Today is the Second Sunday of Lent.  Traditionally,  it has been known as ” Transfiguration Sunday “.  Our Lectionary even provides us with an example of this in today’s Gospel.   Jesus went with Peter, John and James up to a high mountain top.  There before their own eyes, the three disciples witness Jesus being met by Moses and Elijah and then being transfigured in radiant brilliance. [ Luke 9:28-36 ].

Though the Feast of the Transfiguration is celebrated in August, we pause to consider why it is always mentioned at this time of year during Lent.  Perhaps it is meant to be inspirational.  Christ knew of the coming dark days of His sorrowful Passion.  Perhaps Jesus wanted to provide some evidence to his closest disciples, so they could take comfort and not be despaired or discouraged, but know of His true nature.  Perhaps it is meant to be motivational-  for us!

For Lent is not only a season of prayer and penitence, but it is a season of preparation.  We are preparing for Easter. We are preparing for the glorious Resurrection, and the fulfillment of our Lord’s promise of everlasting life.  We are also preparing to make ourselves better Christians.  More caring and concerned, more dedicated to others.  Preparing to make ourselves more  ” Christ-like “, so that we can be more focused on Christ.

Our Lectionary accompanies this concept with a passage from Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians;  “ Their destiny is destruction. Their mind is set on earthly things. ” [ Philippians 3:19 ]  We become so preoccupied with our ‘day to day’ lives that we loose focus on Christ, His message and His desire that we care for others.  Our minds and energies are set on ” earthly things “.

We are given this time, this ” Transfiguration Sunday,”  to indeed make a dramatic change in ourselves.  We all know, I easily admit that I do, that there are things we can do better- do differently, to do more ” Christ-like,” in our interactions with family and friends,  even with strangers.  Would it not be a compliment worthy of the disciples themselves,  to see our family and friends staring at us strangely with smiles on their faces?  Our own inward smile, knowing we just eased a burden or made someone’s Cross lighter to carry?  The smile of our Savior, when God sees that we ourselves have been transfigured?  That is after all, why we are truly here.  So that Christ could be here, and ease the burdens of our family and friends- of strangers- of everyone.

So, it is time for a change!  A transfiguration.  As is the tradition to give up and forsake something for Lent, as a sacrifice- let us sacrifice a change- to change!  Let us take those traits and bad habits, that even we ourselves know in our hearts need to be broken and done away with-  and transfigure ourselves into the good and caring Christians that Christ calls our for us to be!  After all, look at the sacrifice he made for us- so that we could.  It is indeed then- time for a  change!

Almighty God.  Create within me a new heart- a new spirit- a new resolve.  Help me to see the potential that you see within me.  I know I can be better than I have been.  I know I can do more- help more- love more.  Toward my family- toward my friends- toward my neighbors, even for those that I do not know.  But most especially, for you!  Oh my loving God-  strengthen me.  Restore me.  Renew me.  Refresh me.  Rebuild me.  Transfigure me!  Amen!

May we read, pray and be inspired as we continue our spiritual Lenten journey toward that glorious Easter morning!

The First Station- Jesus is Condemned.  Even now, my beloved Lord Jesus- the world still has you on trial.  Why have you not corrected the injustice in the world?  Wars, oppression, famine, bigotry and hatred still abound.  The weak and the poor continue to turn their eyes and prayers toward heaven.  Where are you?  Why are you so silent?  I admit, in the silence of my soul and in the fear of my faith- I ask this question too.

But in your silence you stood before Pilate.  Your surrendered to God your understanding.  God knows.  God understands our fears, our needs and God knows the true nature of man- the soul and heart that beats within him.  In my silence I pray to you to give me faith- to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Give to me the faith- to be still and know that you are God.

The Second Station- Jesus carries His Cross.  With each movement of the heavy cross, splinters and pain dug deeper into your already broken and bleeding flesh.  How, my beloved Jesus- could you keep anger, hate and contempt for those who imposed this burden upon you?  I see injustice in the world and I am angered. I am frustrated at what I believe are unfair considerations against me.  Then I am ashamed, when I realize the burdens and inequalities others endure.

Strength me, my Lord Jesus- to take up my cross. To have faith in you. Enable me to have the courage to help others carry their own cross.  That I can be an instrument of change- to ease the burden of others.

