Christmas Midnight 2015,

Christmas I, Midnight

Matthew 1: 1, 17-25

Joseph and the Angel,  Gandolfi,  Wikimedia

[Now is proclaimed the beginning of the whole Gospel, according to Matthew in the first chapter.]

This is the book of the new creation, which has happened through Jesus Christ [or, the generation of Jesus Christ], a son of David, who is a son of Abraham….

From Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David to the deportation to Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the exile in Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations.

The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way: Mary, his mother, was betrothed to Joseph. But before they were aware of having come together, she conceived a child by the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph however, her husband, who was an upright man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, was considering whether he should quietly set her free [or, decided to consider all this a mystery.] As he was pondering this, behold the angel of the Lord appeared before him in a dream and said to him:

 “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because that which is to be born of her is conceived out of the power of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus, that is, the Bringer of Healing, for he it will be who will heal his own of their error and guilt. “

All this took place so that the word of the Lord, spoken by the mouth of the prophet, might be fulfilled:

“A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and they will call his name Immanuel, that is, God in our midst.”

               

Now when Joseph rose from his sleep he did as the angel of the Lord directed him, and he took Mary to himself as his wife, and he knew her not until she bore her son, and he gave him the name Jesus.

Christmas I, Midnight

December 25, 2004 and 2015

Matthew 1: 1, 17-25

An ancient legend tells of something that happened at midnight in the stall at Bethlehem. Long has it been kept secret. But tonight you shall hear it.

The Virgin has just brought the Child into the world. She swaddles and wraps him. Joseph arranges some straw in the manger. He draws her toward this resting place. Mary lays the Child into the manger, and to protect him she pulls her blue mantle halfway over it. The ox and the donkey hardly stir in their corners. The gentle light reflects in their eyes.

The door opens silently, as if a breath of wind blew against it. The figure of a woman stands at the threshold. She is dressed all in gray, in earthy gray. Gray is the hood that covers her head, shadowing her face. Gray is the mantle that falls from shoulders to feet. She appears to be ancient, bent over from a burden long carried.

Mary feels fear as she gazes at her. Is this woman approaching the child with ill will? Yet ox and donkey remain quiet. Peacefully they munch the hay. They look at the stranger as if they have known her since far back in time. The child sleeps undisturbed. Mary does not let the stranger out of her sight. Her slow steps—each one seems to last centuries.

Finally the old one stands at the manger. Mary can see her shadowy features. She gazes into her eyes, which gaze back at her for a moment, and then come to rest on the child. He awakens and opens his eyes. And Mary recognizes: the eyes of the old woman and the eyes of the child both hold the same look; the same hope shines in both.

The old one bends over the child. Beneath her mantle her hand stirs, seeming to want to bring forth something. Mary observes her with the same fear. The animals also gaze down, yet as calmly as if they had known from the beginning what would happen.

Finally after a long moment, the old one draws out her hand; she holds something hidden in it. She hands it to the child.

What is the first gift, even before the shepherds had arrived? From her resting place Mary cannot see; she sees only her back, bent with age that curves even more as she bends over the manger.

It all lasts so long. Finally the figure straightens up, freed of a great weight that had bent her down to the earth. Her shoulders no longer seemed weighed down. Her head rises nearly to the rafters. Her face shines, wonderfully young again. She moves away from the crib, turns toward the door and disappears into the night from which she had come.

The Child and the Apple, Michel Erhard

And now Mary recognizes the mysterious gift she had brought the Child. Eve had come, to bring the Child, as his first gift, the apple, the apple of the first sin with which all calamity had befallen humankind. Over the centuries the golden Paradise apple had become hard and green and sour, an apple that could spoil; an apple that had made anyone who ate of it become ill forever after.

But now, in the Child’s little hand, the apple begins to shine golden again. In the Child’s hand it turns sweet

and juicy and nourishing. Inside the apple is a star; the star shines within a white rose. It shines as the image of the new world that is born with him.

