on my life - 2020 (and also Who I am) I mention how I grew up as a believer. This means I do not remember learning about Jesus, I always knew. So Christmas and calvary are stories that I have known from my earliest memories. This presents a unique challenge for me because how do I react to a story that I already know? Maybe some of you are on a similar boat. You know the story, so this extraordinary story, one that has the power to transform lives, becomes rather ordinary due to familiarity. I can’t change the story, I shouldn’t. So how do I keep it fresh in my heart? How should I react to God’s desire to be with me? (I have several posts on God with us)

In this post, I would like to outline some things we can do to keep our relationship with God from growing stale.

Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the Lord is coming, For it is at hand: - Joel 2:1 NKJV

There are so many different things related to Jesus coming. How are we supposed to feel?

“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. - Joel 2:12-13 NKJV

One of the things we are called to do is to turn to God with our whole hearts. This cannot be done outwardly only. Cold formalism and religiosity spell spiritual death. Never trust your dress and behavior, those can be shaped by outside pressures. What is the state of your heart? Do you long for Jesus? Of is Jesus just a cultural artifact in your social and personal life?

Can I be completely honest with you? This next part concerns me. This next part troubles me, personally.

Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room. - Joel 2:15-16 NKJV

As you probably know, I am a pastor, a spiritual leader. Yet I have no idea how to sanctify the congregation. I can blow a trumpet, I can call for a fast, if it wasn’t for COVID I could even try to gather the people and assemble the elders. But here is the thing. How often are we willing to do this? When was the last time you tried fasting and praying? When was the last time you were concerned with your standing before God? I am not talking about your good works or obedience. I am talking about your love for God. Do you really love Him? If you do, how often are you concerned about His mission for your life? How often are you concerned about showing your love for Him through all that you do? Do we come together as a church, as a family, and seek God? Is that how I sanctify the congregation? Do I encourage and invite everyone to humble themselves and seek God?

If you keep reading, Joel 2 is not all doom and gloom.

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming [k]locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. - Joel 2:25-27 NKJV

God ultimately promises restoration. Ultimately God provides for His people. My concern here is not with God. My main concern is with me being asleep in my relationship with God, and not even realize that my love for Him is growing colder each day as I simply go through the motions. My understanding of Joel is that there was a great need for spiritual reformation before the people would be ready for the day of the Lord.

I believe we need faithful men and women, who are sensitive and obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the teachings of the Bible, and will proclaim this warning to the world. God gave us prophecy in the Bible for a reason.

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. - 2 Peter 2:19-21 NKJV

Do we seek the knowledge of God more than all hidden treasures? Do we count it “better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold?” (Proverbs 3:14) God is willing to reveal to us the great things of the kingdom.

The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. - Psalm 25:14 NKJV

So, are we are seeking God, at all?

The Birth of Jesus

Think of the Christmas story. At the time of Christ's first advent the priests and scribes of Jerusalem, who had access to all the prophecies, might have recognized the signs of the times and proclaimed the coming of the Messiah. The prophecy of Micah designated His birthplace (Micah 5:2); Daniel specified the time of His advent (Daniel 9:25).

God committed these prophecies to the Jewish leaders; they were without excuse if they did not know and declare to the people that the Messiah's coming was at hand. Their ignorance was the result of sinful neglect. - The Great Controversy 313

Today, we have the Bible available to us. We all have access to the word of God. Yet how much time do we dedicate to its study?

Could Christians become so absorbed in their ambitious strife for place and power that we lose sight of the divine honors given us by God? Do we get so caught up chasing after worldly things that we forget our responsibility of sharing the gospel and helping those in need?

Imagine this with me.

People have been waiting for the Messiah since Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden (someOne is coming). The elders of Israel should have been studying the prophecies concerning Jesus. With profound and reverent interest they should have been studying the place, the time, the circumstances, of the greatest event in the world's history—the coming of the Son of God to accomplish the redemption of humanity. All the people should have been watching and waiting that they might be among the first to welcome the world's Redeemer.

“But, lo, at Bethlehem two weary travelers from the hills of Nazareth traverse the whole length of the narrow street to the eastern extremity of the town, vainly seeking a place of rest and shelter for the night. No doors are open to receive them. In a wretched hovel prepared for cattle, they at last find refuge, and there the Saviour of the world is born.” The Great Constorversy p313

Imagine, God is born among us, and we miss it.

The majority of the people were distracted. The religious leaders were seeking earthly power and honor and missed the most anticipated event in the history of the world (up to that point). This season, as we think about the birth of Jesus, this ought to be a sobering thought. The majority of people missed the birth of Jesus.

Imagine the angels with me.

Imagine heavenly angels who had seen the glory which Jesus shared with the Father before the world was. Now imagine these same angels looking forward with intense interest to His appearing on earth as an event filled with the greatest joy to all people. Imagine the angels who were appointed to carry the glad tidings to those who were prepared to receive it and who would joyfully make it known to the inhabitants of the earth.

This is unbelievable! But Christ had stooped to take upon Himself human nature; He was to bear the infinite weight of misery as He would make His soul an offering for sin (Isaiah 53:10). Nevertheless, the angels desire that even in His humiliation the Son of God might appear before men with dignity and glory befitting His character. Would the great men of earth assemble at Jerusalem to greet His coming? Would legions of angels present Him to the expectant company?

Imagine, all of heaven excited about the birth of Jesus, meanwhile here on earth, virtually nobody, is anticipating this incredible event. Everyone is just going through the motions…

Imagine the angel, disappointed, about to return to heaven and report that no one was available to receive the good news. Then at last the angel discovers a group of shepherds who are watching their flocks by night, and, as they gaze into the starry heavens, they are contemplating the prophecy of a Messiah to come to earth and longing for the advent of the world's Redeemer. Finally! Here is a company that is prepared to receive the heavenly message! And suddenly the angel of the Lord appears, declaring the good tidings of great joy. Celestial glory floods all the plain, an innumerable company of angels is revealed, and as if the joy were too great for one messenger to bring from heaven, a multitude of voices break forth in the anthem which all the nations of the saved shall one day sing: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)

“Oh, what a lesson is this wonderful story of Bethlehem! How it rebukes our unbelief, our pride and self-sufficiency. How it warns us to beware, lest by our criminal indifference we also fail to discern the signs of the times, and therefore know not the day of our visitation.” - The Great Controversy 315

But if you’re familiar with the story you know that those shepherds were not the only ones that the angels found watching for the birth of the Messiah. In a distant land, there were also those that looked for Him; they were wise men, rich and noble, the philosophers of the East. As students of the natural world, the Magi had seen God in His handiwork. They then studied the Hebrew Scriptures and learned of the Star to arise out of Jacob, and with eager desire they awaited His coming, who should be not only the “Consolation of Israel,” but a “Light to lighten the Gentiles,” and “for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” Luke 2:25, 32; Acts 13:47.

What does this story tell you about God? These men were not Jews, yet, they sought light, they sought God, and light from the throne of God illumined the path for their feet. What a tragedy that the priests and rabbis of Jerusalem, the appointed guardians and expounders of the truth, were shrouded in darkness. And how wonderful that the Heaven-sent star guided these Gentile strangers to the birthplace of the newborn King.

Jesus came not just for the Jews, not just for the middle-east, He came to save all.

When Jesus was born as a baby, the Jewish religious leaders should have been the first to lift their voices and proclaim the birth of Jesus, the first to warn the people to prepare for His coming. “But they were at ease, dreaming of peace and safety, while the people were asleep in their sins.”(Great Controversy 315)

Jesus described His church like the barren fig tree, covered with pretentious leaves, yet destitute of precious fruit. There was a boastful observance of the forms of religion, while the spirit of true humility, penitence, and faith—which alone could render the service acceptable to God—was lacking. Instead of the fruit of the Spirit the church was full of pride, formalism, vainglory, selfishness, and even oppression.

Israel, at the time of the birth of Jesus, was like a backsliding church who closed their eyes to the signs of the times. God did not forsake them, His faithfulness did not fail them; but they were the ones who departed from Him, and separated themselves from His love. As they refused to comply with the conditions, His promises were not fulfilled to them. 

This is what happens whenever we neglect to appreciate and improve the light and privileges which God bestows. Unless we follow on in His opening providence, accepting every ray of light, performing every duty which may be revealed, religion will inevitably degenerate into the observance of forms, and the spirit of vital godliness will disappear. This truth has been repeatedly illustrated in the history of the church. God requires of His people works of faith and obedience corresponding to the blessings and privileges bestowed. Obedience requires a sacrifice and involves a cross; and this is why so many of the professed followers of Christ refused to receive the light from heaven, and, like the Jews of old, knew not the time of their visitation. Luke 19:44. Because of their pride and unbelief the Lord passed them by and revealed His truth to those who, like the shepherds of Bethlehem and the Eastern Magi, had given heed to all the light they had received. (The Great Controversy 316)

Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” - Luke 19:41-44 NKJV

[fermented-writers-block]

Why I think the actual Angel is Noelle Holiday

After nine months of research, procrastination, and working out the kinks, here’s a little theory of mine that’s been floating around in my head ever since the end of last November about Noelle Holiday and her potential role in the future of the series. It’s a bit of a long read, but I hope you’ll be willing to indulge me and give this crazy theory a chance.

As a forewarning, the following points I will be bringing up are simply too hefty to make a TLDR for, and it’s quite a long read, but trust me, you’re going to want to read through all of it for it to make sense in the end

Part 1: The Possible Evolution of the Delta Rune

First off, I’d like to look at the Delta Rune itself and a few easily overlooked key lines Gerson says about it:

That emblem actually predates written history.

The original meaning has been lost to time…

All we know is that the triangles symbolize us monsters below, and the winged circle above symbolizes…

Somethin' else.

The meaning and design of symbols can change over time, and it’s likely the same has happened to the way the Delta Rune is currently interpreted compared to when it first came into existence. For example, take a look at these variations of the Delta Rune:

Of these variations of the Delta Rune, these may be some of the oldest or closest iterations of the symbol to the original design, especially the ones from the intro cutscene and Gerson’s shop. The former is presumably from long before the Human-Monster War and thus the oldest version, and with Gerson’s apparent age and how he implies that he studies history, it is likely that the variation in his shop is also as close as can be to the original.

As for how these particular iterations of the Delta Rune fit into my theory, look at the design and positioning of the wings in these probably older iterations compared to likely more modern interpretations:

On the more recent interpretations, the base of the wings are placed around the same level as the center of the circle, and the wings themselves are mostly realistically designed. However, on the older interpretations, the wings are more simplified and stylized with more of an explicit arc to them, and the ‘feathers’ are more blocky with visible and sometimes significant spaces in between. Now keep that in mind when looking at these pictures:

Taking this into account, I think it is possible that - through the help of time and redesigns becoming successively more stylized - what was originally supposed to be a reindeer with antlers slowly got distorted and misremembered as a ‘winged circle.”

And maybe, something like this might even apply to Deltarune’s version of the Delta Rune as well given how several of the depictions of the Angel throughout the game look like the transition point between the older and newer designs, what with the ‘feathers’ being much rounder and closer together while still on an arc-based stylized design instead of a realistic wing-like design:

Part 2: The Origins of Modern Christmas

Now, with that established, let’s take a closer look at Noelle and her family.

Besides the obvious exception of Lancer, she has the most dialogue of all the NPCs, gets two entire scenes to herself in the hospital with her dad and outside her house to flesh out her character and crush on Susie compared to several other NPCs getting only a few lines of dialogue at most, and it is absolutely required to talk to her at the beginning of the game in order to even progress and end up in the Dark World. 

As many other posts than mine have demonstrated, this suspicious level of detail has led a lot of people to theorize that Noelle will be an important character and that she might even be playable later on, a theory which has certainly been helped by Toby Fox’s original concept art of “THE FUN GANG” showing that her character has been in development for a LONG time - perhaps even from when work on Deltarune was just beginning - and that she may have been designed as a main character from the start.

However, much like how the potential origins of Undertale’s Delta Rune point towards the importance of reindeer in the series, I believe the deeper origins behind the names of the Holiday family similarly point towards Noelle’s true role in Deltarune. 

Obviously, the name Rudy is a clear reference to the famous Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Dess is most likely a reference to how Christmas is celebrated in the month of December. However, as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was created in 1939 for the Montgomery Ward department store chain, he is actually a relatively new addition to the list of Santa’s reindeer, whom in of themselves are early 19th Century additions to the image of Santa Claus - a figure tracing back to the 4th Century Christian bishop Saint Nicholas.

And on Jesus’ birth being on the 25th of December for Dess’ name, from what I’ve gathered with my google-fu, the event may have actually taken place less on December 25 and more during the fall or spring due to mentions of shepherds tending to their sheep in the scripture as well as from several attempts to connect the Star of Bethlehem with recorded astronomical events.

In fact, it seems likely that - in the 4th Century - the church might have actually chosen the date either because of coming to the conclusion that Jesus’ conception took place on the spring solstice - aka March 25, nine months before December 25 - or because they wanted to increase the popularity of Christianity through adopting and appropriating pagan winter solstice festivals like the Yule and Saturnalia holidays around the same time of year.

On the flipside, Noelle is a name that has a particularly distinct connection to Christmas; specifically, to the one for whom the holiday is named for in the first place rather than a recent secular addition or the general time in which said holiday is celebrated.

From what I’ve seen, Noelle as a name traces back to the French word ‘noel,’ which - alongside referring to Christmas carols - is a variant form of the word ‘Nael.’ This form comes from the noun use of the Latin adjective natalis, meaning of, or belonging to, one’s birth. The noun use (from natalis dies, day of birth) denoted a birthday, an anniversary, a commemorative festival, hence in ecclesiastical Latin the festival of the nativity of Christ, Christmas.

Basically, out of all the names of the Holiday family, Noelle’s is the one that most directly ties into the actual origins of Christmas in how the name’s origins heavily revolve around the birth of Jesus Christ, a major religious figure who was to be a sacrifice for humanity’s sins and to provide a way into heaven.