The Third Station- Jesus Falls.  It would seem to me, as God- you would have carried the cross without falling- but you did not.  You fell beneath its crushing weight- and you are God!  How than, my beloved Jesus- am I to carry my own cross, let alone try and ease the burdens of others?  How can I not, disappoint my family and friends?

But you, my beloved Jesus- were not afraid to fall. You got up, and continued to carry your cross.  Is this your lesson to me?  Do not be afraid to fall?  Rise up. Draw my faith, trust  and strength from God and like you- carry on.

The Fourth Station- Jesus meets His Mother.  There must have been great anguish, pain and sorrow when Blessed Mary saw you.  She must have recalled those times when you fell as a child or were frightened- and ran to her for comfort.  Now she is held at a distance- helpless and filled with despair. It is a painful cross any mother bears in the suffering of her children.

Strengthen the heart and spirits of all parents, merciful God. The courage to help when the can and, more importantly, the resolve when they cannot.  Remove the scars and hurt that separate the bonds of blood between families- as we are bound to you by the sacrifice of your precious blood shed for us.

The Fifth Station- Simon helps Jesus.  How fearful and reluctant was Simon, when he was chosen to help you carry your cross?  Was he too jeered by the crowd? Did he too feel shame?

My beloved Jesus, make me not afraid to face those challenges that will come before me.  Give me strength and faith to walk with you, no matter what struggles lay before me.  Help me to realize that when others are burdened with injustice, I may bravely move beyond the indifferent crowd and help.

The Sixth Station- Veronica wipes Jesus’ brow.  Here, too, another example of someone who dares the condemnation of the crowd to help.  Strengthen me as well, my beloved Jesus, to have the same courage.  To think not of my own comfort and safety, but to react with compassion toward the suffering of others.

The Seventh Station- Jesus falls a Second time.  I am anxious my Lord Jesus, you fall yet again. The crowd, gazing upon you,  must now doubt that you are indeed the Son of God.  What they perceive as weakness and resignation is in reality, unparalleled strength and resolve.

I too, judge others too quickly, sometimes making judgments on appearances alone.  Like the crowd beside you, I too hastily decide my scorn and superiority; looking down upon others. We are too quick to judge the disabled, the poor, the homeless, the destitute and dispossessed, the aged and infirm and those of different color and complexion, or of strange language or ethnicity, or of affectional or sexual orientation.  Help my my beloved Jesus, to overcome my own shortsightedness and shortcoming to understand that we are all children of God; that everyone is worthy of my time, my prayers and my love.

The Eighth Station- Jesus Speaks.  Even in your time of greatest humiliation and suffering, you spoke words of compassion, comfort and absolution.  I am ashamed to think that when I suffer, I think only of myself.  I forget those who suffer much more than I could truly endure.

Give to me Lord Jesus, your grace of humility and holiness.  Help me to take the weight and pains of my own cross and make it a sacrifice to you.  That I may be proud to place my cross beside yours and be judged.

The Ninth Station- Jesus falls a third time.  Even though you are helped by Simon, you fall again.  Is the lesson that there will be times in my life- though helped by others, even with my love and devotion to God- I will still fall?  I cry out to you from the depths of my despair-  “Merciful God, this is more then I can bear!”

“Yes, my dearest child- I know and understand. I am with you always.”  When I fall beloved Jesus, you will catch me. You will raise me up!

My beloved Jesus, there are so many of us crushed by the weight of our crosses. Weighed down and overwhelmed by age, addiction, abuse, oppression and sin.  Lift us up! Remind us there you are there with us. That we are never truly alone. That you walk with us.  For surely, we will stumble and fall again.

The Tenth Station- Jesus is stripped.  Yet another humiliation and suffering.  Even as you walked the bitter path to desolate Calvary, shivering and chilled with pain- you looked down upon the world with compassion.  Make me as ‘Christ-like,’ beloved Jesus, that I too may endure my trials with dignity and devotion.

Almighty God,  for the sake of your sorrowful passion- have mercy on us and on the whole world. Forgive our sins and teach us to forgive others.

The Eleventh Station- Jesus is nailed to the Cross.  I cannot imagine the pain.  It is even difficult for me to comprehend. Even as your tormentors pounded those heavy iron nails into your flesh, you forgave them.  A love so powerful, so incredible, so overwhelming- that God allows Himself to be nailed to a cross.

