On the Eigth Day of Christmas
Collect for the Feast of the Holy Name
Eternal father, you gave to you incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord jesus Christ; who lifves and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God in glory everlasting. Amen
About the Feast of the Holy Name:
www.newadvent.org/cathen/07420a.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Holy_Name_of_Jesus
Readings:
Psalm 8; Numbers 6:2-27 ; Galatians 4:4-7 or Philippians 2:5-10; Luke 2:15-21
From Forward Day by Day:
Psalm 8. How exalted is your Name in all the world!
It wasn't until the 16th century that this was called Holy Name Day, and not until the 20th that is was moved to the head of the year. The feast now falls in one of those lovely moments when the church calendar and the secular one intersect. Coming on New Year's Day, at the birth of the new year, the feast reminds us of our own second birth at baptism, when we were newly named as adopted children of God. And as a prelude to Epiphany--the day of Christ's manifestation to the nations, celebrated later this week--this feast reminds us that the name of Jesus is the one name before which every knee must bend. Just as new parents try to choose names that somehow reflect their hopes for the newborn, so names in the Bible often reflect God's hope for us. Some biblical names read like riddles. But Jesus' name speaks to us directly.
Yeshua, literally, in Hebrew, the One Who Saves--is the only name under heaven, as the Prayer Book healing service declares, given for health and salvation. May such health and salvation be yours in this new year, in Jesus' name.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Liberia - (West Africa) The Rt Revd Edward W Neufville
Advent calendar: Ways to Move Systems -- like businesses and governments -- Toward Sustainability:
6. Influence the media. Pass releases on to local media from Alternatives and other organizations.
From: Christmas CLARESHARE December 2006
Ty Mam Duw Poor Clare Colettine Community
1st January
Mary Mother of God
World day of prayer for peace.
Make peace. Send a New Year's peace card to someone who has disrupted your
life - and /or draw a heart on your fridge door with their initials.
From John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., Tradition Day by Day: Readings from Church Writers. Augustinian Press. Villanova, PA, 1994.
The Mother of God
Mary, Mother of God, we salute you. Precious vessel, worthy of the whole world's reverence, you are an ever-shining light, the crown of virginity, the symbol of orthodoxy, an indestructible temple, the place that held him whom no place can contain, mother and virgin. Because of you the holy gospels could say: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
We salute you, for in your holy womb he, who is beyond all limitation, was confined. Because of you the holy Trinity is glorified and adored; the cross is called precious and is venerated throughout the world; the heavens exult; the angels and archangels make merry; demons are put to flight; the devil, that tempter, is thrust down from heaven; the fallen race of man is taken up on high; all creatures possessed by the madness of idolatry have attained knowledge of the truth; believers receive holy baptism; the oil of gladness is poured out; the Church is established throughout the world; pagans are brought to repentance.
What more is there to say? Because of you the light of the only begotten Son of God has shone upon those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death; prophets pronounced the word of God; the apostles preached salvation to the Gentiles; the dead are raised to life, and kings rule by the power of the holy Trinity.
Cyril of Alexandria, Cyril (~444), patriarch of Alexandria, was a brilliant theologian who combatted the Arian and Nestorian heresies. Cyril presided at the Council of Ephesus in 431 where Mary's title as Mother of God was solemnly recognized.
More Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_of_Alexandria ; www.newadvent.org/cathen/04592b.htm
From the The Principles of the Third Society of St. Francis: www.tssf.org/
The Object
(1) Jesus said, Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves Me must follow Me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves Me, the Father will honour. John 12.24-26.
Heavenly Father, you are always pleased to show yourself to those who are childlike and humble in spirit: help us to follow the example of our blessed father Francis, to look upon the wisdom of this world as foolishness, and set our minds only on Christ Jesus and Him crucified; to Whom with You and the Holy Spirit be all glory for ever. Amen.
On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 8, January 1
Eight Maids A-milking
The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)
2 Corinth. 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
It's a brand new year! And with each new year comes new plans, new goals, new resolutions. It is natural for people to want something new in their lives. It is common for us to want to become something we are not. So, we break out the weights, we try on a new diet, we go back to college, or we might even try lessons on that instrument we have always wanted to play.