Considering Toby Fox’s attention to hidden details and deeper meanings and how angels are heavily associated with and are depicted in Christianity - particularly in relation to Jesus - there may be further significance to Toby picking a name that’s typically given to girls born around or on Christmas day. After all, even if it may or may not be the actual day of Jesus’ birth, it is widely celebrated and recognized as such.

However, as you’ll see at the end, I think there’s even another layer of meaning to Noelle Holiday’s name than just this one. 

Part 3: Reindeer in Undertale

On a slightly different topic, while it’s hard to ignore how more prominently featured Christmas iconography and figures in the foreground of the series - what with the introduction of the Holiday family as well as several jokes about “Krismas” and Santa Claus in Deltarune, I believe it may also be important to pay attention to Undertale’s fair share of Christmas-themed details.

Namely, in how a significant amount of them owe their existence to one specific minor character; aka the rather unusually designed Gyftrot.

In contrast to the handful of implications that Asgore is the Underground’s Santa only being implicitly hinted at through extended dialogue and checking his bureau, Snowdin’s tradition of putting presents under decorated trees is blatantly and conspicuously out in the open. 

And as Gift Bear explains if you talk to them, said tradition originated not with wherever Asgore’s Santa outfit and apparent moonlighting came from, but rather came about in the first place as a way to make Gyftrot feel better after some teens decorated his horns.

As to why I am calling Gyftrot unusually designed, it is because of his rounded head and sideways mouth - a trait only seen elsewhere in the DT Extraction Machine, Photoshop Flowey, and Sans’ Gaster Blasters.

Of all the conversations and theories I’ve seen about this strange detail, most people were only able to come up with the explanation that Toby simply liked the design and reused it for Gyftrot just for fun without any deeper meaning to it, or that Toby unintentionally gave it to Gyftrot while making Undertale.

However, a third explanation I found is that Gyftrot’s design may actually be foreshadowing for what Photoshop Flowey’s appearance looks like, what with how Gyftrot actually seems to have a second pair of eyes at the base of his antlers, and how one of the decorations he spawns with is a picture between his four eyes in a very similar position to the television screen on Photoshop Flowey.

To my knowledge, this explanation and comparison has only been made in conjunction by two people, with user u/Peridotthepie providing the explanation and and user u/pleasespellicup providing the following picture in the linked post.

While I can’t see any other possible parallels between the two to fully call this foreshadowing - especially with how the picture decoration isn’t guaranteed to show up on every playthrough and how obscure it is - I’d like to propose the idea that the DT Extraction Machine (and perhaps the Gaster Blasters by extension) may very well be based on Gyftrot or a relative with a similar design in-universe.

After all, not even boss monsters leave behind anything more than a pile of dust when they die, not even a goat-like skull that could be used as a reference, whereas Gyftrot is a living, walking example of such a design, complete with what even seems to be a SOUL-shaped hole in his mouth.

Not only that, but given how attentive to detail and deeper meanings Toby has shown himself to be as well as the increased prominence and importance of reindeer/Christmas themes in general for Deltarune, I find it incredibly unlikely that this design choice was made just for fun or as an accident.

On a bit of a side note, it is interesting that we first learned of the name “Rudy” in a post from September 17, 2017 on Undertale’s 2nd anniversary and alarm clock app.

Considering the apparent parallels between Undertale and Deltarune - for example, the potential connection between Susie and the ‘Suzy’ character mentioned by Clam Girl, who appears to have ties to Gaster - and the implications of the dialogue in that post, it’s likely that Undertale Rudy is also a reindeer just like his counterpart, and I would not be surprised if he was also related to Gyftrot as well.

As for what the exact deeper meaning or in-universe explanation behind Gyftrot could be, it’s too early to tell, but I have the feeling that it likely ties heavily into Noelle’s circumstances in Deltarune and some of the effects of the DT Extraction Machine on Undertale’s plot as detailed below.

Part 4: Determining Other Connections

To explain what I’m talking about, let’s take a closer look at a few key lab entries by Alphys, starting with this one:

ENTRY NUMBER 5: I've done it. Using the blueprints, I've extracted it from the human SOULs. I believe this is what gives their SOULs the strength to persist after death. The will to keep living... The resolve to change fate. Let's call this power... "Determination."*

While not explicitly confirmed, from the name and surrounding context, it is likely that the blueprints Alphys used were for the DT Extraction Machine and that DT stands for Determination, though it is unknown whether Alphys built the machine from the blueprints or if it was already constructed and she merely used the blueprints to operate it.

Either way, as we all know, things went horribly wrong from there. Alphys had accidentally turned those who had “fallen down” into the Amalgamates, created Flowey from the flower whose seeds Asriel had brought from the surface, and fell into a nervous downward spiral while wracked with guilt.

Now, I want to focus on just how the Amalgamates had been created, particularly with these entries:

ENTRY NUMBER 6: ASGORE asked everyone outside the city for monsters that had "fallen down." Their bodies came in today. They're still comatose... And soon, they'll all turn into dust. But what happens if I inject "determination" into them? If their SOULS persist after they perish, then... Freedom might be closer than we all thought.

ENTRY NUMBER 12: nothing is happening. i don't know what to do. i'll just keep injecting everything with "determination." i want this to work.

ENTRY NUMBER 17: monsters' physical forms can't handle "determination" like humans can. with too much determination, our bodies begin to break down. everyone's melted together…

Here, I’d like to draw your attention to a few things. Given the surrounding context, “falling down” seems to be a condition - one that potentially originates from age, injury, or some kind of illness - involving or causes monsters to enter a comatose state and eventually die. 

And in Entry 17, there is the interesting wording of the line “with too much determination, our bodies begin to break down.” From how it’s phrased, it seems that, instead of melting from any amount of Determination in their systems whatsoever, monsters can handle Determination without having to fear of their bodies breaking down, though obviously there’s a cap to how much they are able to handle.

As for why I’m making this particular distinction, it’s because of Noelle’s situation with her father and how it may proceed beyond Chapter 1 in the future.

With the implication that Undertale Rudy had passed away a while ago, Deltarune Rudy’s conversations with and about Noelle, and Deltarune’s apparent theme of choices not mattering - or at least, not in the long run - it seems pretty likely that DR Rudy is suffering from a case of the foreboding coughs of death and that he may even “fall down” later on.

As such, it wouldn’t be surprising if his condition keeps worsening all the way until he ends up on his deathbed/in a coma/legitimately dead no matter what the doctors or Noelle and such do to help, and neither would it be surprising for her to be seriously affected and react in a severe way as a result.

I mean, Rudy openly talks about how everything scares her, even ironically Santa Claus, and as the classroom scene demonstrates, she has trouble mustering up the courage and confidence to assert herself to the point where even Alphys asks her to speak up.

Considering that her father openly talks about how defenseless she is and how he worries about not being able to protect her from his hospital bed, his death/apparently inevitable upcoming death would no doubt drastically impact her, especially if she attempted as much as she could to stop it to no avail. 

Sometimes, one can be driven to desperation to do crazy things as a result of love and worry, and Noelle may very well do the same out of love for her father. If at least some of Undertale’s rules about SOULS and monsters also apply to the world of Deltarune, then there may only be one way - or at the very least, what she feels might be the only option left - in the end for Noelle to potentially give her father the strength to persist and the will to keep living, perhaps even after death.

Or in other words, potentially through extracting enough Determination from a human SOUL to inject into and potentially save her father/bring him back to life. 

If the SOUL we the players control is or is close enough to a human SOUL to work, no other human characters/SOULS pop up later, and Noelle somehow finds out about the power of Determination and becomes resolved to use it, then there may be few - if any - things we will be able to do to dissuade her from going after Kris/wherever the SOUL we control goes.

Now, this is where what I think could be the second meaning behind Noelle’s name points would come into play, and in quite an important way.

For those that don’t know, if you enter Susie, Kris, or Noelle as the creator’s name in Deltarune’s introduction, you get the interesting following response:

“YOU ARE ABOUT TO MEET SOMEONE VERY, VERY WONDERFUL.”

With how anagrams appear to be a major theme of Deltarune in both a naming and worldbuilding sense, it's rather curious that of these three names, only two make any actually sensible anagrams. Kris and Susie can be turned into "risk" and "issue,” but Noelle oddly appears to buck the trend. 

However, I think the answer for this ties back to Lab Entry 17. You see, in toxicology research terms, Alphys had injected more than “the highest dose at which there was not an observed toxic or adverse effect.”

Interestingly, this level of dosage is known as the No Observable Adverse Effect Level, or the term NOAEL for short. And sometimes, when describing and looking for an effect in general than just specifically adverse ones, the term used in toxicology reports is the No Observable Effect Level, or NOEL.

Basically, if Noelle hopes to save her father, she needs to make sure to not inject too much or too little Determination. Otherwise, she’d go below the NOEL, where Ruby would simply not have enough strength to keep living, or above the NOAEL, where Rudy would seem to be fine for a while at first before inevitably melting down. 

And with that, Noelle’s strangely un-anagramable name can be reconciled with Kris and Susie’s, all three names relating to terms often used to describe something problematic in a scientific way.

In fact, one could even say that the terms their names correspond to sound like they would fit very well in a lab or experiment report, perhaps one involving interesting increases in darkness, like an imbalance in Dark Fountains…

Part 5: Conclusions

Of course, I do realize that that last bit is quite a stretch to suggest, even in comparison to the rest of my theory and particularly the latter half of the above section. As of now, there’s no real way of telling how these details actually connect in this way or if they really even connect to each other in the first place, let alone if they even operate on similar enough rules like my theory presumes. 

Heck, with the shortage of clear definitive details about W.D. Gaster, the apparent differences between the worlds of Deltarune and Undertale, and how things may change or have already changed in development in between games and chapters, it’s entirely possible that the series will take a very different direction than the one laid out here.

Perhaps we haven’t even heard of the character who is the actual Angel and everything we’ve seen so far are just red herrings. Maybe Ralsei’s legend will be revealed to have been falsified and he and/or Asriel will turn out to be the Angel like commonly theorized. For all we know, the world of Deltarune might not even precede OR succeed Undertale’s, and it’ll turn out that both worlds are derived from a third, unaltered world/timeline.

But whatever it may be, at the point we currently are at now, I find that my most likely candidate for the Angel is Noelle Holiday. On their own, the details supporting my theory would be easy to disregard and aur tenuous at best when taken by themselves, but when taken together as a whole, it’s hard to deny that they VERY much look like they start to frame a pretty concerning picture about the exact role of reindeer across the entire series. 

I mean, even if stuff like Determination turn out to not exist - or at least, don’t work the same way they do in Undertale at all - in Deltarune, the following general sequence of events seem likely to happen for me; that Rudy might get worse to the point of almost dying/actually dying, that Noelle might turn to something just as equally rather dangerous or desperate as extracting Determination in order to save/bring back her father, and that what she does may involve/cause her to somehow become the Angel.

Besides, like we can see from the introduction to Deltarune Chapter 1, it would be much like Toby to play with our expectations from Undertale and set us up to suspect that Ralsei or Asriel may be the Angel while he sets up the real Angel elsewhere.

After all, just about every good magic trick and literature twist relies on the art of misdirection at least in some part, subtly distracting the audience while the real clues are being built up in plain sight.

Like, for example, using the power of fluffy boys to deflect attention from the reindeer in the background.

[religioused]

Bigger God, Bigger Religion

Bigger God, Bigger Religion

by Gary Simpson

Isaiah 42:1-9 (KJV)

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Acts 10:34-43 (KJV)

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Matthew 3:13-17 (KJV)

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

I recently purchased the prayer book Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. Given this church’s rich heritage of social justice, I think that I might need a prayerbook for extraordinary radicals. Common Prayer has a liturgy for every day of the year. January 12’s liturgy reminds us of an important event that took place on January 12. On this day in 1948, Gandhi began to fast to achieve peace in the Indian subcontinent.

Gandhi was influenced by Christianity. He often read the Sermon on the Mount. Ghandi decided to live out Jesus’ teachings in an effort to bring peace to the region.(1) On a day that we reflect on Jesus going into the wilderness to be baptized and to bring peace to humanity, we also reflect on Gandhi’s life. When Ghandi was in the wilderness of conflict, he strove to bring peace to an important region of the world.

To put the Gospel reading in context, I am going to refer to the passage in Isaiah that is part of our lectionary reading. Isaiah Chapter 42 is considered by many people to be a Messianic passage, a prophetic passage about Jesus, the gentle Messiah, who will not “break off a bent reed or put out a dying flame.”(2) This gentle Messiah is predicted to bring justice to the world.(3) The gentle Messiah is important, because Jesus is considered to be the ultimate revelation of God to humanity. Some people might picture the passage in Isaiah as saying that God will bring justice without yelling at people on street corners and without breaking a bent read or putting out a weak flame.

There are times when we need to back up and place a Gospel reading in context of the lectionary schedule. Christmas Day, the lectionary reading covered Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus. In St. Luke’s narrative, shepherds are invited to the stable to see Jesus in the manger. Shepherds were “despised” by good people of the time. There is no way the ancient shepherds could keep the ceremonial laws, such as hand-washing.(4) William Manson wrote the commentary on the Gospel of Luke for The Moffatt New Testament Commentary set. Manson notes that the shepherds are the “centre-piece” in Luke Chapter 2. The inclusion of shepherds is significant for those living in the “Judean home of Christianity.”(5) Luke refers to Jesus as the savior, which shows that Jesus is going to make an “appeal to sick and suffering humanity.”(6) Luke is very inclusive, including Samaritans, Gentiles, and the impoverished, disreputable, outcasts, and sinners.(7) Luke pictures God as having a universal embrace.(8) Commentator and Greek scholar William Barclay refers to the Gospel of Luke as the “universal gospel.”(9) There is also a universal element in the Gospel of Matthew. Alejandro Duarte, a Catholic theologian who worked in Beunos Aires, says that Jesus is the Messiah who is “geared toward those who are not considered important.” He supports his position by citing examples of Jesus healing ‘outsiders,’ lepers, blind, and Gentiles.(10) The life, ministry and passion of Jesus needs to be seen within the context of the universal gospel. We can see the theme of the universal gospel in Jesus’ baptism.