Was the nail hammered into your left hand, payment for those who harbor hate in their heart?  The nail driven into your right hand, for those ignorant to the suffering of others?  The nails driven into your feet of blistered and broken flesh, payment for those who walk away from the begging outcries of others?  The spear that pierced your side, does it release your overflowing mercy?  Such great love.  Such a great sacrifice.  How can I ever expect to repay it, or be worthy of your love?

Nailed to the Cross, your arms outstretched- you call out to us- “Here I am, dear child.  Come to me.  I go nowhere without you.  I am held to the cross.  I love you.”

The Twelfth Station- Jesus dies.  The sky has turned dark and thunder rumbles. Blessed Mary and beloved John stand nearby. I fall to my knees before your cross in shame.  Scripture tells me you came into the world to give light and though you made the world, the world did not know you.  By your death we are plunged into darkness.

Forgive us Lord Jesus, for not seeing the light. We are blinded by our own ambitions and desires. We choose not to see the suffering and injustice.  We do not even see the beauty of your creation.  The light of truth has left the world, and I pray for it to return.

The Thirteenth Station- Jesus is taken down.  Once again in painful sorrow, Blessed Mary holds you in her arms again. Mother and child.  When I am overwhelmed with loneliness and failure, let me think of this moment. The embrace.  Of being  embraced- by my heavenly Father. God’s embrace of His children. Where there is suffering and pain- there will be mercy and compassion.

The Fourteenth Station- Jesus is laid in the tomb.  On the night you were born, beloved Jesus- men slept.  Angels sang your glory, animals greeted you and a small handful of shepherds noticed.  Now in your burial, again- only a small handful gather.

Like you- most of us are born, and will die, in obscurity. Most of us will not have the mention of media or historians. Is this then your greatest lesson to us?  Be content to be who you are- as you are- where you are. You are children of God.

God knows who you are- for even before you were- God knew you.  Live your life that is the gift from God. Loves those that God has given you to love. Provide for those, that God calls for you help.  For we are renewed and refreshed by the glorious resurrection of Easter morning!  The tomb is empty! We will not be weighed down or overwhelmed by our cross. In fact, it is The Cross that will raise us up- if we are willing accept to follow The Cross and carry it.

For the tomb is empty!  Christ is Risen!

The words of the once popular song are still true today and are proclaimed in the readings for Mass today, “All you need is love!”

You see, in our modern day of technology and 30 second gratification, we often forget that part of our daily lives are those people who are around us. We often forget that they too deserve and need our time and attention. Instead, we are too busy on Facebook or Twitter. We are too absorbed in texting to see the people who need us most. And what exactly do they need? “All they need is love!”

Jeremiah 1: 4-10

 Now  the word of the Lord came to me saying,

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

⁹ Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, 

“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

¹⁰ “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,

To pluck up and to break down,

To destroy and to overthrow,

To build and to plant.”

In our reading for the day,  Jeremiah 1: 4-10, the Prophet Jeremiah is told that God knew him while he was still in the womb. The love of the Almighty God saw the cells combine in Jeremiah’s mother’s womb and then saw the wonder of birth and the new life it spawned. Even as Jeremiah sat despondent that he was unloved and unheeded by his own people, the very people he was trying to save from destruction, God came to him to remind him that he was loved. God reminded him that he was there the moment love started his life.

I personally have gone through the Jeremiah moments in my life. I was made a Bishop at a very young age and as such many of the older, wiser Bishops of our movement would not give me the time of day. Some were very mean and hateful to me because in their eyes I could not possibly be valid. The Roman Catholic Priest in my home town succeeded in running me out of town. I too had the very moments that Jeremiah had and those that Jesus spoke of in the Gospel today. I came to the realization that if Jesus was not accepted in his hometown, who was I to think I would be treated any better.

Anger and hate welled up inside me. I was angry at all those pompous Bishops who belittled me because of my age. I was angry at all the Roman Catholics who bought the garbage spewed by the local Priest about how Old Catholics were heretics and would lead their souls to hell. This anger turned to hate and the hate began to poison my soul.