This year, the Child is born anew in the Virgin Soul. In his hand is the apple of the new world he brings. May we bear the child, cherish his nourishment, and work alongside him to bring about his new World.[i]

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[i] From the French, the brothers Tharaud, by Gerhard Wöhrmann in Die Christengemeinschaft, Nov/Dez 1950. Reproduced in Jahresfeste mit Kinder, Brigitte Barz .Translated by C. Hindes. Another version also appears as “The Last Visitor”, in Christmas Roses, Legends for Advent, collected by Mimi Zotterman, Anthroposophic Press.

4th Advent 2015, Mortal Good

4th Advent

Luke 1: 26-38

Fra Angelico

During the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a maiden engaged to a man named Joseph of the descendants of David, and the maiden’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said her, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was confused at those words, and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the most High,

And the Lord your God will give him the Throne of David your father.

And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;

And his kingdom will have no end. “

And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have never known a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her,

 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;

And for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your kinswoman Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word is spoken in the worlds of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.”

 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the Lord’s handmaid; may it be to me according to your word. “

And the angel departed from her.

4th Advent

Luke 1: 26-38

As the great day approaches, we remember back to how it all came about: the angel announces to Mary that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Most High God will overshadow her like a cloud. And thus she will give birth to the holy.

Mary represents the soul of each of us. Ever and again there come to us moments when the holy, healing spirit of the Father’s love comes over us. His power surrounds us, overlights us in a bright cloud; and we are enabled to bring forth something, perhaps a kind, encouraging word, a rescuing deed, a creative solution, something holy and healing.

Descent of Holy Spirit

This comes about more easily through our contemplative openness of soul and our willingness to serve. This is how the Son of the Most High is born through us; how His kingdom is extended in and through our lives; how His glory and power work in us. In the words of Wendell Berry:

A child unborn, the coming year
Grows big within us, dangerous,
And yet we hunger as we fear
For its increase: the blunted bud

To free the leaf to have its day,
The unborn to be born. The ones
Who are to come are on the way,
and though we stand in mortal good

Among our dead, we turn in doom
In joy to welcome them, stirred by
That ghost who stirs in seed and tomb,
Who brings the stones to parenthood.[1]

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[1] Wendell Berry, A Child Unborn, the coming year; To Mary

3rd Advent 2015, Laboring in Travail

3^rd Advent

1 Thessalonians, 5, 1-8, 23, 24

About time spans and right moments, dear brothers, I have no need to write to you. You know very well yourselves that the Breaking of the Day of Christ comes like a thief in the night. When people say, ‘Now peace reigns, and all stands secure, then suddenly catastrophe breaks upon them, like the birth pangs of a woman with child, and there will be no escape for them.

You, however, dear brothers, are not to remain in darkness, so that the breaking of day will not surprise you like a thief. For you are sons of light and sons of the day. Our being is not filled with night and darkness. So let us not sleep like the others, but rather cultivate an alert and sober state of mind. Those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk are likewise of nightly nature. But since we belong to the brightness of day, let us be sober, clothed with the breastplate of faith and love, our head armed [protected] with the hope of healing….May God himself, however, the source of all Peace, hallow and heal your whole being. May your complete and undivided being,

Spirit

Soul, and

Body

remain pure and unclouded at the coming in the spirit of Jesus Christ, our Lord. You may trust in him who calls you. He it is who also lets you reach the goal.

3^rd Advent

December 13, 2015

1 Thessalonians, 5, 1-8, 23, 24

In the last weeks of pregnancy, a woman often slows down. If her preparations are done, she is often peaceful, waiting. But as the date nears, she may get restless. And when labor begins, it brings turmoil and anxiety.

Catastrophic personal events, as well as world events, bring turmoil and anxiety. Many are those who suffer. Yet it may be that these events are in fact birth pangs. Humanity is laboring in travail to bring forth a new version of itself.