Matthew Chapter 2 contains Matthew’s Christmas story. In Matthew’s narrative, wisemen, Magi, arrive in the Palestine region. They tell Herod that they have been following a star and that they have come to worship the new King of the Jews. The wisemen ask Herod where the new king can be found. Herod summons Jewish scholars about where the Messiah will be born and they tell him that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. Herod asks the wisemen to search for the child and to come back and tell him where the child is. A star then leads the wisemen to Jesus. After they see Jesus and worship Him, angels warn them to not tell Herod where they found Jesus. The wisemen return home by a different route, so they would not encounter Herod. Angels warn Joseph to leave and go to Egypt where Jesus will be safe. Herod is so threatened that he gives the order that all children under two years of age in Bethlehem be killed. And Jesus becomes a political refugee. Jesus’ family lives in Egypt until Herod dies.

When I was a student at Pacific School of Religion, I had the privilege of taking a course with Jim Mitulski. When searching for ideas for this sermon, I found a sermon that Jim Mitulski gave a Cathedral of Hope, a megachurch in Dallas, Texas. He was preaching on the Gospel passage.

Christianity traditionally holds that Jesus is God incarnate, God in human form. Mitulski makes the point that the God incarnate in Jesus was not just for Jewish people. The God of the chosen people is available to all people, regardless of religion, culture or background.(11) In Matthew’s birth narrative, Magi came to the stable, to the manger to worship Jesus. Jim Mitulski observes, that the Magi came, saw, worshipped, were transformed, and moved on. The Bible does not tell us that they converted to Judaism. While they appreciated Judaism and saw something of value, they did not need to co-opt it, corrupt it, domesticate or own it; they enjoyed it and experienced it, and “It opened their minds, their bodies and their spirits to see the world differently.”(12)

Who witnessed Jesus‘ baptism? Who was His audience? This is a question that we need to ask ourselves over and over again as we read the Gospels. The high priest and the Caesar were not at the river waiting to be baptized. The Gospel of Mark’s account tells us that John was preaching for a baptism of the repentance of sins.(13) The leading religious figures are not likely to have considered themselves sinners and the thought of publicly acknowledging that they needed to repent from sins was a no go. Those getting baptized were more likely to be the religiously marginalized, a class of people that the priests looked down on. Jesus told parables, because they “resonated with the lives of the poor, the tax collectors, the prostitutes . . . the marginalized.”(14) As we read Bible, we need to be open to reading the Bible from the perspective of those who are marginalized. There is power when we understand the Word from the perspective of the margins of society. The Gospels had to resonate with the common person or Christianity would not have rapidly spread across the Roman Empire.

Mitulski notes, “Experiences of divinity are meant to open us up to see wider, to see broader, to experience more. If our religion results in a smaller world, then we have missed the point. Religion is meant to expand, enlarge, inspire our imaginations, our spirits, our bodies, how we live.”(15) As we reflect on a story where we are presented with an encounter with the Divine, as the Spirit descends and speaks, the baptism experience calls us to expand our view of God and of religion.

There are far too many merchants of fear in religious circles. Some of those merchants of fear may claim that people who made serious mistakes or who are spiritually marginalized are not people of faith even though they are baptized. This is not true. Experiences with God cannot be taken away by people. Mitulski makes the point emphatically when he says, “Baptism can never be taken from you. I want to renounce as heresy any notion that a promise made to you by God and symbolized by water can ever be broken by human error . . . If you were baptized and were later told that you did not somehow belong in a faith community, that person committed a grave error, because you cannot take what is God’s to give.” He goes on to observe, "The devil did not give it and the devil cannot take it away . . . God gives us grace . . . no human can take it from us. When they try to, it says something about them, not about God, not about us.” (16)

Our task is not to over analyze the story. Our job is to focus more on how to apply the Biblical narratives to our lives, to improving society. Miguel De La Torre, a professor at Illif School of Theology, appears to believe that the task for the church of God is more to spend time learning how the our communities takes possession of the Bible texts than it is to spend hours trying to determine the exact words Jesus spoke. (17)

And there are those who may question your faith. I am not sure if you have ever wondered how to respond when a person asks you if you have a personal relationship with Jesus. Miguel De La Torre has an interesting response for his students who ask if he has a personal relationship with Jesus. He responds, “No, I have a public relationship with Jesus Christ.”(18) In the waters of baptism, Jesus showed He had a public relationship with us and that is the kind of relationship that we are challenged to have with God and with people.

Arsenius was known as Arsenius the Great and Saint Arsenius. He lived from about the 350s to the 440s of the Common Era. According to Wikipedia, Arsenius was a tutor for an Emperor’s sons. Later, he entered more religious work. Arsenius’ teachings influenced the development of the contemplative life.(19) An old story about Arsenius is that he “consulted an old Egyptian monk about his own thoughts.” Someone who knew this happened, asked Arsenius why Arsenius, a man who knew Greek and Latin asked a “peasant” about his thoughts. Arsenius is reported to have replied, “‘I have indeed been taught Latin and Greek, but I do not know even the alphabet of this peasant.’“(20)

Living out the spirit of Christ’s baptism can be as easy as taking the time to learn the alphabet of those around us, of having a public relationship with marginalized members of society.

Notes

(1) Shane Clairborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Enumu Okoro. Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2010), 102.

(2) Isaiah 42:3 Contemporary English Version.

(3) Isaiah 42:1.

(4) William Barclay. “William Barclay's Daily Study Bible: Luke 2.” n.d., 17 Oct 2019. Study Light. <https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/luke-2.html>.

(5) William Manson. The Moffatt New Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Luke. Kindle ed. (Seattle: Source Digital Pub., 2018. Originally published in New York by Harper and Brothers Pub., 1930), ebook.

(6) Manson. (2018, originally published 1930), ebook.

(7) William Barclay. The New Testament: A Translation. Vol. 1. (London: Collins, 1968), 123.

(8) Barclay. (1968), 124.

(9) Barclay. (1968), 123.

(10) Daniel Patte, et al., eds. Global Bible Commentary. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2004), 353.

(11) Jim Mitulski. “‘Matthew 3:13-17’ - Gospel Lesson.” Cathedral of Hope. YouTube. 13 January 2014, 26 December 2019. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT_cjZIVYgI>.

(12) Mitulski. (2014). <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT_cjZIVYgI>.

(13) Mark 1:4.

(14) Miguel A. De La Torre. Reading the Bible from the Margins. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2019), 31.

(15) Mitulski. (2014). <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT_cjZIVYgI>.

(16) Mitulski. (2014). <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT_cjZIVYgI>.

(17) De La Torre. (2019), 136.

(18) De La Torre. (2019), 136.

(19) “Arsenius the Great.” Wikipedia. 02 Jan 2020, 05 Jan 2020. <https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenius_the_Great>.

(20) Clairborne, Wilson-Hartgrove and Okoro. (2010), 95.

[sometimeseffable]

Day 5: Fire

Bethlehem, 0 AD

 Once Gabriel left his meager lodgings, practically preening his wings from something akin-to-yet-not-quite-Pride, Aziraphale decided on a walk to clear his head. The night was cold and dry, and he shivered with a sudden gust of wind, pulling his simple robes closer. 

“The Almighty has had a son,” Gabriel thundered, pounding Aziraphale on the back like it’d been his own newborn, “A son! Imagine that. I was the one to tell young Mary of his coming, of course.”

Aziraphale tried to a weak smile. “But...why does She want a mortal son? Or...half-mortal? Do we know the specifics?”

The Messenger shrugged him off. “Who knows. Not our place to question, you know that. You should have seen the look on her face when I told her, I mean, those humans and their emotions - “

Aziraphale frowned. Gabriel was right; it was not his place to wonder. The Plan was, after all, Ineffable. He ambled towards the entrance to the city. 

Though a few homes were still lit by candlelight, it did nothing to dwarf the immensity of the star-speckled tapestry above him. Wandering around the outskirts of Bethlehem, the angel did not expect to run into anyone at this hour. But of course, when he rounded a corner, there in the dirt sat - 

“What on earth are you doing out here?”

Crawley took a swig from his clay cup. Aziraphale could smell the ferment of alcohol from its contents. “There were no rooms at the inn,” he said wryly.

“Ah.” Aziraphale settled into the firmament next to him, “You’ve heard as well?”

“Hard not to,” the demon snorted, “Can sense the little bugger from a mile away.”

“Crawley!”

Gold eyes, formerly staring up at the night sky, deigned to roll at him. “Oh, my apologies. His royal bugger.”

Aziraphale frowned. “I don’t think he’s royal.”

The being next to him snorted, but said nothing else. The usual loose slouch to his posture had hardened, hardly more slither than being ready to bolt. His head tilted towards the East just so, in the vague direction of a farm, and a manger, and a newborn babe resting safe with his parents. 

“Is that what’s got you in such a state?”

Crawley didn’t answer for a long while. He took another sip.

“Did She tell you about him beforehand, angel?” he asked, swirling the cup pensively.

Aziraphale shifted uncomfortably. “Ah - no. We don’t speak much. Not since the whole...the sword business, you know.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?”

It was a whisper, a hint of something long buried deep that still ached and oozed when prodded. Aziraphale didn’t know if he wanted to hear it, even if he had a suspicion. It could be a trick, he reasoned. Crawley was a demon. Demons lied. 

Then again, the Lord’s son had just been born this night. Was it not in Her spirit to be kind? He spread his hands in a gesture of peace. 

“Listen, it’s - “

“I ssswear if you say ineff - “

“Cold,” Aziraphale finished. A fire blazed to life next to them, instantly bathing the demon in its warm glow. “We’ll catch a chill out here life this. Frankly, that’s one human experience I feel I can live without.”

Slitted eyes regarded him warily. Hesitant, Crawley inched closer to the fire, feeling the heat soak into his poikilothermic blood. “We?”

“I don’t feel much like staying at the inn right now, if it’s all the same.” With that lingering in the air, Aziraphale held out his hand expectantly. Crawley passed him the cup. The grain alcohol was watery, but it went down warm. He nodded at the sky. “I never got to work on them, personally. But I think whoever did managed a bang up job. Nice how they change depending on where you are, hm?”

Crawley went tense next to him. 

“I guess,” he said. Paused. Pointed at a cluster in the eastern sphere. “That one’s nice.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Aziraphale leant back on his hands, forcing his spine into something casual, nonthreatening. With the warmth of the fire and a - he’d consider the word colleague for future reference - lightening the pitch dark night, suddenly Heaven and all its bureaucracies seemed lightyears away. Perhaps spending the evening lightly toasting under a blanket of stars wasn’t the worst way to consort with the Enemy. 

After all, Christ had just been born. A little celebration was in order, in his humble opinion.

[nightsky-wonderer]

Observations and Coincidences

In praise of Varian’s Star Part 2

Continuing from my first post. Below are a few more observations and interpretations to coincidences that may/may not come to play.  

The interpretation and theory may not be in line with yet-to-be seen canon material as the story continues, but I hope in the end it would serve as additional content for generating AU Ideas.

1.) The Pentagram - star-shaped symbol with greater meaning

The stars we a major source of wonder and inspiration for cultures around the world through time.  Each one even implemented a star with a few or multiple points to it, each with their specific meaning.  There is one symbol in particular I would like to focus on.  You may remember seeing this symbol within the book from the episode “Curses!”

The upper right corner of the right page displays the moon, a 5-pointed star, and a sun.  This star is known as a Pentagram, a symbol associated with perfect union, balance, and protection.  It may not be a literal star in the sky, but it has a history of being associated with magic, philosophy, religion, and alchemy.

In one way, the pentagram served as a bit foreshadowing to what Lord Demanitus was describing in “Lost and Found”, where combining the Sundrop and the Moonstone is the key to having access to what is known as the “Ultimate Power”.

Looking through some research, the Pentagram was used by many cultures throughout history and was interpreted differently.  Its creation was believed to be from ancient Mesopotamia, tracing the orbital pattern of the planet Venus, the “morning and evening star” throughout the night sky.  When implemented by the Pythagoreans in Ancient Greece, it was a viewed as a symbol of mankind, health, and “marriage of heaven and earth”.  Each point was associated with parts of the human body and the elements that were believed to have made them: air, water, earth, fire, and ‘quintessence’ (can be psyche, spirit, or aether).  The belief combined with its mathematical purity makes this also viewed as a symbol of perfection.  The Chinese and taoists interpreted a similar view when implementing with their medicine, with the element, Wood, replacing the spirit.  

The pentagram made its way to be implemented in alchemy, adopting a view similar to the pythagoreans.  As each point was associated with the elements, seasons, five planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) and other properties, it can be associated with the makings of the “Alchemical Great Work” that produces a Philosopher’s stone.  

The 5 elements is also used in Wicca Culture’s view of the pentagram.

The symbol was also used to construct a symbol associated with King Solomon, known as Solomon’s pentagram.  Solomon in Jerusalem Culture was known for his great knowledge and wisdom.  It was believed that the pentagram can be perfectly made if used the correct ingredients: Gold and Silver, metals associated with the Sun and the Moon in alchemy.  When placing another symbol, the Seal of Solomon, on the back of the pentagram, this creates a key object of great knowledge, and brings a being closer to cosmic perfection.

From the involvement of the pentagram representing unity and perfection, and its uses in magic and alchemy, this appears to be a star-shaped symbol that can indicate Varian’s involvement and association.

1.1) Zhan Tiri and the Inverse Pentagram

(Based on voice actor confirmation, I will refer to Zhan Tiri as “her”)

Despite the pentagram’s usages for positive purposes, the symbol over time eventually became implemented into a much darker image.  If we were to invert the star, we will have a symbol normally associated with black magic and Satonists.  Sometimes the representation involves a goat’s head within the star.  The normal pentagram has its tip pointing to heaven, while the inverse symbol is pointed to the ground towards hell.  The symbol, therefore, can be seen as both good and bad.