 

That is when I met Bishop Parker. Bishop Parker came to me as a lay person and was honest about his future. He told me that the doctor had discovered he had stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer in the lymph nodes and that he had about 6 months or so to live. That had been over a year before, but the point was that he was living on borrowed time. He had a desire to be a priest, but not a single church would consider him because of the cancer. I brought him into the church and made him and priest and a bishop! He worked so hard for the church that it amazed me!

We moved from Kentucky to North Augusta, SC to be closer to him. As his days on this earth came to a close, he taught me many things. I watch him die with dignity. I watched him let go of the anger and hate that he had from incidents in his past. And all the while, he was helping me to let go of my own anger and hate. The day Bishop Parker died a piece of me died with him. The last vestiges of anger and hate melted away as I saw him enter his eternal reward in peace and with unwavering faith. All through his ordeal, he had taught me to love again. To love my wife, my child and to love my calling.

I began to work again for the good of the church. I gave to God the pain and hurt from those in the movement who had wronged me and set out to do what I knew God had called me to do. And part of that mission was to spread one message, “God loves you just as you are.” Scripture does not say that God will love you if you change, or that you have to reach this level of holiness to find the love of the Almighty. No, Paul says that while we were still sinners God sent his Son to redeem us. That means God loved us as we were and where we were so much that he was willing to see his own Son die to buy us back from sin and death! That is a powerful message!

And as Paul makes clear to the Corinthians this morning, if you do not have love, everything you do is like a clanging cymbal or a noisy gong. He even says that when all else is done, love is the only thing that will remain!

Today we as Christians have a choice. We can continue to fight over whose mitre is bigger, whose vestments more costly, whose church has more people, or we can choose to proclaim the Gospel of Love to the nations and draw all men and women into the loving embrace of Almighty God.

The choice is yours. But as for me, I will keep on singing, “All you need is love!”

The peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you all.

For those of us within the Order of Preachers, Old Catholic- it has been an interesting and exciting new year, and we are only at the Third Sunday after the Epiphany! It has been a time of celebratory transitions, though marked with stress and sadness as well. It is curious then, that our Lectionary for this day would provide to us a valuable lesson, in which to reflect upon these recent events.

“But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I dont’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. {…} But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first all the apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of giudance and of different tounges. Are not we all apostles? All prophets? All teachers? All work miracles? All have gifts of healing? All speak in tounges? All interpret? [1 Corinthians 12:18-30]

The important lesson here, is that we all are together the Body of Christ. There is not one among us who is greater than the other. More valuable or indispensable than another. Admittedly we have our strengths and talents, as we have our weaknesses and faults as well. But together, we make each other complete.

This struggle is with us daily. In every aspect of our lives. Whether it is at home or work, or with family and friends. We all have the need to feel needed. We want to be sought for our opinions, input and counsel. We want to feel that without us, it would not have been possible. We all have desire to be a friend and it can be the rejection of that, that can cause hurt and even a lack of faith-in ourselves and even in God.

When this happens, we reflect upon our personal sacrifices- on accomplishments we thought were helpful, only to feel betrayed and discouraged when we are rebuffed and dismissed. If only we had those qualities, those strengths and assets they needed- then surely we would have been embraced.

But we do have those missing qualities. They are present in us by way of others. In those who are our family, friends and coworkers. For where one of us is weak, the others are there to raise us up. Where alone we would be afraid to stand, together we are courageous in number. A whisper of one, becomes a thunderous acclamation of all!

This is because we are all together, children of God. Do not be disheartened, for we are there to encourage. Do not feel overwhelmed, for together these burdens can be carried. Do not feel useless or unimportant, for I too need the gift you have to offer. Do not feel lost or alone, for we are walking together and all you have to do is reach for my hand.

Saint Aelred of Rievaulx, the patron saint for which I have named my parish, said it best in his work Mirror of Chairty(c.1142): “I reach out to take the hand that God reaches out for me to take. To cherish those that God calls upon me to cherish. Friend cleaving to friend in the spirit of Christ.”

For we are all children of God. Alone, we may feel insignificant and unimportant but together we are glorious creations of God! Together we are indispensable parts of the Body of Christ- and God’s heart and love beats within us.

