“O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.”
~ O Antiphons
Yesterday evening at 6:03 pm we observed the Winter Solstice, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, and celebrated by our pagan brothers and sisters. I do not use the term pejoratively; they are the peoples who are reverently close to the earth.
Actually the date of Christmas was taken from the winter solstice because it marks, in the northern hemisphere, the beginning of the ascendency of the sun. It connotes the phrase from John 3:22-30 in which John the Baptist says the “He must increase; I must decrease.” And the Baptist’s feast, likewise is near the summer solstice on June 24th. Thus, the church did not hesitate to borrow from the existing pagan customs. Christmas trees, for example, came from Germany and the wreathe symbolized eternity. Again, these were pagan customs.
Did you know that in the middle ages they lit real candles on their Christmas trees? How ’bout that?
Some Christians today misunderstand our “cross-enculturation” of things that once had a pagan origin and sometimes berate those of us who celebrate Christmas.
Now before you go, here’s a terrific of Tiny Tim’s “God bless us, everyone” from Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, composed and sung by Andrea Bocelli. Click here. Be sure to enter full screen and turn up your speakers.
Wherever I saw little kids playing in the streets as I drove home from church this morning, my mind and heart would turn to the picture in Saturday’s paper. And even now, as I try to write the next word, the word is grief. And the next is tears, because I have them now.
You know, the infant Jesus was threatened by violence himself. So, the Christmas story is not all sweetness and light. The Wise Men inquired of Herod where the newborn King of the Jews was born. Seething with diabolical fury because of his jealousy, Herod orders the massacre of all who resemble Jesus in gender and age.
Three days after Christmas each year, we thus have the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the very first martyrs. The Mass text proclaims:
The innocents were slaughtered as infants for Christ;
spotless, they follow the Lamb and sing for ever: Glory to you, O Lord.
I would think the same is true for our own dear innocent children ~ not that all of them are Christian, but that will in their own way sing for ever.
Psalm 124 states, “Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.” So, for many, an eternal life of happiness and a reunion with loved ones is indeed a consolation. But, for those who are left behind, especially the parents of these dearest ones, the trauma, the shock will take all the faith, all the courage, all the strength that they can muster to survive this tragedy.
Jesus’ Mother Mary is some help as an inspiration here and as someone to pray to. When Jesus was circumcised in the temple, the old man Simeon prophesied to Mary “a sword will pierce your soul.” We’ve all seen images of Michelangelo’s Pieta with Mary holding the dead body of her son in her lap. No one wants to bury their own child! When my best priest friend died at age 46, his Mom kept saying What a dirty trick, What a dirty trick.
So, here we are one week from Christmas Eve. The Church begins the wonderful ancient O Antiphons this evening at vespers. I’ve selected this one and the image for this post to match it because it will almost conclude my thought the day, but you must watch at least the first of two very powerful videos ~ Surely He hath borne our grief.
O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the
shadow of death.
~ O Antiphons
The first powerful music video is Surely He hath borne our grief. The second one is equally powerful I know my Redeemer lives, and is sung by Al Green. You’ll find just to the right of your screen. Click here. Be sure to enter full screen and turn up your speakers.
Remember to keep these people in Connecticut in your prayers,
“O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.”
~ O Antiphons
This morning at 5:30 a. m. we observed the Winter Solstice with our pagan brothers and sisters. I do not use the term pejoratively; there are those who are reverently close to the earth.
Actually the date of Christmas was taken from the winter solstice because it marks, in the northern hemisphere, the beginning of the ascendency of the sun. It connotes the phrase from John 3:22-30 in which John the Baptist says the “He must increase; I must decrease.” And the Baptist’s feast, likewise is near the summer solstice on June 24th. Thus, the church did not hesitate to borrow from the existing pagan customs. Christmas trees, for example, came from Germany and the wreathe symbolized eternity. Again, these were pagan customs.
Did you know that in the middle ages they lit real candles on their Christmas trees? How ’bout that?
Some Christians today misunderstand our “cross-enculturation” of things that once had a pagan origin and sometimes berate those of us who celebrate Christmas.
Now before you go, here’s a rendition of “Unto us, a Child is Born” from Handel’s Messiah performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Click Here. Be sure to enter full screen and turn up your speakers.
Monday of the Fourth week of Advent
Father Bob's Reflections 