You may recall a post made by @david-yells-about-cartoons​ that talks about the star representing the 5 elements mentioned above and Zhan Tiri.  They identified something physically similar between warlock and her disciples and the symbol.  Zhan Tiri’s torso was shaped like a pentagon, reflecting the center of the pentagram, while the body of her disciple, Sugracha, was more triangular shaped in proportion (most notably her head and hair).  In addition, their theory revisited post notes Tromus (aka Matthews) displaying triangular body portions, and the potential associations with the five elements.  Sugracha was closely related to earth, as her plan was “rigid”, requiring absolute perfection in the paintings in order to be successful.  Tromus’s House Of Yesterday’s Tomorrow was in a shell-shaped house, he had many back-up plans that were in-store and flexible, it happened to be a rainy night when he meets the Rapunzel and friends, and had a plan involving a mirror (reflectivity being a characteristic of water).  

The theory continues with the possibility of her arch enemy, Lord Demanitus being a former disciple, given the triangle-shaped eye patch, representing the element of air.  However, this was later debunked from the airing of “Lost and Found”, revealing a silhouette figure shaped similarly to Mother Gothel.  Looking at Gothel, her triangle can be found in her hair.  

Whether or not there is more to Zhan Tiri and Demanitus’s story is yet to be seen, and if there are two more additional beings/objects connected to her that may be associated with other elements

Other than trees, which Zhan Tiri is heavily associated with, it can be seen as a possibility that the warlock’s magic is connected to nature itself.  In “Queen for a Day,” she was portrayed drawing energy from a mountain to cast her snowstorm spell in Xavier’s legend.  

With Varian’s involvement with alchemy, which in this universe is like combining magic and science, his battle alongside Rapunzel against Zhan Tiri could parallel the warlock’s previous conflict with Lord Demanitus.  The dynamic appears to exist: Adira’s tale in “Rapunzel and the Great Tree” portray Zhan Tiri in the traditional Disney Villian Green, and Demanitus with its complementary (opposite) colour: Red.  @animemoonprincess​ has identified an association of red and pinkish red with Varian throughout the series, being more prominent in season 3.

For the sense of the pentagram observations: Varian could represent the upright Pentagram, and Zhan Tiri, the inverse pentagram.  Might also serve as a small detail for the growing Mom!Tiri theory.

2.) The Star as a guide and navigator

Other than useful symbols, stars were used as nightly tools to help people navigate their way through the night.  The pole star for example was always in the North direction.  In religion, The Star of Bethlehem helped the Wise Men and Shepherds meet the new born Jesus Christ.

As far as symbolism goes, the stars can be seen as destiny signs that allowed people to achieve their dreams, goals, and sometimes find their way. 

Now leads to a puzzle: Varian didn’t literally instruct Rapunzel to touch the black rocks and send her on her journey outside Corona...or...

Rapunzel’s final nightmare in “The Alchemist Returns” portrays Varian appearing behind her with a cryptic message: “Face your destiny, or all you hold in your heart will be in grave danger.”

Flash forward to the Varian conflict, She recalls that moment from her nightmare, which prompted her to finally touch the rocks, defeat the real Varian, and create the path that led her to the dark kingdom.

it is interesting to note that in some dream interpretations, that seeing dull or red stars foreshadows trouble up ahead, or be prepared for sorrows, possibly alluding to the events of “Secret of the Sundrop”.  Rapunzel appears in vibrant colour, while Varian was dull along with his surroundings.

Beyond “Be Very Afraid”, with Varian translating the Graphtic Scroll, Rapunzel and her friends will need his instruction and guidance to finally unify the Sundrop and Moonstone.

3.) “to "Touch a Star" is a metaphor which means that we have realized our Dream, Achieved our ambition, and safely and successfully arrived at the end of our latest adventure.” - Joseph Panek (2009)

There were some portions of this interpretation that appeared poetic, mostly in regards to the ending of “Rapunzel’s Return”.  To break it down to parts in the context of the ending of season 1 and throughout season 2:

Dream (in terms of S1-S2): Experience the world beyond the Corona Walls

Ambition (or Goal): Follow the Black Rocks and realize her destiny (though arguably failed due to Cassandra’s Betrayal)

Dream!Varian tells her to “face her destiny”, leading to events of SOTSD and Rapunzel’s adventure in Season 2.  She returns home to find it overtaken by Saporians.  She then reconciles with Varian, and together, reclaims her kingdom.  Her final task involves her using the Reverse Incantation to finally free Quirin, which she also succeeds.  She embraces Varian, and he gets a happy ending with his Dad.  From there, Rapunzel finally settles in Corona to begin filling in the role of ruler for her amnesic parents.  Her embrace with Varian marks the ‘end’ of her adventure beyond the Corona Walls.

For thought: Something similar but different could play again when Varian is needed again to unify the Sundrop and Moonstone, defeat Zhan Tiri, and ending the adventure of the series.

*4.) Fun: Real-life shooting star coincidences 

From modern science, shooting stars appear in many colours due to their chemical composition.  Varian’s exposure to Green and Pink/red/pinkish light and objects appears similar to spectrum live photos of the famous Perseids meteors.  Starting from pink, then to green towards the tail. The meteors portrayed in the show seem to appear pinkish.

*fun coincidence

Sources:

https://www.originalbotanica.com/blog/pentagram-pentacle-meaning-origin/

http://www.lakeharrietlodge.org/lhl277/MainMenu/Home/MasonicEducation/TheSymbolismofthePentagram/tabid/413/Default.aspx

http://symboldictionary.net/?p=1893

http://www.omega-magick.com/2012/01/pentragam-of-solomon.html

http://www.alchemygothic.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=161:pentagram-reference&catid=48:alchemy-encyclopedia

https://dreamastromeanings.com/spiritual-meaning-of-stars/

http://dreamingfordreams.com/meaning/watching-the-stars/

https://www.whats-your-sign.com/ancient-alchemy-symbols.html

http://opsopaus.com/OM/BA/PP/index.html

http://www.aseekersthoughts.com/2009/05/star-as-symbol.html

Extra:

https://blog.world-mysteries.com/ancient-writings/alchemy-ancient-writings/four-elements-alchemy/

https://sciencestruck.com/list-of-alchemy-symbols-their-meanings

https://thehouseoftwigs.com/2018/09/25/applying-alchemical-symbolism-to-magical-practice/

https://exemplore.com/dreams/Dream-Interpretation-Symbolic-Star-Meaning-1

http://www.aseekersthoughts.com/2009/11/shooting-star-symbol-and-myth.html

[eturni]

Day 8: Choir

Day 8 of @drawlight​‘s  advent calendar challenge. https://drawlight.tumblr.com/post/189391982184/drawlight-drawlight-aziraphale-crowley-for Today is choir in which I muse (likely incorrectly) about how choirs of angels work and there are scenes in both Bethlehem and 2023 London.

Also I... may have got carried away and this one is a little longer than usual.

The thing about angels was that all of them could sing. To one end or another. It was why the idea of heavenly choirs was so deep in many humans’ psyches.

The thing about angelic choirs was that angel song was not like human song. The passed missives across the heavens, they called love and war and creation and destruction. Most importantly they conveyed emotions and intentions to humans who could not understand the grand depth of knowledge that their words alone held. Fear not. Gloria in excelsis deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Hallelujah, the smoke from her burning is a pillar to heaven.

The point is, of course, that all angels were part of a choir or another and all angels could sing but that the song was the intent. The song was the feeling.

The demon Crowley had not sung in almost four millennia. There had been halting, scratching wails when the demons first fell that were almost singing but for the cloying ruin of boiling sulphur against their vocal cords. Many demons gave up there and then.

The demon Crowley was a well-known glutton for punishment when it came to pushing against the bounds of what he was told he could do. He had not stopped singing there and had instead worked his throat into shape even as the denizens of the new-formed hell scrabbled for power and influence and built up the form of what would be. Every one of his songs had been a dark, jagged thing: railing at being forced out for thinking for himself or rebelling still against the boxes he’d been put into as both an angel and a demon.

Read on A03 (likely the safer option for this one) https://archiveofourown.org/works/21638803/chapters/51813601 or:

And then there had been the apple. Crowley found the tree of knowledge and had enough inkling of what it would mean. Naturally their Mother would punish humans for the sin of Knowing. For wanting to be more than placid innocent dolls. He sang then; not with the power of a choir but with a soft, coaxing sweetness that imparted enough of his own Knowledge that Even could choose if further knowledge would be worth their punishment.

And then there had been a wall and an angel atop it and a wing to protecting against the first rain.

Crowley had watched after Aziraphale, leaving his spot on the wall towards where the first true death had happened at the end of his own heavenly-issued sword. He had watched this very strange angel and he sang.

It was love, of a sound he had never made in heaven. It was no love of their Eternal Parent, it was not the love of his purpose or of humanity or his brothers and sisters. It was a sound that was small and uncertain but grew into the space around him and permeated the garden he had yet to leave. It was a sound that almost filled out the hollow space in him but left the corners that it missed stark and barren in contrast.

Crowley stopped singing soon after that, especially when he was too near to Aziraphale. Being close happened a lot in the early days, of course, when there were so few humans to tempt and protect. Every time he was close enough to feel the angel the new song bubbled up in his chest; slowly changing and filling more of the emptiness and in direct contravention to everything he was and everything Aziraphale called him.

It became second nature to not sing. To push it down. To close his throat against lyrics and chords and eventually the words, the terrible human words, that he found very nearly matched to what his song wanted to impart.

It was a terrible thing to bear, a song that no heavenly or demonic choir could ever join to. The feeling his alone in a way that a non-human’s voice should never sing alone.

His few attempts at singing did set him in better stead for when the first Christ was born (not the one that set the whole Armageddon in motion – heaven’s one). Midwinter may be a bit of an odd time for there to be young lambs but there were shepherds on the hillside regardless and there was a heavenly choir and the whole of Bethlehem was so crawling with angelic auras that Crowley couldn’t make out where Aziraphale might be.

He had been about to duck out of the city altogether and give up his tempting of the wise men as a lost cause when he’d all but tripped over the poor young lass chosen to give birth to the man of the hour.

He ducked into a stable as his ears rung with the praises to heaven and stumbled into a young woman giving birth with no more support than a lone carpenter and a couple of very confused animals.

She’d been bearing up surprisingly well as such a young woman in her first labour but had taken one look at his serpentine eyes, dark clothes and taken a breath to obviously start screaming.

“Glory be to God for the birth of your wondrous child.” The song leapt from his lips as an imperfect echo to the choirs outside. It was discordant and it tasted foul like blood scratching up Crowley’s throat but Mary relaxed regardless. Then further with the next word out of his mouth. “Midwife?”

The birth itself went miraculously well for one literally conducted in a stable and mum and dad had been so relieved that they let Crowley hide out in the corner as the presences around them slowly started to diminish. He was so on edge that he completely forgot that he was supposed to derail the sages from getting there until they were already in the blessed stable.

At that point he gave it up for a bad job and spent his time teaching Mary how to get the kid to latch on properly and making sure she got herself fed. They needed an adversary for their adversary so it wasn’t exactly <i>undemonic</i> after all.

- - - - – -

It was years later (millennia) that Aziraphale sat with Crowley in the back room of the bookshop a handful of years after the failed apocalypse and sat staring into his glass of mulled wine thoughtfully. By this time there were a few more windows in the bookshop that were topped with an array of plants; most of which currently wore little santa hats. There had been nothing Crowley’s cleaning habits could do about the chaos of the shop because it put off customers but they’d done a decent job by now of turning each of their own spaces into something a little more shared.

“You know, Crowley,” the demon perked up immediately at Aziraphale starting a conversation with his name and that lilt to his voice “I never had much to do with Christ himself. The birth was such a pantomime and those much higher up than me got all the significant jobs to do. They tended to just say that I’d get in the way, especially after the apple fiasco. Longest agent on earth and they sent me off to make sure that the star would stay in the right place. As though it were just going to disappear.” He shook his head and took a few fortifying gulps of wine.

Crowley pulled a face but knew by now that it was easier just to let his angel ramble and get there in his own time unless they were on a deadline. “Yeah but they were always like that. Never knew what they had in you.” He smirks a little at the unspoken unlike me.

Aziraphale tutted and shook his head. “No that’s not- I mean that’s very kind of you but that’s not my point. The point is… Yes, the point is that there were a few accounts that never made it into the bible. About the birth itself. Well, of course you know about the extra gospels yourself so it’s not all the birth, but you understand my meaning.” Crowley nodded, though he really did not understand the meaning at all. He was hoping Aziraphale would get to it still. “There was one from Mary herself, you know. Almost entirely ruined with age and poor preservation but nothing that a few years of some very careful miracles couldn’t help to restore. You know she mentioned an angel who actually helped with the birth. And one who seemed ‘much reduced in the ostentation of their song’.”

Crowley stilled and very carefully nodded. “You got there after all then?” He hedged, despite the knowing smile that was growing on Aziraphale’s face. “You always were better at speaking with humans. Not that you’re good at it, mind. Just better than angels that have never met a human.”

“Well, quite. I’m certain that this being was a lot more informal than even I could be. And well versed with human needs.”

“Hng. Any idea who might actually be better with humans than you?”

“Oh, Crowley, do give over. My point is that I was wondering if you really do sing my dear.” Aziraphale absently looked over to the tree stuffed in the corner and wondered if he should be darkening the wings of the angel on top. He was sure it would give Crowley some kind of kick at least.

Crowley sighed deeply and rolled his eyes, his head and his spine until he was laid out across the comfortable couch with a dramatic air that the Georgians would envy. “Not really. Had to get out of a tough spot.”

“Oh but you, can. I always thought it was something that was lost in… and I just… well it’s always a tough subject to broach, you understand.”

Crowley huffed and beckoned Aziraphale over with a crook of his head. The other came and Crowley revelled, just a little, in the simple pleasure of placing his legs over the other’s lap and knowing that he wouldn’t be denied. “I can sing but I don’t. There was- I don’t sing the same any more and I wasn’t certain about it. The things that come out… I’m still not sure about them so it’s better to not. I mean, it’s supposed to be sending messages from Her anyway, right? That’s not my job any more.”

He hedged, just enough explanation that he hoped Aziraphale would drop it without leaving him so intrigued that he absolutely had to follow up with questions. Unfortunately he was watching his angel and could see that glint in his eyes and the slightest shift to pleading that told him he needed to run now or be prepared for the angel to ask him something he could never be prepared for.

“Oh my dear, I’m certain that whatever you have to impart is much more significant than any other angel or demon They aren’t on our side after all.”