Almighty and most merciful God. Create in me a loving spirit, so that I may rejoice and accomplish great things in your name! Let me be there to take that hand that reaches out for you, so that together we may find our way to you and not stumble. Make within us forgiving, pure and humble hearts, so that we may indeed be worthy to be- the Body of Christ Amen.

One year ago today today, we became members……….

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:  ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'”
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.  Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.  On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.  Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV)

Today we mark the end of the Christmas season – the Day of Epiphany.  We celebrate this day to reflect on the visit of the Magi – the wise men – to Jesus and the giving of their gifts. We reflect on the meaning of this visit of those wise ones to see Jesus.

Epiphany is about Jesus and his message being available and relevant to people of every age and race. Jesus isn’t just a Jewish prophet with an exciting message, but God made present amongst us and available to all of us to worship and follow. God’s love reaches beyond the everyday barriers of race and class; something the Magi didn’t quite get at first.

So Who Were the Magi?

We don’t know much about the Magi from Scripture. All Saint Matthew tells us is that they were “Magi from the East”. Some translations have “Wise men from the East”. The word in Greek refers to priests of the Zoroastrian religion. They came from Persia, the countries now known as Iran and Iraq, and they saw meaning in the movement of the stars. Their visit fits an Eastern pattern of great births being accompanied by momentous events in the sky. Certainly we know of a comet in 11BCE in Gemini with its head towards Leo, seen by many as a symbol of Judah.  We also know of planetary conjunctions in both 7BCE and 6 BCE which would have added to a sense that momentous happenings were on the way. The Magi would have noticed these things and taken them seriously. But who were they?

One commentator, Brian Stoffregen puts it like this;

“Originally in Persia, Magi were dream- interpreters. By Jesus’ time, the term referred to astronomers, fortune-tellers, or star-gazers.   They were horoscope fanatics – a practice condemned by Jewish standards. We might compare them to people in fortune – telling booths, or people on the “psychic hotline” or other “occupations” that foretell the future by stars, tea leaves, Tarot cards etc. They were magicians, astronomers, star-gazers, pseudo-scientists, fortune tellers..”

Another writer, Nathan Nettleton, puts it like this;

“They were the speakers of the sacred words at the pagan sacrifices. At worst, the term referred to a magician or sorcerer, or even a deceiver. Magi were people whose activities were repeatedly condemned and prohibited throughout the scriptures and were completely anathema to the people of Israel.”

Whilst in English we get the words “magic” and “magician” from Magi, the Zoroastrian religion forbade sorcery. They clearly were looking for a new king and had found meaning in the movement of the planets and stars which led them to come to Israel to greet the new-born king. They journeyed from their homes in Persia to Bethlehem in search of this baby. Instead of angels and visions, we have the image of the Magi following a sign in the skies – in nature – and for a long period of time. The magi see the intentions of God in the skies. This is not new: Psalm 19 tells us that the heavens themselves declare who God is, and that his handiwork is seen in created nature.  “We observed his star at its rising”. The magi know that there is something significant happening.

When did they come?

The Gospel of Saint Luke doesn’t mention the Magi and holds that the Holy Family returned to Nazareth after the presentation of Jesus at the Temple where he was circumcised. It’s probable that Saint Luke didn’t know of this episode in Jesus’ early life. Saint Matthew seems to place the visit of the Magi some time after Jesus’ birth. The Holy Family are in a “house” not in the
stable of the inn.  Herod kills all the newborn boys under the age of two years. So it’s likely that the Holy Family had stayed for some time in Bethlehem and the Magi came some time after Jesus’ birth, perhaps as long as two years after.

WHY did they come?

Clearly, the Magi were searching.  The Magi recognised much of the truth of Jesus, who he was and what he would become.  The magi had a general idea of this God and this King of the Jews, but they didn’t really know who or what they were looking for.  Bono and U2 were criticized some years ago by some supposedly orthodox Christians when they produced a song entitled, “I still haven’t found what I am looking for.”  I can’t see the problem with that especially given the spiritual depths in many of their songs. You see, the example of the Magi was that they were searchers, not really knowing what or who they were looking for.  They didn’t claim to have it all but they saw their lives as a journey of discovery. And in that they are an example to us. We don’t know it all. But if we like them are prepared to be diligent seekers, then like them we may be graced by God’s light, by our Epiphany.  When the wise men finally found Jesus, we are told that their first response was joy – “they were overwhelmed with joy”. That is what happens when we find Jesus. This is what awaits us at the end of the journey. Next, they paid him homage – they worshiped him and acknowledged Him as King. After the joy comes the worship. That means acknowledging Jesus as King. Jesus as the center. Jesus as Lord. And then, after joy and after worship, comes offering of their gifts. In response to who Jesus is and the joy He gives, we offer ourselves and our gifts to Him.