For a while we are gung ho- full of energy and vitality. We just can't wait to show off the 'new me'. While all those plans and wishes are admirable, most of the time we get bored with the 'new plan' and soon we are right back to where we were at the beginning of the year.
Change. Real change that makes a difference comes only when an individual comes to grips with his or her self. Real change comes only when we realize that, on our own, we are nothing. On our own, we can do nothing. On our own, we never see real success. On our own, we are only failures.
Enter our Scripture. If you are looking for real change, if you are searching for a brand new start that will stick, if you really want to become a successful individual, then great news is found in our Scripture reading.
If anyone is in Christ (that includes even you, my friend) he or she is a new person (NEW - not the person you used to be. Not the person you are tired of.) Old things (the past, the old habits, the way you used to be) are passed away and ALL things become new! Yes, this is the change we all long for!
This is what we desire - a real change from being a failure. A brand new start to being what we were created to be - a vibrant, exciting person with a reason to live! Is this what you are looking for? Great! Then begin the new year with all your sins forgiven (through a true repentance of your sins) and start real living as the brand new you! The you that is forgiven and filled with the Spirit! The you that has changed!
Joe Talhelm
Crowley, Louisiana, USA
Dear Lord,
This is the day You have made. Let me rejoice, and be glad in it. There will be 364 more of these in the year to come. Help me Father, to make them all count for you. Let the change that You have brought keep me inspired, challenged, motivated. Let Your newness stay ever fresh. Let me know You, and Your glory, with unfaded awareness of the most precious presence ever. I need You, Lord. I love You, Lord. Let Your newness become mine.
Amen
By Val Fizzell
Dear Friends,
Here is the final meditation for 2006.
My daughters are now grown but I remember the 'growing' years. :)
Blessings,
Val
Christmas 1 C -2006
Growing pains
Reading: Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of
the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for
the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the
boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey.
Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When
they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After
three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were
amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they
were astonished; and his mother said to him, Child, why have you treated us
like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great
anxiety. He said to them, Why were you searching for me? Did you not know
that I must be in my Father’s house? But they did not understand what he
said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was
obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And
Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.
*Compared with other ancient biographical literature, Luke’s story about a
young Jesus in the Temple is very restrained. It is the only gospel
reference to the growing years and Luke theologically points us to Jesus as
the son of God in his father’s house, listening and learning.
Many commentators point out that Luke wants his readers to know that Jesus
was God-centred as he grew up and that Luke gives us the first recorded
words of Jesus [if they weren’t actual, they were what Luke believed Jesus
would have said] - it was natural for him to be in God’s house, doing God’s
will (depending on the translation used).
*Growing up, exploring the adult world, especially with anxious parents has
never been easy for both children and parents. Most parents want the best
for their children. Luke’s story tells about religiously observant parents: they went every year to Jerusalem for Passover.
While all male Jews within a thirty of so kilometre radius of Jerusalem were
obliged to attend Passover in Jerusalem, neither women nor children had to
go. Luke implies that the whole family went to the seven to eight day festival
each year.
Jesus was almost the age when a Jewish boy becomes bar mitzwah, a son of
commandment [Law] at thirteen years plus one day. At this age, he would become responsible for his behaviour. The boy Jesus was on the brink of manhood.
The different stages of life are listed by Judah, the son of Tema:
At five years (the age is reached for the study of the) Scripture, at ten
for (the study of) the Mishnah, at thirteen for (the fulfilment of) the
commandments, at fifteen for (the study of) the Talmud, at eighteen for
marriage, at twenty for seeking (a livelihood), at thirty for (entering into
one's full) strength, at forty for understanding, at fifty for counsel, at
sixty (a man attains) old age, at seventy the hoary head, at eighty (the
gift of special) strength, at ninety, (he bends beneath) the weight of
years, at a hundred he is as if he were already dead and had passed away
from the world. [It is interesting that Jesus embarked on his ministry when entering his full strength.]