Crowley felt his ornamental heart stutter for a stop at the moment. They’d had some time, of course, but it still did things he couldn’t express to hear Aziraphale so freely and enthusiastically claim his side as their own.

It was enough to make something like anxiety settle in his stomach and send his heart at double the pace when it finally remembered how to beat because he’s was suddenly actually considering this. If they did truly have their own side he had to wonder if this was safe. If he could do this and dare to hope that he wouldn’t be pushed back, that it wouldn’t be too fast.

Then Aziraphale’s hand was on his knee, calm and steadying and a touch too hot when he was already just this side of flustered. “You don’t have to my dear. I just wondered but I wouldn’t want to push this.” The smile he gave Crowley was pure angel. Kind and understanding.

Crowley gulped and shook his head. Then nodded. Then realised that he wasn’t certain what either response really meant. He licked his too dry lips and opened his mouth.

In the place of words there was song.

The song wasn’t any human language and was not even enochian in such a sense. It was a different beast altogether; as much it’s own harmony as any tune and as much a feeling as any words.

It lasted perhaps six seconds before the demon couldn’t stand it any longer. He was about to close his mouth when Aziraphale’s hand squeezed his knee convulsively and another voice joined Crowley’s.

It was perfectly in balance. A celestial harmony against his demonic tone that balanced into something purely…

Purely theirs.

Almost human and not.

The only other being who ever stood a chance to understand the six millennia of feeling in Crowley’s spirit and he did. It mirrored it almost perfectly.

He finally dared to look over (he didn’t have much of a choice as his eyes had snapped to the other without checking with his brain first) and found Aziraphale all but glowing, in that way that only he could, and with everything Crowley had not dared dream of open in his eyes and his voice.

They formed a choir of just two and the song of it reached out through Soho and into London and lit the hearts of the people it found with something that they couldn’t comprehend; only feel.

[riszellira]

Reflection: GOD’S PLANS CANNOT BE CROSSED

Advent is a time for serious spiritual exercises and growth. But it is also a joyful time. Looking at the First Reading, you may say, “What’s so joyful about this poem of Balaam? Isn’t this prophecy about a star from Jacob a serious prediction of Jesus’ birth?”

So it seems. The liturgy collects several incidents and oracles from the Old Testament that the Early Church thought to be pointing toward Christ. The humorous episode of the strange prophet Balaam was also chosen. When Moses and the Israelites approached Moab, King Balak felt threatened. He hired and paid the freelance prophet Balaam to curse Israel. But as much as Balaam wanted to utter curses to earn his money, only blessings came from his lips. The fairytale-like story makes fun of pagan prophets and stresses that they can do nothing against the people of the Only One.

Our reading is taken from the fourth futile attempt when Balaam finally announced that a star and a staff would emerge from Jacob (Israel) that would destroy Moab. What does this mean? On hindsight, star and staff emerging from Jacob meant King David will unite the tribes, will defeat the enemies, and will establish Jerusalem as capital. Since David was born in Bethlehem—as Jesus was about a thousand years later—the Early Church saw in the star and staff not only David but the King of kings also born in Bethlehem, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The profound meaning of the funny incident is: Who can oppose God? All attempts to cross the plans of God for mankind’s salvation are futile. This theme continues in the New Testament: Mary and Joseph did not find a place in the inn; King Herod tried to kill the Infant Jesus—all were in vain. God is more powerful than kings and oppressive regimes. This message gives us consolation when we face obstacles to our faith and to the work of the Church. In the end, the safest place is close to God, close to Christ, who will in the end defeat all that is evil.

~Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

What do you feel and think when you hear about the problems of the Church? Do you make an effort to trust that the Church and your faith is in the hands of our Almighty God?

Lord, I often feel scared. I focus so easily on difficulties and obstacles instead of Your power. May my trust never be shaken. Amen.

Prayer

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the strength and healing of the sick.

... for the healing and peace of all families.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

GOD BLESS

[roadjanus]

Israel, the Promised Land

ISRAEL...THE PROMISED LAND

From the border we drove by palm grove after palm grove. Obviously planted. In perfect order. Buildings of Jerusalem stone (white stippled stone), new and well taken care of. We can see already that everything is shipshape in this land. Looks like Europe.

Our hotel is a YMCA. It is lovely and welcoming. Beautiful lobby. Rooms are clean and spacious. And we’re in walking distance of the old city. We are right across from the King David hotel, which, our taxi driver tells us, is where all the Presidents and Prime Ministers stay. This is good and bad. Nice neighbourhood, but obviously a target!

We try to plot a plan for visiting this historic place. Too many sites to see. I’ll try to relay the feeling that arises from being in this place. Of course we are interested in the Christian story as we are all Christian, but we also are interested in the story of the Jews as our daughter-in-law and grandchildren are Jewish. And of course the Muslims are in there...making sure that everyone feels unwelcome. It is so hard to sort this out. But to start”

City of David...the ancient city. Where David and Solomon, his son, built a city to bring together the 12 tribes of Israel. You can still see the outlines of that ancient city where the Kidron Valley and the Central Valley meet. From there we hear about the First Temple, and its destruction and the Second Temple and its destruction. So the beginning of Israel’s claim on the land. The history is imbued into the rocks here and one can feel its import.

Of course this site is hotly contested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. it is built on/by a Muslim neighbourhood with perhaps the purpose of establishing an Israeli presence there, and reestablishing the continuous line of Jewish presence in Jerusalem. Too complicated for me to follow by far. Later, Mount Zion, where we find the tomb of David and the site of the Last Supper.

And here we see the Temple Mount or Dome of the Rock. Now there is a disputed piece of real estate if ever there was one. Ok. So there is a rock there that the Jews, Christians and Muslims (????) believe was the site of Abraham’s meeting with God. The beginning of the world and the place where Adam was created. (Of course Eve was born in a luxurious condominium in the penthouse of the highest building). That place has changed hands several times along the way. The Jewish Temples were built there. But now, in this iteration the Muslims have control. They allow the Jews and the Gentiles to come onto the Mount at a few particular and limited times...but they are unable to go into the Mosque. Of course the entrance to the area is armed and dangerous. Only one gate that the Jews and Gentiles can enter through. The Dome of the Rock is the iconic building in Jerusalem and its history is symbolic of the controversy that swirls through its streets.

Being Christians, We head to the Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The most significant places for the Christians. Along the Via we see people carrying the heavy cross, as Jesus did and at each significant place, crowds gather. The Via winds its way through the market. So it is lined with shops, selling trinkets to the thousands of pilgrims that pass by. All of these little shops have the same items...and the shopkeepers are overly friendly until you turn them down...and then they are cranky and aggressive. Bestie and I had a couple of encounters in this market, which winds through all of the quarters. Christian, Muslim and Jewish. If you dare ask the price of something, you’d best be prepared to get haggling and buying because trying to move on enrages them. One ran after my Bestie calling her “cheap” and “rude”. OMG what a gong show. Of course the lanes are overcrowded with tourists, so moving quickly is out of the question. There are steps everywhere, and I almost fell down some when a shopkeeper was chasing me. So angry. I don’t know why but most shopkeepers were of this ilk. A few were more agreeable. We bought from them. That was the deciding factor...who is pleasant.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre...built upon Golgotha, and the site of the stone upon which Jesus was anointed before burial, and the supposed burial place of Jesus, from where he arose from the dead. So a very important place in the New Testament. It was packed with pilgrims, lining up to prostate themselves or to kiss the cross, or to cross themselves at the tomb. It’s an interesting place because the Orthodox control the site. Just something I didn’t expect. The Catholics always seem to run to the Center of the stage so I just expected them to be in charge there. And of course, everyone is VERY territorial. The church is beautiful. Many many lamps hang from the ceiling. a beautiful mosaic tells the story behind the anointing stone.

We did not wait in line to pay homage to these sites. Because we are all pretty secular this is more a journey of historical interest rather than a pilgrimage. Of course we generally know the story and find interest in the iconic places, but we are not looking for redemption nor forgiveness of our sins. This was true of Bethlehem too. That story was of course an integral part of our youth and even now we know the carols and watch the nativity scenes during the Christmas season. Again, a 2 or 3 hour lineup to go into the manger where supposedly Jesus was born. A silver star with 14 points resides there.We walked around the Church of the Nativity and saw many Orthodox elements. It is a Greek Orthodox Church. I was surprised. Just not thinking I guess.

Back at Jerusalem we also visited the Prison of Christ, where he was supposedly held after his arrest. A dark and evil place I must say. Hard to imagine the type. of person who would treat another so. And the room of the Last Supper. It is close to the tomb of King David, on Mount Zion. The Man had a lot of issue with these sites as it seems many have been reconstructed, and are not original. But of course. Not too much survives intact over 2000 years. Jerusalem has been the Center of violent warfare during much of that time. I think that the razing of the city has also put at risk the holy sites.

We wandered through the Muslim Quarter, visiting St. Anne’s church, which was taken over by the Muslims at some point. The mosques cry out several times of day. Many, many devout men stream towards the Dome of the Rock.

The Jewish Quarter. As we left the Muslims we had to go through a security screening and we come out at the Western Wall, the Wailing Wall. It is of course the iconic site for Hebrews. It is the original wall of King David’s city and is revered. It is divided into parts for men and women and people go to the wall to pray and leave a tiny wish stuffed into the cracks of the wall. When we toured the tunnels (built by Herod to move water about the city- those Romans!) beneath the wall, even there we saw little wishes stuffed into the cracks. People lean their hands against the wall and pray aloud.

Shabbat. The Jewish quarter, as well as much of the new city of Jerusalem, closes on Friday afternoon, about 4:30 and calm and peace reigns until about 4:30 Saturday night. Jews go to synagogue and there are many Ultra Orthodox and Orthodox Jews in the city, dressed for prayer. Not even too many places to eat. We ate on Friday night at the yMCA as their restaurant was open.

Tuesday morning we caught the train and headed to Yad Vashem. The memorial to the Jews who died in the holocaust. What a place. So striking, so hurtful. The museum memorialized the names. The lady told me that not a day goes by where they get another name to add to the almost 1000000 they already have. They are seeking information about those who died during the war. I think their time is coming to an end as those who would know or have the information must be aging as well. It is an emotional tribute, covering the individual camps, the ghettos, the uprisings in the ghettos, the atrocities, through personal stories. Short films of actual moments, interviews with survivors, artifacts, all contribute to the story of pain and suffering of the Jews of Europe. I can’t imagine what visiting Auschwitz will bring. And at the end, the magical Children’s Memorial. A vast auditorium of lights, one for each child lost. Unbelievable.

When you visit Yad Vashem, you have of a sense of why the Jews are so determined to hold Jerusalem and the land of Israel. Like they have been pushed to the wall and will be pushed no further. My heart aches for these people and the road in front of them.

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

6th January >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflections / Homilies on Matthew 2:1-12 for The Solemnity of The Epiphany of The Lord:  ‘The sight of the star filled them with delight’.

Solemnity of The Epiphany of The Lord

Gospel (Except USA)

Matthew 2:1-12

The visit of the Magi

After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ they asked. ‘We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ‘At Bethlehem in Judaea,’ they told him ‘for this is what the prophet wrote:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah, for out of you will come a leader who will shepherd my people Israel.’

Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared, and sent them on to Bethlehem. ‘Go and find out all about the child,’ he said ‘and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.’ Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And there in front of them was the star they had seen rising; it went forward, and halted over the place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. But they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.

Reflections (8)

(i) Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord

I came across a sentence in a book recently that caught my attention, ‘We belong to an age when it is easier to see the darkness of the night than the bright spots that shine in the midst of the darkness’. We know that the pandemic has brought its own darkness to the lives of many people. The bright spots that are shining in that darkness include the vaccines that are beginning to come on stream. As followers of a risen Lord who declared himself to be the light of the world, we are always looking for the bright spots that shine in the midst of the darkness. They are there to be seen for those who are searching for them. In his parables Jesus suggested that the kingdom of God, the powerful presence of God, is often a hidden presence among us. It is like the seed growing secretly underneath the earth. It does not come with dramatic flashes of lighting. Its presence is so subtle at times that we can be tempted to think that darkness is prevailing over the light of God’s kingdom. Yet, the small bright spots of God’s benevolent presence are shining in the darkness if we have eyes to see.

On this feast of the Epiphany, the magi enter the Christmas story and appear in our cribs. As magi they were probably professional astrologers from Persia who were used to searching the night sky. They were pagans. They had no access to the Word of God in the Jewish Scriptures. Yet, they had the infinity of the night sky which fascinated them and they had a searching spirit and an enquiring mind. They were open to the ways that God was drawing them to himself. They were attuned to God’s light in the darkness. When they saw the small light of a new star in the midst of a dark night sky, it spoke to their searching spirits and their enquiring minds. As the star moved, they followed it. They left their familiar surrounds and set out on a journey of hope. They sensed that this star would lead them towards a special manifestation of God’s presence, the infant King of the Jews.

The magi are patrons of those who see signposts to God in the darkness that others very often do not see. They encourage us to be alert to the signs of the Lord’s presence in the darkness, to the ways that the Lord is drawing us towards himself. Today’s feast invites each of us to ask, ‘Where is the star that is guiding me towards Bethlehem, through which I am being called to set out on a journey towards Emmanuel, God-with-us?’ Moving towards Emmanuel, the Light of the World, is the journey of a lifetime; it is never over. We are always on a journey towards the light of the Lord’s presence. Even when the magi reached Bethlehem, their journey wasn’t over. We are told that having worshipped Emmanuel, they returned to their own country by a different way. Having given their precious gifts to the child, they set out on a new journey to share the treasure they had received.