So my message for today is to dare, like them, to take the risk of seeking, and God may well bless us with our own Epiphanies which transform us as doubtless the Magi were transformed by what must have been a surprising experience for them as they knelt before the infant Jesus.

So how do you find Jesus? Maybe you can start out like the Magi – with a general idea of God, and a general idea that He is guiding you. Like the Magi, we need to turn to the scriptures. If you don’t read them, you will never really get the specific directions that God is trying to give you. Approach them with the right spirit, the right purpose. Ask for help along the way – the church, God’s people, are meant to help you along that way. The wise men knew when they needed to ask someone else for help. And pray. Ask God. When you find Jesus, rejoice. After all, He is God. Put Him in the center of your life. Ask yourself whether what you are doing honors him a King. Offer to him what you have, who you are.

Where can this Jesus be found?  He is with you now.  Won’t you seek Him?  Won’t you recognize Him?  Won’t you let Him fill YOUR life with joy?  Amen.

 

It’s that time of year again.  The time for all and sundry to argue the finer points of holiday greetings:  Merry Christmas versus Happy Holidays, and for the condemnation of using Xmas instead of Christmas.  At the risk of being seen as a non-Christian minister, or a politically correct one, and abandoning or at least not defending my faith and my Lord, I feel compelled for some odd reason, to offer a defense of the use of Happy Holidays and Xmas.  So here goes….

“Happy Holidays.”  Now really, what’s wrong with that?  It’s a pleasant wish that encompasses good wishes for an entire month and a half long season.  Granted, that “season” is usually meant to be the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, and is usually understood to include only Christmas and New Year’s Day.   However, in that time period, what other holidays are there?  “Happy Holidays” is a collective and inclusive wish for the period encompassing Thanksgiving, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Winter solstice, Christmas Day (The Nativity of the Lord), Boxing Day and St. Stephen’s Day, St. John’s Day, the New Year and Epiphany, and it would take me forever to get through the list, if I could remember the list at all, just to give a pleasant hello to someone!  “Happy Holidays” is just easier!  Most of the aforementioned holidays ARE Christian holidays, though, so what’s wrong with “Happy Holidays?”

Leaving those “Happy Holidays” that are in the Christian calendar for a few minutes; let’s look at the ones that aren’t Christian holidays.  Granted, I don’t really consider the Winter solstice a holiday, so I could omit that one altogether and not feel too bad about it.  Kwanzaa is celebrated by our African American brothers and sisters and is not a substitute for Christmas, nor is it a religious holiday.  Wishing someone a happy Kwanzaa does nothing to deny Christianity, but it’s a holiday that I personally don’t celebrate, since I’m not African American.  I DO have many African American friends, however, and most certainly wish them all a happy and joyous Kwanzaa, as well as Christmas!

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival, celebrating a miracle that occurred way back in the 2nd century BCE.  Also known as the Festival of Lights, it is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt.  The story of Hanukkah is alluded to in the book of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees, but Hanukkah is not specially mentioned; rather, a story similar in character, and obviously older in date, is the one alluded to in 2 Maccabees 1:18,  according to which the relighting of the altar fire by Nehemiah was due to a miracle which occurred on the 25th of Kislev, and which appears to be given as the reason for the selection of the same date for the rededication of the altar by Judah Maccabee.  Now, 1 and 2 Maccabees are not considered canonical books by most Protestants, but are included in the Apocrypha, which IS in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles.  So while Hanukkah is not a Christian holiday, per se, it can be considered Biblical.  And since it celebrates the lighting of the rededication of the Temple and is celebrated with lights, and Christ is “the Light of the World,” Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends!

The day after Christmas is Boxing Day, which is celebrated in the Commonwealth countries.  The tradition of Boxing Day has long included giving money and other gifts to those who are needy and in service positions, and the European tradition has been dated to the Middle Ages.  Shouldn’t we, as Christians, do this year round, and not just during the “holidays”?