Perhaps, the other important thing for us to remember is that Jesus did not
come as a fully-formed, super human with a superior knowledge of God. He
needed to listen and ask questions, just as we do.
*Parents (and grandparents) may feel a certain sympathy with Mary and Joseph
when they read this story.
Adolescents do want to do their own thing, to explore, to argue and question
and can contribute to anxious moments and grey hair for parents. The implied
rebuke: Why have you done this to us? must have passed the lips of many
parents through the ages. However, Luke’s story is not about distressed parents. He is making his point about Jesus.
*William Loader comments: Jesus was growing up (2:52). Luke gives us an
ideal picture, but at least in doing so he retains a genuinely human Jesus
in a genuinely human context. It is this Jesus (and this kind of Jesus, not
one who dropped in complete from outer space) whom God anoints to declare
and live out the good news of liberation and salvation.
*In Luke’s gospel, the next time Jesus will return to Jerusalem will be as
the king who comes in the name of the Lord and the one who cleanses the
Temple wishing to restore it to being a House of Prayer.
Luke records that Jesus then taught in the Temple area. He first came to the
Temple as listener and questioner, he returned as the Teacher bringing Good
News (Luke 19 & 20).
Luke will go on to tell us that it was the religious people: the chief
priests, the elders and the Temple guards who arrested Jesus. After the
ascension, Luke will write that: the disciples returned to Jerusalem with
great joy and they were continually in the Temple praising God.
*For us: we continue to gather in God’s house, to listen and question, to be
temples of God ourselves, to share the Good News and to be joyful and full
of praise. Perhaps too, we will extend tolerance to the adolescents in our
midst and sympathise with their growing pains.
Eternal father, you gave to you incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord jesus Christ; who lifves and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God in glory everlasting. Amen
About the Feast of the Holy Name:
www.newadvent.org/cathen/07420a.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Holy_Name_of_Jesus
Readings:
Psalm 8; Numbers 6:2-27 ; Galatians 4:4-7 or Philippians 2:5-10; Luke 2:15-21
From Forward Day by Day:
Psalm 8. How exalted is your Name in all the world!
It wasn't until the 16th century that this was called Holy Name Day, and not until the 20th that is was moved to the head of the year. The feast now falls in one of those lovely moments when the church calendar and the secular one intersect. Coming on New Year's Day, at the birth of the new year, the feast reminds us of our own second birth at baptism, when we were newly named as adopted children of God. And as a prelude to Epiphany--the day of Christ's manifestation to the nations, celebrated later this week--this feast reminds us that the name of Jesus is the one name before which every knee must bend. Just as new parents try to choose names that somehow reflect their hopes for the newborn, so names in the Bible often reflect God's hope for us. Some biblical names read like riddles. But Jesus' name speaks to us directly.
Yeshua, literally, in Hebrew, the One Who Saves--is the only name under heaven, as the Prayer Book healing service declares, given for health and salvation. May such health and salvation be yours in this new year, in Jesus' name.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Liberia - (West Africa) The Rt Revd Edward W Neufville
Advent calendar: Ways to Move Systems -- like businesses and governments -- Toward Sustainability:
6. Influence the media. Pass releases on to local media from Alternatives and other organizations.
From: Christmas CLARESHARE December 2006
Ty Mam Duw Poor Clare Colettine Community
1st January
Mary Mother of God
World day of prayer for peace.
Make peace. Send a New Year's peace card to someone who has disrupted your
life - and /or draw a heart on your fridge door with their initials.
From John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., Tradition Day by Day: Readings from Church Writers. Augustinian Press. Villanova, PA, 1994.
The Mother of God
Mary, Mother of God, we salute you. Precious vessel, worthy of the whole world's reverence, you are an ever-shining light, the crown of virginity, the symbol of orthodoxy, an indestructible temple, the place that held him whom no place can contain, mother and virgin. Because of you the holy gospels could say: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
We salute you, for in your holy womb he, who is beyond all limitation, was confined. Because of you the holy Trinity is glorified and adored; the cross is called precious and is venerated throughout the world; the heavens exult; the angels and archangels make merry; demons are put to flight; the devil, that tempter, is thrust down from heaven; the fallen race of man is taken up on high; all creatures possessed by the madness of idolatry have attained knowledge of the truth; believers receive holy baptism; the oil of gladness is poured out; the Church is established throughout the world; pagans are brought to repentance.