We are laboring to bring forth enough sons and daughters of light, who shine in the inner and outer darkness; sons and daughters who are calm and self-possessed, whose hearts overflow with trust and love. Such sons and daughters look forward in anticipation of the healing of humankind, because they know that Christ is near. He is seeking to be born again within human souls and hearts.

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2nd Advent 2015, Gentle Kindliness

2nd Advent

Philippians 4:1, 4:4-9

Therefore my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and my crown of glory, stand firm in the power of the Lord.

Rejoice in the nearness of the Lord at all times! And I say it again: Rejoice!

Let a gentle kindliness be evident toward all human beings you encounter. The Lord is near! Let not worry have power over you; let your concerns in all things be known to God by sending your supplication and prayer upward in thankful thoughts. And the peace of God, which transcends anything that the intellect can grasp, will keep your hearts and thoughts safe in the Being of Christ….

And lastly dear brothers I say to you:

all that is true,

all that is worthy of reverence,

all that is good and holy,

all that is lovely to look at and beautiful to hear,

all that has virtue and deserves praise:

let these be the content of your conversations and thoughts. All that you have had handed on to you, what you have heard from me and seen in me—put all this into practice; then the God of Peace will be with you!

2nd Advent

December 6, 2015

Philippians 4:1, 4:4-9

There is an old fable about a contest between the sun and the wind, over which of them could take off the cloak of a traveler on the road.  The wind blew, and blew harder, but the man just pulled his cloak tighter. When it was the sun’s turn, he shone warmer and warmer, until the man took off the cloak himself.

A steady warmth and gentleness often achieve more than forceful bluster. Gentleness lowers defenses. It leaves others free.

We are in the time when Christ is approaching human souls. He is like the sun – gentle and warm, encouraging. We can lower the cloak of our defenses and take in his light and warmth. And we can in turn kindly radiate them out to others. He is the source; we are the means, the channels. So in the words of Paul:

Let a gentle kindliness be evident toward all human beings you encounter. The Lord is near!

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First Advent 2015, Strengthening Transformation

1st Advent

Luke 21:25-36

And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth, the nations will be constricted with anxiety and doubt with the advent of these spiritual revelations, as before a roaring sea and waves. And men will lose their inner strength of soul out of fear and foreboding of what is coming over the living earth: for the dynamic powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, in the sphere of life, with dynamic power and great radiant glory.

And when these things begin to happen, stand upright and lift up [raise] your soul to the spirit, for your deliverance draws near.

And he gave them a comparison, saying, ‘Observe [behold] the fig tree and all the trees when they burst into leaf. Seeing this, you know yourselves that summer is near. So also when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

Amen, the truth I say to you: this present age of Man’s being shall not pass away until all has happened.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Guard yourselves lest the perceptive power of your hearts be smothered by

excess of food and drink and by over-concern with the cares and worries of life, and the light of these spirit events break upon you suddenly like a snare…for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. So be awake in the spirit at all times, praying, so that you may have the strength to live through all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.

1st Advent

November 29, 2015

Luke 21:25-36

Living things are always changing. The plants change form from seed to shoot to leaves, from leaves to blossom and fruit and seed. The living light of the sun is in constantly changing flux. These changes affect our experience.

Roland Tiller

Every year at this time, Christ slowly descends once again toward the opportunity for an intimate connection with humankind. Because He is Life itself, His approach stimulates change, change in the cosmos, change in our souls. One natural reaction to great change is anxiety.

The gospel encourages us to recognize in advance that our anxiety is caused in fact by the approach of Christ, the giver of Life, the refresher of our life’s true meaning. He is the giver of transformative change. We are encouraged not to just smother our unease with excess of food and drink. Rather we are encouraged to practice a state of vigilant, strengthening prayer.