New Years Day:  Now, there’s a pagan holiday for you!  The Romans dedicated this day to Janus, the god of gates, doors, and beginnings. The month of January was named after Janus, who had two faces, one looking forward and the other looking backward.  It is from this Roman custom that we get the making of New Year’s resolutions:  looking backward, we resolve to not do something or other, and looking forward, we resolve TO do something or other.  Among the 7th century pagans of Flanders and the Netherlands, it was the custom to exchange gifts at the New Year.  So, I guess I’m asking, should we as Christians NOT celebrate the new year and not wish everyone a “Happy New Year”?  If this is the case, then we should certainly avoid making New Year’s resolutions, too.

And then, there are the religious holidays that most Christians don’t really celebrate, and some don’t even know about.  The Feast of Saint Stephen, who was the first Christian martyr on 26 December, the Feast of St. John who was the “Beloved Disciple” on 27 December, the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on  8 December, and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 12 December have already been mentioned.

Finally, there is Epiphany, which is perhaps one of the most important holidays of the liturgical or church year.  It is the last day of the Twelve Days of Christmas of which we sing in the (often-denigrated) Christmas carol, and which is overlooked by most non-liturgical churches.  Epiphany, which falls on January 6, is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ.  Western Christians commemorate principally (but not solely) the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the Baby Jesus, and thus Jesus’ physical manifestation to the Gentiles.  The early Christian Fathers fixed the date of the feast on January 6.  Ancient liturgies noted Illuminatio, Manifestatio, Declaratio (Illumination, Manifestation, Declaration) taken from  Matthew 3:13–17; Luke 3:22; and John 2:1–11; where the Baptism and the Marriage at Cana were dwelt upon. Western Christians have traditionally emphasized the “Revelation to the Gentiles” mentioned in Luke, where the term Gentile means all non-Jewish peoples. The Biblical Magi, who represented the non-Jewish peoples of the world, paid homage to the infant Jesus in stark contrast to Herod the Great (King of Judea), who sought to kill him.  In this event, Christian writers also inferred a revelation to the Children of Israel. Saint John Chrysostom identified the significance of the meeting between the Magi and Herod’s court: “The star had been hidden from them so that, on finding themselves without their guide, they would have no alternative but to consult the Jews. In this way, the birth of Jesus would be made known to all.”  The earliest reference to Epiphany as a Christian feast was in A.D. 361, by Ammianus Marcellinus.   St. Epiphanius says that January 6 is hemera genethlion toutestin epiphanion (Christ’s “Birthday; that is, His Epiphany”).  He also asserts that the Miracle at Cana occurred on the same calendar day, and it was on this day, too, that John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.  So on 6 January, after all the Christmas trimmings have been put away, the gifts exchanged, New Years resolutions have been made (and some broken already), and the kids are back in school, we can still say, with all feeling, “Happy Holidays.”

Honestly, don’t you think “Happy Holidays” is so much easier?

Now, What about that pesky “Xmas” that annoys so many people?

To begin:  Look around in your churches, my friends, especially those of you from a liturgical background, and see how many X’s you can find.

“Xmas” is a common abbreviation of the word “Christmas“.  The “-mas” part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for “Mass“, while the “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as “Christ“.  There is a common misconception that the word Xmas is a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by taking the “Christ” out of “Christmas”.  While “Xmas” is considered to be an informal abbreviation, and should never be used in formal writing, it is historically correct.

The word “Christ” and its compounds, including “Christmas”, have been abbreviated in English for at least the past 1,000 years, long before the modern “Xmas” was commonly used. “Christ” was often written as “XP” or “Xt”; there are references in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as far back as AD 1021. This X and P arose as the uppercase forms of the Greek letters χ and ρ used in ancient abbreviations for Χριστος (Greek for “Christ”), and are still widely seen in many Eastern Orthodox icons depicting Jesus Christ. The labarum, an amalgamation of the two Greek letters rendered as ☧, is a symbol often used to represent Christ in Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian Churches.