If we are attentive to the star that the Lord sends us, if we are open to the ways he is drawing us, we will have our own Bethlehem moments too, times when we will have a special sense of the Lord’s presence to us, a wonderful awareness of the Lord’s love for us, a grateful experience of the Lord’s loving light in the darkness. Such moments might inspire us to offer him what is most precious to us, the gift of our lives. Such Bethlehem moments are never the end of our journey, just as Bethlehem wasn’t the end of the magi’s journey. They launch us on a new journey. In those moments when the Lord touches our lives in a special way, we often sense the call to share what we have received. Graced by the Lord’s light in these moments, we go forward carrying his light to others. Like the magi, once we have encountered the light of the Lord, we will often see a different and better route for our lives. The Lord will often lead us to himself by a variety of stars. Then having drawn us to himself, he sends us out on another journey, to shine as his stars to others, to become ourselves that bright spot shining in the midst of the darkness. The magi’s journey to Bethlehem and their different journey away from Bethlehem reflects the two-fold pattern of our own lives as the Lord’s disciples. The Lord keeps calling us to Bethlehem, to an ever deeper encounter with Emmanuel, the Light of the world, and he then sends us out as his light bearers to others, especially to those who find themselves in darkness.

The ominous presence of Herod in the gospel reading reminds us that there are always dark forces in our world working to eliminate the presence of the Lord’s light. Those forces will often seek to undermine our efforts to journey towards the light of Bethlehem and to journey away from Bethlehem as light bearers. Yet, Herod could not stop God’s epiphany. God’s light shone in Bethlehem and Herod’s darkness could not overcome it. That remains true today. The Herods of this world can never stop God’s continuing epiphany among us. The bright spots of the Lord’s presence are stronger than the darkness and will, eventually, overcome it.

And/Or

(ii) Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

  We know from our experience that different people can respond in different ways to the same thing, to the same event. What excites one person can trouble another person. Today’s gospel reading puts before us two very contrasting responses to the news that the long-awaited Jewish Messiah had just been born. Astrologers from the East were so excited by this news that they set out on a long journey to find the child so as to pay him homage. King Herod in Jerusalem was so perturbed by the same news that he sought to kill the child. Today on this feast of the Epiphany we are being invited to identify with the response of the astrologers, the wise men, from the East. Their great openness to God’s presence in the world has something to teach us.

 These magi, as we often refer to them, were people who were very observant of God’s natural world, in particular that part of God’s natural world that came into view when darkness descended. They observed and studied the stars. They were fascinated by the stars. Yet, they recognized that the stars, for all their splendour, pointed beyond themselves to some more wonderful reality, to God. So, when they heard that God was visiting our world in a new way through a child who had just been born, they set out on a journey to search for that child, following one special star. These exotic figures from the East show us how being attentive to God’s natural world can draw us closer to God. This can happen in different ways for different people. For the wise men it was their fascination with the stars that led them to the true light of the world. For others, the sea can have a similar impact, revealing in some mysterious way the depth and power of God. The redness of a rose spoke of the redeeming death of Christ to the Irish poet, Joseph Mary Plunket. God can speak to us in a variety of ways through the world of nature. The wise men teach us to be attentive and observant of God’s natural world, so that in and through it we may experience the presence of the living God.

 There came a point on the journey of the wise men when they needed more that the signs of nature to find the child whom they were seeking. When they came to Jerusalem they had to ask, ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ To make the last short step on their long journey, they needed more than the light of a star. They needed the light of the Scriptures. The chief priests and the scribes who knew the Scriptures were able to point them in the direction of Bethlehem. On our own journey towards the Lord, we too need the light of the Scriptures as well as the light of nature. The Scriptures are a fuller revelation of God than the natural world. It is in and through the Scriptures that we meet God and his Son in a special way. Through the Scriptures God speaks to us in a privileged way. God asks us to listen to his word and to allow our lives to be shaped by what we hear. The wise men allowed themselves to be guided by the Scriptures, as well as by the star. They displayed the kind of responsiveness to God’s word to which we are all called.

 Having been moved by the presence of God in nature and in the Scriptures, the wise men came face to face with God in the form of a child newly born to a young couple. The wise men did not worship the star; they did not even worship the Scriptures. But they did worship the child, because they recognized that here in these simple surroundings was Emmanuel, God-with-us. We too worship Emmanuel, and we do so in a special way every time we celebrate the Eucharist. The wise men expressed their worship by offering the child their precious gifts. They gave generously. We too express our own worship of the Lord in the Eucharist by offering him gifts, and the most precious gift we can offer is the gift of ourselves. In the Eucharist we are invited to give ourselves to the Lord, in response to the Lord’s giving of himself to us as bread of life. We say, ‘Here I am. I want to do your will’, in response to his saying to us, ‘This is my body. Take and eat’.

 The gospel reading tells us that, after worshipping the child, the wise men returned home by a different way. Their meeting with the infant king of the Jews somehow changed them. After meeting him they took a different path. Their journey away from Bethlehem was different to their journey to Bethlehem. Our own worship of the Lord in the Eucharist will often prompt us to take a different path too. We come to the Eucharist open to being changed in some way by our meeting with the Lord. We are sent out from the Eucharist to follow the way of the Lord more closely.

 The magi only came to Bethlehem once. We come to the Eucharist often. We do so because, like the magi, we are seekers. We come to the Eucharist to seek the Lord. In the words of a modern hymn, we want to know him more clearly, to love him more dearly and to follow him more nearly. Our seeking of the Lord is a response to his seeking of us, his calling out to us. We pray on this feast of the Epiphany that we would be as responsive to the Lord’s call as the wise men from the East were.

And/Or

(iii) Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

 Going on pilgrimage will always hold an attraction for us. The place towards which we journey will be significant for us, whether it is Jerusalem, Rome, Lourdes, Compostela, or some place more local. However, there is more to a pilgrimage than the destination. There is the journey itself. We journey with other people of faith and on the way we can be greatly graced by our fellow pilgrims. The Lord is to be found not only in the place towards which we journey but also in the people with whom we journey. We tend to make a distinction between a pilgrimage and a holiday. We can put up with certain hardships on a pilgrimage that we would not tolerate on a holiday. We expect that on a pilgrimage there will be times of struggle as well as times of joy. Perhaps at some deep level we recognize that a pilgrimage is a microcosm of our life journey, in a way a holiday is not. As believers we experience our life journey as a pilgrimage. We are journeying towards the Lord, while at the same time the Lord is journeying with us in and through those who journey with us in faith. On the way we will have our joyful moments, when we have a deep sense of the Lord’s presence. We will also have our difficult moments when we may have a sense more of the Lord’s absence. Like Jesus himself, at times we will pray, ‘I bless you Father, Lord of heaven and earth’, and at other times we will pray, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me’.

Today’s readings speak to us of pilgrimage. In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, there is a wonderful vision of the pagan nations coming on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The pagan peoples move out from under their darkness, drawn by the light of the Lord’s glory that rises over Jerusalem. They are not really journey to the city but to the Lord, the light of whose glorious presence fills the city; on their way they do not sing the praises of the city of Jerusalem, but the praises of the Lord.

 In today’s gospel reading we have a smaller pilgrimage, but one of even greater significance. This is not a pilgrimage to the great city of Jerusalem but a pilgrimage to the small town of Bethlehem. It is this little pilgrimage of ‘some wise men’ ‘from the east’ that brings us together here this morning. Like all pilgrims, these wise men were seekers. They are portrayed as looking up beyond this earth towards the stars, far into deepest space. Looking up and out, they were captivated by one particular star and led by that star they travelled west in search of a new born Jewish child whose birth they had come to hear about. They seem to have understood that this child had come, not just for the Jewish people, but for people like themselves, for all who were seekers after truth and light. As they drew near to their destination, they had a meeting with an earthly king, Herod, who was the antithesis of the infant king whom they were seeking. They brushed against evil in their search for the good; they looked into the face of violence and injustice on their way towards the king who would live and die in the cause of justice and peace. Yet, in spite of that dangerous moment, they reached their goal, and having found the child, they worshipped him, and they expressed their worship by offering him their gifts. Their journey which began in hope ended in worship. Then, we are told, they returned home by a different way.

 There are many gospel characters with whom we can find ourselves identifying. Different gospel characters express different dimensions of our human and Christian identity. The wise men from the east speak to the pilgrim within each of us. We may not always be on holidays, but we are always on pilgrimage. We remain pilgrims until the end of our earthly lives. In the words of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we are always ‘straining towards what lies ahead’, and pressing ‘on towards the goal’. The ‘goal’, ‘what lies ahead’, is not so much a place as a person, the person of Christ. Our ultimate destiny, in the words of Paul’s letter to the Romans, is to be ‘conformed to the image of God’s Son’. Along the way, like the wise men, we too will have our brush with evil in one form or another, but evil need not stop us in our tracks, because, in the words of John’s gospel, we know that ‘the light shines in the darkness’ and the darkness does not overcome it. Like the wise men’s journey, our journey too will end with worship, the worship of the Trinity in heaven, the eternal offering of ourselves to God. Every experience of worship in this life is an anticipation of that final goal. As the wise men offered their gifts to the Lord, at our Eucharistic worship we offer God the gift of our lives, we enter into Christ’s offering of himself. Having made that offering, we too, like the wise men, will be prompted to leave the Eucharist and return by a different way, a way that conforms more fully to the way of Christ. This is the way, the way of Christ, that will eventually lead us to the final goal of our earthly pilgrimage, what today’s second reading calls our ‘inheritance’.

And/Or

(iv) Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

  We know from our experience that different people can respond in different ways to the same thing, to the same event. People have very different reactions to the Spire of Dublin. Some consider it to be a wonderfully modern symbol of Dublin at the beginning of the 21st century. Others regard it as a monstrosity and a scandalous waste of money. Today’s gospel reading puts before us two very contrasting responses to the news that the long-awaited Jewish Messiah had just been born. Astrologers from the East were so excited by this news that they set out on a long journey to find the child so as to pay him homage. King Herod in Jerusalem was so perturbed by the same news that he sought to kill the child.

 Today on this feast of the Epiphany we are asked to identify with the response of the astrologers, the wise men, from the East. They were people who were very observant of nature, God’s natural world, in particular that dimension of God’s natural world that came into view when darkness descended. They observed and studied the stars. Yet, they were not so fascinated by the stars that they worshipped the stars. They recognized that the stars, for all their splendour, pointed beyond themselves to some more wonderful reality, to God. So, when they heard that God was visiting our world in a new way through a child who had just been born, they set out in search of that child. These exotic figures from the East show us how being attentive to God’s natural world can draw us closer to God. This can happen in different ways for different people. For the wise men it was their fascination with the stars that led them to the true light of the world. The redness of a rose spoke to Joseph Mary Plunket of the redeeming death of Christ. God can speak to us in a variety of ways through the world of nature. The wise men teach us to be attentive and observant of that world, so that in and through it we may experience the presence of the living God.

 There came a point on the journey of the wise men when they needed more that the signs of nature to find the child whom they were seeking. When they came to Jerusalem they had to ask, ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ To make the last short step on their long journey, they needed more than the light of a star. They needed the light of the Scriptures. The chief priests and the scribes who knew the Scriptures were able to point them in the direction of Bethlehem. On our own journey towards the Lord, we too need the light of the Scriptures as well as the light of nature. The Scriptures are a fuller revelation of God than the natural world. It is in and through the Scriptures that we meet God in a special way and his Son. St. Jerome, one of the great saints of the church and a Scripture scholar of his time, said that ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ. The Scriptures are human writings, a human word. But we believe that they are also God’s word, God’s word in human words. Through the Scriptures God speaks to us in a privileged way. He asks us to listen and to allow our lives to be shaped by what we hear. The wise men allowed themselves to be guided by the Scriptures, as well as by the star. They showed something of that responsiveness to God’s word to which we are all called.

 Having been moved by the presence of God in nature and in the Scriptures, the wise men came face to face with God in a child. They did not worship the star; they did not even worship the Scriptures. But they did worship the child, because they recognized that here was Emmanuel, God-with-us. We too worship Emmanuel, and we do so in a special way every time we celebrate the Eucharist, as we are doing today. As the wise men expressed their worship by offering the child their precious gifts, we express our own worship of the Lord in the Eucharist by offering him our lives. We give ourselves to him in response to his giving of himself to us as bread of life. As the Lord says to us: ‘Take, this is my body’, we place ourselves before the Lord, saying: ‘Here I am, I come to do your will’.

 The gospel reading tells us that, after worshipping the child, the wise men returned home by a different way. Their meeting with the infant king of the Jews somehow changed them. Their journey from Bethlehem was different to their journey to Bethlehem. Our own worship of the Lord in the Eucharist will prompt us to take a different path too. We come to the Eucharist open to being changed by the Holy Spirit. As we receive the body of Christ, we seek to become more fully the body of Christ in the world. We are sent forth from the Eucharist to follow the way of the Lord more closely. We pray on this feast of the Epiphany that we would be as open to the Lord’s presence and call as the wise men in today’s gospel reading.

And/Or

(v) Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

 This morning three figures of wise men from the East appear in our new crib in Saint Anthony’s chapel. It is the feast of the Epiphany. One of our Christmas banners behind me also gives an artistic impression of the journey of the three wise men. The story in Matthew’s gospel of the journey of the wise men from the east to the child in Bethlehem has always captured the imagination of Christians throughout the centuries. There is something about that story which speaks to us, something about their journey which resonates with us.

 They are depicted in the gospel of Matthew as seekers. Even though they were not Jewish themselves, they were aware that the Jewish people were waiting for the coming of a King who would be God’s anointed. They allowed themselves to be caught up in that sense of waiting, that expectation, that searching. They set out on a search for the infant king of the Jews in response to the movement of a star in the heavens. The magi or wise men speak to the searcher, the seeker, within each one of us. The adult Jesus would go on to say, ‘Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened for you’. Although we have encountered the Lord for ourselves, we are all seeking him nonetheless. We remain seekers in that sense until the day comes when we will see the Lord face to face in eternity. In our search for him, the Lord will find ways of drawing us to himself, just as the three wise men were drawn to the child Jesus by a star. The Lord draws us to himself through his Word, through the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, through each other, and through the natural world in all its wonder and beauty. We are not alone in our search; we are searching with others and the Lord himself is searching for us and drawing us to himself.