Christ is seeking an encounter with our wakeful spirits, to take place during the days and nights of Christmas. We may pray that

…we be strengthened from the founts of will that bear us toward freedom;

 that we be illumined from the founts of wisdom that warm the inmost heart;

 that we feel peace from the founts of love which bless human work. [1]

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[1] Adapted from the Intercessory Prayer in MeditativePrayers for Today, Adam Bittleston

4th November Trinity 2015, Spiritual Gemstones

4th November Trinity

Revelation 21: 9-27

And he carried me in spirit-form up to a great high mountain, and let me see how the Holy City, Jerusalem, the City of Peace, descended out of the spiritual worlds, coming forth from the being of God, wrapped in the most intimate splendor of the revelation of God.

Her shining [gleaming] is like that of a precious gemstone, like the stone jasper, clear as crystal.

Her walls are of mighty size and height; she has twelve gates and at the gates stand twelve angels. On the gates are written the names of the twelve sons of Israel; three gates from the East, three gates from the North, three gates from the South, and three gates from the West.

And the wall of the City rests on twelve sacred foundations, and the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb work in them.

And he who spoke with me carried a golden measuring rod, in order to measure the City and her gates and her walls.

And the City is spread out in a square; her length is the same as her width. And he measured the City with the measuring rod. It measured twelve thousand miles; the length and breadth and height were alike. And he measured her walls at one hundred forty-four cubits [ells], the measure of a man, which now the angel was using.

The covering of her walls was of jasper, and the City herself of purified gold, clear as glass. And the sacred foundation of the wall were adorned with every precious stone:

 

the first, a jasper,

the second, a sapphire,

the third, a chalcedony,

the fourth, emerald,

the fifth sardonyx,

the sixth, carnelian,

the seventh, chrysolite,

the eighth, beryl,

the ninth, topaz,

the tenth, chrysoprase

the eleventh, hyacinth,

the twelfth, an amethyst.

The twelve gates were twelve pearls, and each of the gates made of a single pearl. And the city was of purified gold, like a transparent crystal.

I did not see a temple in the City, for the Lord God, Ruler of All, is her sanctuary, and the Lamb.

And the City needs neither sun nor moon, for she shines from within; for the shining revelation of God is streaming brightness in her, and her light is the Lamb.

And all nations shall walk in her light, and the rulers of the earth will carry their spiritual treasures into her. And her gates will never be closed by day, for there, night will be no more.

And all the shining treasures of the revelations of the world, and all the spiritual worth of the nations and all achievements of the soul will be brought into her.

And nothing can enter which is not spiritualized [consecrated], nothing which perverts the image of Man, nothing which remains under the power of the Lie, but rather only those who are written into the Book of Life of the Lamb.

4^th Nov Trinity

Heavenly Jerusalem, Maronite

Revelation 21: 9-27

November 22, 2015

All endings are also new beginnings. As we finish the liturgical year, we are given a mighty picture of the future of humankind. The image is that of a city, built on a twelve-fold foundation. These twelve foundations are pictured as twelve precious stones. They represent the soul and spiritual qualities, the virtues of all humankind. 

These precious gems of the virtues, the foundations of our own future, are

The amethyst of devotion, the hyacinth of equilibrium, the chrysoprase of perseverance; topaz of unselfishness, beryl of compassion; chrysolite of courtesy, carnelian of contentment, sardonyx of patience; chalcedony of courage, sapphire of discretion, emerald of truth and the jasper of generosity of spirit.*  

It is the common task of humanity to develop these virtues, so that our next dwelling place, the new creation of the city of Peace, will have a firm foundation in goodness.

The jasper of magnanimous generosity holds a special place. It will rise as walls of love that will surround and protect us. And the openings through those walls of love are the twelve gates of pearl, that lustrous substance created in response to suffering. For it is through our suffering that we will ultimately enter the city of peace.

All these spiritual treasures of the soul of humanity make us into the Bride, the wife of the Lamb of God, who is Christ. For that is our ultimate goal – to choose, in love and devotion, to be wed to Christ whose fullness of Life is enveloped in Love.

*The Apocalypse, Friedrich Benesch 

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