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and the OED Supplement have cited usages of “X-” or “Xp-” for “Christ-” as early as 1485. The terms “Xpian” and “Xtian” have also been used for “Christian”. The dictionary further cites usage of “Xtianity” for “Christianity” from 1634. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage, most of the evidence for these words comes from “educated Englishmen who knew their Greek”.

In ancient Christian art, χ and χρ are abbreviations for Christ’s name. In many manuscripts of the New Testament and icons, Χ is an abbreviation for Χριστος, as is XC (the first and last letters in Greek, using the lunate sigma); compare IC for Jesus in Greek.

Thus, really and truly, the use of the “X” isn’t taking Christ out of Christmas at all.  And instead of protesting the use of “X” during the  Christmas season, wouldn’t we ALL be better people, the world be a better place, and Christ be better served,  if we kept that “X” in our words and deeds every day of the year?  Should we not celebrate Him always, 24/7/365?

So, having said all of the above, Happy Holidays (all of them) to all of you, and may you keep Christ, not only in Christmas, but also in your hearts and minds and lives, every day and always.  Amen.

The Order of Preachers, Reformed is thrilled to announce that Rev. Brother Terry Elkington was ordained into the sacred order of the priesthood this past Saturday.  Immediately following his ordination, Fr. Terry made his Simple Profession as Dominican.  He is now The Reverend Brother, Father Terry Elkington, OPr.  Let us pray for God’s continued Grace in his life, and praise God for the things He is doing!  Thanks be to God!

This year, the joy of Christmas has been tempered by great sadness. The unfathomable horror of the shootings within an elementary school in Connecticut, have shaken us all to the foundations of our faith.

We can take some small comfort, in the knowledge that as Christmas passes we approach The Feast of the Holy Innocents within the Catholic church calendar. This year that is December 28,2012. This day commemorates a similar tragedy that occurred around the birth of Jesus. (The Catholic Encyclopedia states: “It is impossible to determine the day or year of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents. All we know is that the infants were slain within two years of the apparition of The Star to The Wise Men.)

When Jesus was born, King Herod became afraid that the ancient prophesy foretelling of the birth of a King of the Jews had come true. The Magi had entered his kingdom, telling of the star they had been following and inquired if Herod had knowledge of the birth. Herod consulted with his chief priests and teachers. “He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” [Matthew 2:8]

But as we know, the Wise Men did not return to Herod- because as we know, Herod did not have worship in his heart. Warned in a dream not to return, the Magi traveled another route home. “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious and gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old or younger.’ [Matthew 2:16]

I do not dare to compare the massacre of The Holy Innocents to those unfortunate targeted victims of a crazed gunmen, but we can take comfort in a quote of Saint Augustine as he commented in his day on the former. “The death of these children is precious in the sight of God. For already at the beginning of their lives, they pass on. The end of this present life is for them, the beginning of glory. Those who [Herod] cruely tore from their mother’s bosom, are now justly hailed as infant martyr flowers- the church’s first blossoms, matured by the frost of persecution during a winter of unbelief.”

We can interpret that these children from Connecticut, much like those Holy Innocents of biblical times, are now at peace in God’s loving embrace. “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for it is to such as these, that the kingdom of God belongs.” [Mark 10:14]

God did not cause these terrible things to happen. Mankind has been given his glorious gift of freewill. To accept and seek God, not for fear of God, but because of a desire to love God; to please God and be with God. When these horrific things happen, God to is saddened. He joins with us in his tears and invites us to lay our grief and burden at the foot of his cross. The only place in times like this, where it can be left.

In the history of all of Christmas, there is only one Christmas Carol know to have been written to tell of the grief of The Holy Innocents. The Coventry Carol, written sometime in the sixteenth century, reflects a mother’s lament for the death of her child.
“That woe is me, poor child for thee- and ever mourn and sigh.
For thy parting is neither say or sing. Bye, bye, lully- lullay.”

Most merciful God, we cry out to you through tears. Just now, we celebrate the glory of your birth and are abruptly silenced by the evil that is brought upon us. Only in reflecting upon your promise of eternal life, can we once again secure a sense of happiness in such chaos. We pray you accept and embrace these littlest innocent lambs of your flock, for they truly are too- Holy Innocents. Grant your grace and comfort upon all who suffer from this senseless act, the parents and families, the community and those who responded to help. Reassure us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, that your are God. Amen.