 According to the gospel reading, when the wise men found the child for whom they had been seeking, the first thing they did was to do him homage; they worshipped him. We gather this morning on the feast of the Epiphany to worship, not to worship the child Jesus, but to worship the risen Lord. Our seeking the Lord will always be punctuated by times of worship, whether it is the church’s official worship, like the Eucharist, or our own personal worship, our own moments of prayer. Indeed it is in times of worship that we seek the Lord most intently. In worship our focus is on the Lord; we submit to him; we surrender ourselves to him. In doing so we are acknowledging that we are not Lord of our own lives, but that he is Lord of our lives. Having worshipped the child Jesus, the wise men then offered him their gifts, precious gifts of the time. We too offer the Lord our gifts and the most precious gift we have to offer him is the gift of our lives. Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans calls on the church in Rome to ‘present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship’. The offering of our lives to God ensures that our whole lives are, in a sense, an act of worship. We offer ourselves to God, to the Lord, by placing ourselves, our gifts, at his disposal, by leaving ourselves open to whatever the Lord may be asking of us.

 The gospel reading declares that after the wise men had offered the child Jesus their worship and their gifts they returned to their own country by a different way. The journey back from Bethlehem was different to their journey to Bethlehem, because at Bethlehem they had encountered the Lord. As we seek the Lord, as we worship him and offer him our lives, the Lord will often prompt us to go on by a different way. Our own way never fully corresponds to the Lord’s way. Throughout our lives we hear the call to take a different way, a way that conforms more fully to the Lord’s way. This is the call to ongoing repentance, that continuing turning more fully towards the Lord and his way. The more we seek the Lord, the more we worship him and offer him our lives, the more clearly we will hear that call of the Lord to take a different way.

 We have much to learn from the wise men about the meaning of being a following of the Lord. Yet, these travellers from the East were pagans; they were outsiders. They stood at the other end of the spectrum to the chief priests and scribes, mentioned in the gospel reading as advisors to King Herod. The strangers from the East remind us that those who are not part of the believing community, those from far away, in the words of the first reading, can have a great deal to teach us. The Lord can speak to us in strange ways and can draw us to himself through those who seem very foreign to us. Today’s feast invites us, in the words of today’s first reading again, to lift up our eyes and to look around; it calls on us to have a generous vision so that we are open to the many different signs of the Lord’s presence and call, wherever they are to be found.

And/Or

(vi) Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

 There is something about the journey of the three wise men which resonates with us. They are depicted in the gospel of Matthew as seekers. Even though they were not Jewish themselves, they set out on a search for the infant king of the Jews in response to the movement of a star in the heavens. The magi or wise men speak to the searcher, the seeker, within each one of us. The adult Jesus would go on to say, ‘Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened for you’. Although we have encountered the Lord for ourselves, we are all seeking him nonetheless. We remain seekers until the day comes when we will see the Lord face to face in eternity. In our search for him, the Lord will find ways of drawing us to himself, just as the three wise men were drawn to the child Jesus by a star. The Lord draws us to himself through his Word, through the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, through each other, and through the natural world in all its wonder and beauty. We are not alone in our search; we are searching with others and the Lord himself is searching for us and drawing us to himself.

 According to the gospel reading, when the wise men found the child for whom they had been seeking, the first thing they did was to do him homage; they worshipped him. We gather today on the feast of the Epiphany to worship the risen Lord. Our seeking the Lord will always be punctuated by times of worship, whether it is the church’s official worship, like the Eucharist, or our own personal worship, our own moments of prayer. Indeed it is in times of worship that we seek the Lord most intently. In worship our focus is on the Lord; we submit to him; we surrender ourselves to him. In doing so we are acknowledging that we are not Lord of our own lives, but that he is Lord of our lives. Having worshipped the child Jesus, the wise men then offered him their gifts, precious gifts of the time. We too offer the Lord our gifts and the most precious gift we have to offer him is the gift of our lives. Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans calls on the church in Rome to ‘present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship’. The offering of our lives to God ensures that our whole lives are, in a sense, an act of worship. We offer ourselves to God, to the Lord, by placing ourselves, our gifts, at his disposal, by leaving ourselves open to whatever the Lord may be asking of us.

 The gospel reading declares that after the wise men had offered the child Jesus their worship and their gifts they returned to their own country by a different way. As we seek the Lord, as we worship him and offer him our lives, the Lord will often prompt us to go on by a different way. Our own way never fully corresponds to the Lord’s way. Throughout our lives we hear the call to take a different way, a way that conforms more fully to the Lord’s way. This is the call to a continuing turning towards the Lord and his way. The more we seek the Lord, the more we worship him and offer him our lives, the more clearly we will hear that call of the Lord to take a different way.

And/Or

(vii) Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

 The story of the magi from the East that we have just heard has inspired artists and poets down through the centuries. In the last century, the poet TS Eliot wrote a poem entitled, ‘The Journey of the Magi’. It begins, ‘A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey: The ways deep and the weather sharp, The very dead of winter’. We celebrate this feast in the very dead of winter, when the days are short and dark. Yet the feast of the Epiphany is very much a feast of light. The word ‘Epiphany’ means ‘manifestation’ or ‘showing forth’. Today’s feast celebrates the shining forth of Emmanuel, God with us, to all who are seeking the face of God, who are searching for truth, looking for meaning and purpose in their lives. The feast of the Epiphany announces that the Christ child is the journey’s end for all such seekers.

 The magi from the East are patrons of all who are searching for a greater light and a fuller truth. They are symbols of hope for all who struggle to God by strange routes. The writer Evelyn Waugh wrote a prayer to the magi for one of his fictional characters which catches something of this hope: ‘You are my especial patrons, and patrons of all latecomers, of all who have a tedious journey to make to the truth, of all who are confused with knowledge and speculation’. It is likely that by using the term ‘magi’ Matthew intended scholars who studied the stars, and who, in contemplating the heavens, sought the God of heaven and earth. They hoped that the language of the stars would speak to them of God. So it was that when one unusual star appeared, they followed it, believing it would lead them to a new born child who was the long awaited King of the Jews, God’s anointed one. Their journey was driven by a question, which they put to the inhabitants of Jerusalem on arriving in that great city, ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ Often it is our questions that bring us closer to the Lord. The question, ���Where is Jesus to be found?’ is one of the deeper questions of life. People have always asked that question. They may not ask it in that form, but they ask ‘Where is truth to be found?’ ‘Where is light and life to be found?’ They are, in reality, seeking the one who said of himself, ‘I am the truth; I am the light; I am the life’. The magi are their patrons. They are patrons of us all because we all remain seekers until that day when we pass over from this life and come to see the Lord face to face. As Saint Augustine said, ‘our hearts are restless, until they rest in God’.

 The magi were led to Bethlehem by a star. There is always a star that guides us towards Bethlehem. The Lord will find ways of drawing us towards himself, if we are genuinely searching for him. The Lord drew the magi to himself from within their own experience; they were stargazers and it was through the stars that he spoke to them. The Lord will speak to us too from within our particular set of experiences, if we have ears to hear. Yet, as the Lord draws us towards himself, there will be other forces that seek to draw us away from the Lord. The magi discovered this for themselves. As they came closer to their final destination, they encountered people who were not genuine seekers after truth, Herod, the representative of the political power, and his allies, the chief priests and scribes. When Herod asked, ‘where is Jesus to be found?’, where the King of the Jews was to be born, it was out of fear that here was someone who might threaten his own status as King of the Jews. His hypocrisy is evident is his invitation to the magi to return to him and tell him all about the child so that he may worship him. On our journey towards the Lord, we will inevitably encounter our own version of Herod and his entourage. That is why Jesus teaches us to pray, ‘lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil’

 When these strangers from the East finally reached the child whom they had been seeking, they worshipped him, and they placed at his service their most valuable treasures. They invite us to ask of ourselves, ‘Before whom do we kneel in worship?’ ‘Do we live worshipping the child of Bethlehem?’ ‘Do we place at his feet our own possessions, our resources and gifts?’ It is said of the magi that, having encountered the child, they returned to their country by a different way. The treasure they received from this child was more precious than the gifts they brought and it changed their lives forever; they went home different people. Any genuine encounter with the Lord will always change us in some fundamental way. The conclusion of Eliot’s poem captures this truth, ‘We returned to our places, these kingdoms, But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation, With an alien people clutching their gods’.

And/Or

(viii) Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

 The gospel story that lies behind today’s feast has captured the imagination of people throughout history. Artists and storytellers have been inspired by it, as have poets. There is even an operetta inspired by this story, called Amahl and the Night Visitors. The story of the three wise men speaks to the imagination of children. Perhaps one of the reasons why this story speaks so powerfully to us and appeals so strongly to us is that we recognize something of ourselves in this story.

 How would Matthew, the evangelist, have understood these strangers from the East. The gospel story does not refer to them as kings. That was a later interpretation. The gospel story also doesn’t say that there were three. This was a deduction from the fact that three gifts were offered to the child Jesus. The evangelist refers to them as magi, men who had some expertise in the area of astrology or astronomy. Such people were often associated with Persia, far to the East of Israel. Their fascination with the stars could strike a cord with people of all faiths and no faith. I have never seen a sky at night from a desert where the air is totally clear and there is no light. That would have been a much more common experience in the time and place of Jesus. The stars exercised an endless fascination for people. Many explored the world of the stars for some understanding of what was happening on earth. It was commonly believed, for example, that the birth or death of some significant leader was marked by an unusual phenomenon in the heavens, such as the appearance of a comet. For the evangelist, these magi were seekers. They were exploring the heavens to better understand the world of human beings. They were seekers after truth. We might struggle to identify with kings. Very few people get to be kings. Yet, we would find it easy to identify with seekers after truth, understanding, wisdom. We are all seekers in that sense. We want to know the truth about ourselves, about others, about our world, about God. We are always on a journey towards the truth. We never fully grasp it in this life; it is always to some extent beyond us.

 The magi’s search for the truth eventually brought them to the child of Bethlehem, to the one who, as an adult, said of himself, ‘I am the truth’ and who declared, ‘If you continue in my word… you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free’. The ultimate goal of our search for the truth is also the child of Mary and Joseph who is now our risen Lord. Our whole life is a journey towards that fullness of truth which is revealed in Jesus. He reveals to us the truth about ourselves as human beings, the truth about this earthly life and the heavenly life beyond it, and the truth about God. When the magi reached the end of their long journey, when they saw the child and his mother, their initial response was to worship the child, ‘falling to their knees, they did him homage’. Our journey’s end, which lies beyond this earthly life, will also be one great act of worship. Every act of worship during our journey towards that final destination is a foretaste of that eternal worship in heaven. The second action of the wise men when they reached their journey’s end was to give him the gifts that were most precious to them. Our own journey’s end in eternity will also be an act of self-giving. Our worship will be so pure that it will entail the giving of ourselves completely to the Lord. We will have the freedom to give back to God everything God has given us. In the course of our earthly journey, every time we generously give back to God what God has given to us, through our service of others, we are anticipating that eternal moment of self-giving.

 There is much about the journey of these magi from the East with which we can identify, not least their struggle to reach their goal. Their journey from the East to Bethlehem was not a straight path. It had twists and turns. Along the way they encountered someone who wanted to destroy the very truth for which they had been so earnestly seeking. When King Herod heard of the arrival in Jerusalem of these strangers from the East, looking for the infant King of the Jews, alarm bells rang for him. He was the only King of the Jews. He summoned the wise men, and played games with them. He pretended he wanted to worship the child, when, in reality, he wanted to kill him. Here was untruth personified. Yet, Herod could not stop God’s epiphany. On our own journey towards the Lord, we too will encounter forces that are hostile to our search for Jesus, the truth. Our faith will be put to the test. Yet, we can be confident that if we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, he will bring us to our destination. In the words of Paul’s letter to the Romans, nothing ‘in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord’.

  Fr. Martin Hogan.

[tpanan]

My Sunday Daily Blessings

December 27, 2020

Be still quiet your heart and mind, the  LORD is here, loving you talking to you...........                                                                                                                                                              

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph - Catholic Observance Lectionary: 17, Cycle B

First Reading: Sirach 3: 2-6, 12-14

God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and preserves himself from them. When he prays, he is heard; he stores up riches who reveres his mother. Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children, and, when he prays, is heard. Whoever reveres his father will live a long life; he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother. My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives.

Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not all the days of his life; kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins—a house raised in justice to you.

OR

Genesis 15: 1-6; 21: 1-3

The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield; I will make your reward very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?” Abram continued, “See, you have given me no offspring, and so one of my servants will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to him: “No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir.” The Lord took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.

The LORD took note of Sarah as he had said he would; he did for her as he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time that God had stated. Abraham gave the name Isaac to this son of his whom Sarah bore him.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5

"Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways."

OR

Psalm 105: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

"The Lord remember His covenant forever."

Second Reading: Colossians 3: 12-21

Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.

And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.

OR

Colossians 3: 12-17

Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another,  if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Verse before the Gospel: Colossians 3: 15a, 16a

R. Alleluia, Alleluia.

"Let the peace of Christ control your hearts; let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."

R. Alleluia, Alleluia.

**Gospel: Luke 2: 22-40

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, They took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted—and you yourself a sword will pierce— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years,  having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

OR

Luke 2: 22, 39-40

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

*Meditation:  

Do you know the favor of the Lord? After Jesus' birth, Mary fulfills the Jewish right of purification after childbirth. Since she could not afford the customary offering of a lamb, she gives instead two pigeons as an offering of the poor. This rite, along with circumcision and the redemption of the first-born point to the fact that children are gifts from God. Jesus was born in an ordinary home where there were no luxuries. Like all godly parents, Mary and Joseph raised their son in the fear and wisdom of God. He, in turn, was obedient to them and grew in wisdom and grace. The Lord's favor is with those who listen to his word with trust and obedience. Do you know the joy of submission to God? And do you seek to pass on the faith and to help the young grow in wisdom and maturity?

The Holy Spirit reveals the presence of the Savior of the world What is the significance of Simeon's encounter with the baby Jesus and his mother in the temple? Simeon was a just and devout man who was very much in tune with the Holy Spirit. He believed that the Lord would return to his temple and renew his chosen people. The Holy Spirit also revealed to him that the Messiah and King of Israel would also bring salvation to the Gentile nations. When Joseph and Mary presented the baby Jesus in the temple, Simeon immediately recognized this humble child of Bethlehem as the fulfillment of all the messianic prophecies, hopes, and prayers. Inspired by the Holy Spirit he prophesied that Jesus was to be "a revealing light to the Gentiles". The Holy Spirit reveals the presence of the Lord to those who are receptive and eager to receive him. Do you recognize the indwelling presence of the Lord with you?

The 'new temple' of God's presence in the world Jesus is the new temple (John 1:14; 2:19-22). In the Old Testament God manifested his presence in the "pillar of cloud" by day and the "pillar of fire" by night as he led them through the wilderness. God's glory visibly came to dwell over the ark and the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38). When the first temple was built in Jerusalem God's glory came to rest there (1 Kings 8). After the first temple was destroyed, Ezekiel saw God's glory leave it (Ezekiel 10). But God promised one day to fill it with even greater glory (Haggai 2:1-9; Zechariah 8-9). That promise is fulfilled when the "King of Glory" himself comes to his temple (Psalm 24:7-10; Malachi 3:1). Through Jesus' coming in the flesh and through his saving death, resurrection, and ascension we are made living temples of his Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Ask the Lord to renew your faith in the indwelling presence of his Spirit within you. And give him thanks and praise for coming to make his home with you.

Mary receives both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph and he prophesied to Mary about the destiny of this child and the suffering she would undergo for his sake. There is a certain paradox for those blessed by the Lord. Mary was given the blessedness of being the mother of the Son of God. That blessedness also would become a sword which pierced her heart as her Son died upon the cross. She received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. But her joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled by her faith, hope, and trust in God and his promises. Jesus promised his disciples that "no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22). The Lord gives us a supernatural joy which enables us to bear any sorrow or pain and which neither life nor death can take way. Do you know the peace and joy of a life surrendered to God with faith and trust?

The Holy Spirit renews our hope in the promise of God Simeon was not alone in recognizing the Lord's presence in the temple. Anna, too, was filled with the Holy Spirit. She was found daily in the temple, attending to the Lord in prayer and speaking prophetically to others about God's promise to send a redeemer. Supernatural hope grows with prayer and age! Anna was pre-eminently a woman of great hope and expectation that God would fulfill all his promises. She is a model of godliness to all believers as we advance in age.

Advancing age and the disappointments of life can easily make us cynical and hopeless if we do not have our hope rightly placed. Anna's hope in God and his promises grew with age. She never ceased to worship God in faith and to pray with hope. Her hope and faith in God's promises fueled her indomitable zeal and fervor in prayer and service of God's people.

Our hope is anchored in God's everlasting kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy What do you hope for? The hope which God places in our heart is the desire for the kingdom of heaven and everlasting life and happiness with our heavenly Father. The Lord Jesus has won for us a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). The Holy Spirit gives hope to all who place their trust in the promises of God. God never fails because his promises are true and he is faithful. The hope which God places within us through the gift of the Spirit enables us to persevere with confident trust in God even in the face of trails, setbacks, and challenges that may come our way.

Is there anything holding you back from giving God your unqualified trust and submission to his will for your life? Allow the Lord Jesus to flood your heart with his peace, joy, and love. And offer to God everything you have and desire - your life, family, friends, health, honor, wealth, and future. If you seek his kingdom first he will give you everything you need to know, love, and serve him now and enjoy him forever.

Lord Jesus, you are my hope and my life. May I never cease to place all my trust in you. Fill me with the joy and strength of the Holy Spirit that I may boldly point others to your saving presence and words of eternal life.

Sources:

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

**Meditations may be freely reprinted and translated into other languages for non-profit use only. Please cite copyright and original source at dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org

[hauntedtacotreetrash]

(via A Call To Stand Apart)

Chapter 1—Beginnings

Christ, the heavenly merchantman seeking goodly pearls, saw in lost humanity the pearl of price. In man, defiled and ruined by sin, he saw the possibilities of redemption. 1 CSA 4.1Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. CSA 4.2Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25. CSA 4.3And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. CSA 4.4And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Luke 2:8-20. CSA 4.5The Saviour’s coming was foretold in Eden. When Adam and Eve first heard the promise, they looked for its speedy fulfillment. They joyfully welcomed their first-born son, hoping that he might be the Deliverer. But the fulfillment of the promise tarried. Those who first received it died without the sight. From the days of Enoch the promise was repeated through patriarchs and prophets, keeping alive the hope of His appearing, and yet He came not. The prophecy of Daniel revealed the time of His advent, but not all rightly interpreted the message. Century after century passed away; the voices of the prophets ceased. The hand of the oppressor was heavy upon Israel, and many were ready to exclaim, “The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth.” Ezekiel 12:22. CSA 5.1But like the stars in the vast circuit of their appointed path, God’s purposes know no haste and no delay. Through the symbols of the great darkness and the smoking furnace, God had revealed to Abraham the bondage of Israel in Egypt, and had declared that the time of their sojourning should be four hundred years. “Afterward,” He said, “shall they come out with great substance.” Genesis 15:14. Against that word, all the power of Pharaoh’s proud empire battled in vain. On “the self-same day” appointed in the divine promise, “it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:41. So in heaven’s council the hour for the coming of Christ had been determined. When the great clock of time pointed to that hour, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. 2 CSA 5.2The King of glory stooped low to take humanity. Rude and forbidding were His earthly surroundings. His glory was veiled, that the majesty of His outward form might not become an object of attraction. He shunned all outward display. Riches, worldly honor, and human greatness can never save a soul from death; Jesus purposed that no attraction of an earthly nature should call men to His side. Only the beauty of heavenly truth must draw those who would follow Him. The character of the Messiah had long been foretold in prophecy, and He desired men to accept Him upon the testimony of the word of God. CSA 5.3The angels had wondered at the glorious plan of redemption. They watched to see how the people of God would receive His Son, clothed in the garb of humanity. 3 CSA 5.4Angels attend Joseph and Mary as they journey from their home in Nazareth to the city of David. The decree of imperial Rome for the enrollment of the peoples of her vast dominion has extended to the dwellers among the hills of Galilee. As in old time Cyrus was called to the throne of the world’s empire that he might set free the captives of the Lord, so Caesar Augustus is made the agent for the fulfillment of God’s purpose in bringing the mother of Jesus to Bethlehem. She is of the lineage of David, and the Son of David must be born in David’s city. Out of Bethlehem, said the prophet, “shall He come forth ... that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin. But in the city of their royal line, Joseph and Mary are unrecognized and unhonored. Weary and homeless, they traverse the entire length of the narrow street, from the gate of the city to the eastern extremity of the town, vainly seeking a resting place for the night. There is no room for them at the crowded inn. In a rude building where the beasts are sheltered, they at last find refuge, and here the Redeemer of the world is born. 4 CSA 5.5Above the hills of Bethlehem are gathered an innumerable throng of angels. They wait the signal to declare the glad news to the world. Had the leaders in Israel been true to their trust, they might have shared the joy of heralding the birth of Jesus. But now they are passed by.5 CSA 6.1In the fields where the boy David had led his flock, shepherds were still keeping watch by night. Through the silent hours they talked together of the promised Saviour, and prayed for the coming of the King to David’s throne. “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” CSA 6.2At these words, visions of glory fill the minds of the listening shepherds. The Deliverer has come to Israel! Power, exaltation, triumph, are associated with His coming. But the angel must prepare them to recognize their Saviour in poverty and humiliation. “This shall be a sign unto you,” he says; “Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” CSA 6.3The heavenly messenger had quieted their fears. He had told them how to find Jesus. With tender regard for their human weakness, he had given them time to become accustomed to the divine radiance. Then the joy and glory could no longer be hidden. The whole plain was lighted up with the bright shining of the hosts of God. Earth was hushed, and heaven stooped to listen to the song,— CSA 6.4“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men.” 6 CSA 6.5As the angels disappeared, the light faded away, and the shadows of night once more fell on the hills of Bethlehem. But the brightest picture ever beheld by human eyes remained in the memory of the shepherds. “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” 7 CSA 6.6Heaven and earth are no wider apart today than when shepherds listened to the angels’ song. Humanity is still as much the object of heaven’s solicitude as when common men of common occupations met angels at noonday, and talked with the heavenly messengers in the vineyards and the fields. To us in the common walks of life, heaven may be very near. Angels from the courts above will attend the steps of those who come and go at God’s command. CSA 6.7The story of Bethlehem is an exhaustless theme. In it is hidden “the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.” Romans 11:33. We marvel at the Saviour’s sacrifice in exchanging the throne of heaven for the manger, and the companionship of adoring angels for the beasts of the stall. Human pride and self-sufficiency stand rebuked in His presence. Yet this was but the beginning of His wonderful condescension. It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man’s nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life. 8 CSA 6.8

[orthodoxydaily]

Christ is born! Glorified Him!

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, was born of the Most Holy Virgin Mary in the city of Bethlehem during the reign of the emperor Augustus (Octavian). Caesar Augustus decreed that a universal census be made throughout his Empire, which then also included Palestinian Israel. The Jews were accustomed to be counted in the city from where their family came. The Most Holy Virgin and the Righteous Joseph, since they were descended from the house and lineage of King David, had to go to Bethlehem to be counted and taxed.

In Bethlehem they found no room at any of the city’s inns. Thus, the God-Man, the Savior of the world, was born in a cave that was used as a stable.

“I behold a strange and most glorious mystery,” the Church sings with awe, “Heaven, a Cave; the Virgin the Throne of the Cherubim; the Manger a room, in which Christ, the God Whom nothing can contain is laid.” (Irmos of the 9th Ode of the Nativity Canon).

Having given birth to the divine Infant without travail, the Most Holy Virgin “wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger” (Luke 2:7). In the stillness of midnight (Wisdom of Solomon 18:14-15), the proclamation of the birth of the Savior of the world was heard by three shepherds watching their flocks by night.

An angel of the Lord (Saint Cyprian says this was Gabriel) came before them and said: “Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). The humble shepherds were the first to offer worship to Him Who condescended to assume the form of a humble servant for the salvation of mankind. Besides the glad tidings to the Bethlehem shepherds, the Nativity of Christ was revealed to the Magi by a wondrous star. Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Theophylactus, commenting on Saint Matthew’s Gospel, say that this was no ordinary star. Rather, it was “a divine and angelic power that appeared in the form of a star.” Saint Demetrius of Rostov says it was a “manifestation of divine energy” (Narrative of the Adoration of the Magi). Entering the house where the Infant lay, the Magi “fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented Him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Mt. 2:11).

The present Feast, commemorating the Nativity in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, was established by the Church. Its origin goes back to the time of the Apostles. In the Apostolic Constitutions (Section 3, 13) it says, “Brethren, observe the feastdays; and first of all the Birth of Christ, which you are to celebrate on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month.” In another place it also says, “Celebrate the day of the Nativity of Christ, on which unseen grace is given man by the birth of the Word of God from the Virgin Mary for the salvation of the world.”

In the second century Saint Clement of Alexandria also indicates that the day of the Nativity of Christ is December 25. In the third century Saint Hippolytus of Rome mentions the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, and appoints the Gospel readings for this day from the opening chapters of Saint Matthew.

In 302, during the persecution of Christians by Maximian, 20,000 Christians of Nicomedia (December 28) were burned in church on the very Feast of the Nativity of Christ. In that same century, after the persecution when the Church had received freedom of religion and had become the official religion in the Roman Empire, we find the Feast of the Nativity of Christ observed throughout the entire Church. There is evidence of this in the works of Saint Ephraim the Syrian, Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory the Theologian, Saint Gregory of Nyssa, Saint Ambrose of Milan, Saint John Chrysostom and other Fathers of the Church of the fourth century.

Saint John Chrysostom, in a sermon which he gave in the year 385, points out that the Feast of the Nativity of Christ is ancient, and indeed very ancient. In this same century, at the Cave of Bethlehem, made famous by the Birth of Jesus Christ, the empress Saint Helen built a church, which her mighty son Constantine adorned after her death. In the Codex of the emperor Theodosius from 438, and of the emperor Justinian in 535, the universal celebration of the day of the Nativity of Christ was decreed by law. Thus, Nicephorus Callistus, a writer of the fourteenth century, says in his History that in the sixth century, the emperor Justinian established the celebration of the Nativity of Christ throughout all the world.

Patriarch Anatolius of Constantinople in the fifth century, Sophronius and Andrew of Jerusalem in the seventh, Saints John of Damascus, Cosmas of Maium and Patriarch Germanus of Constantinople in the eighth, the Nun Cassiane in the ninth, and others whose names are unknown, wrote many sacred hymns for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, which are still sung by the Church on this radiant festival.

During the first three centuries, in the Churches of Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria and Cyprus, the Nativity of Christ was combined together with the Feast of His Baptism on January 6, and called “Theophany” (“Manifestation of God”). This was because of a belief that Christ was baptized on anniversary of His birth, which may be inferred from Saint John Chrysostom’s sermon on the Nativity of Christ: “it is not the day on which Christ was born which is called Theophany, but rather that day on which He was baptized.”

In support of such a view, it is possible to cite the words of the Evangelist Luke who says that “Jesus began to be about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:23) when He was baptized. The joint celebration of the Nativity of Christ and His Theophany continued to the end of the fourth century in certain Eastern Churches, and until the fifth or sixth century in others.

The present order of services preserves the memory of the ancient joint celebration of the Feasts of the Nativity of Christ and Theophany. On the eve of both Feasts, there is a similar tradition that one should fast until the stars appear. The order of divine services on the eve of both feastdays and the feastdays themselves is the same.

The Nativity of Christ has long been counted as one of the Twelve Great Feasts. It is one of the greatest, most joyful and wondrous events in the history of the world. The angel said to the shepherds, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Then suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, glorifying God and saying: Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Those who heard these things were astonished at what the shepherds told them concerning the Child. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:10-20).

Thus the Nativity of Christ, a most profound and extraordinary event, was accompanied by the wondrous tidings proclaimed to the shepherds and to the Magi. This is a cause of universal rejoicing for all mankind, “for the Savior is Born!”

Concurring with the witness of the Gospel, the Fathers of the Church, in their God-inspired writings, describe the Feast of the Nativity of Christ as most profound, and joyous, serving as the basis and foundation for all the other Feasts.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!