What more is there to say? Because of you the light of the only begotten Son of God has shone upon those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death; prophets pronounced the word of God; the apostles preached salvation to the Gentiles; the dead are raised to life, and kings rule by the power of the holy Trinity.
Cyril of Alexandria, Cyril (~444), patriarch of Alexandria, was a brilliant theologian who combatted the Arian and Nestorian heresies. Cyril presided at the Council of Ephesus in 431 where Mary's title as Mother of God was solemnly recognized.
More Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_of_Alexandria ; www.newadvent.org/cathen/04592b.htm
From the The Principles of the Third Society of St. Francis: www.tssf.org/
The Object
(1) Jesus said, Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves Me must follow Me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves Me, the Father will honour. John 12.24-26.
Heavenly Father, you are always pleased to show yourself to those who are childlike and humble in spirit: help us to follow the example of our blessed father Francis, to look upon the wisdom of this world as foolishness, and set our minds only on Christ Jesus and Him crucified; to Whom with You and the Holy Spirit be all glory for ever. Amen.
On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 8, January 1
Eight Maids A-milking
The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)
2 Corinth. 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
It's a brand new year! And with each new year comes new plans, new goals, new resolutions. It is natural for people to want something new in their lives. It is common for us to want to become something we are not. So, we break out the weights, we try on a new diet, we go back to college, or we might even try lessons on that instrument we have always wanted to play.
For a while we are gung ho- full of energy and vitality. We just can't wait to show off the 'new me'. While all those plans and wishes are admirable, most of the time we get bored with the 'new plan' and soon we are right back to where we were at the beginning of the year.
Change. Real change that makes a difference comes only when an individual comes to grips with his or her self. Real change comes only when we realize that, on our own, we are nothing. On our own, we can do nothing. On our own, we never see real success. On our own, we are only failures.
Enter our Scripture. If you are looking for real change, if you are searching for a brand new start that will stick, if you really want to become a successful individual, then great news is found in our Scripture reading.
If anyone is in Christ (that includes even you, my friend) he or she is a new person (NEW - not the person you used to be. Not the person you are tired of.) Old things (the past, the old habits, the way you used to be) are passed away and ALL things become new! Yes, this is the change we all long for!
This is what we desire - a real change from being a failure. A brand new start to being what we were created to be - a vibrant, exciting person with a reason to live! Is this what you are looking for? Great! Then begin the new year with all your sins forgiven (through a true repentance of your sins) and start real living as the brand new you! The you that is forgiven and filled with the Spirit! The you that has changed!
Joe Talhelm
Crowley, Louisiana, USA
Dear Lord,
This is the day You have made. Let me rejoice, and be glad in it. There will be 364 more of these in the year to come. Help me Father, to make them all count for you. Let the change that You have brought keep me inspired, challenged, motivated. Let Your newness stay ever fresh. Let me know You, and Your glory, with unfaded awareness of the most precious presence ever. I need You, Lord. I love You, Lord. Let Your newness become mine.
Amen
By Val Fizzell
Dear Friends,
Here is the final meditation for 2006.
My daughters are now grown but I remember the 'growing' years. :)
Blessings,
Val
Christmas 1 C -2006
Growing pains
Reading: Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of
the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for
the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the
boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey.
Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When
they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After
three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were
amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they
were astonished; and his mother said to him, Child, why have you treated us
like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great
anxiety. He said to them, Why were you searching for me? Did you not know
that I must be in my Father’s house? But they did not understand what he
said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was
obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And
Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.
*Compared with other ancient biographical literature, Luke’s story about a
young Jesus in the Temple is very restrained. It is the only gospel
reference to the growing years and Luke theologically points us to Jesus as
the son of God in his father’s house, listening and learning.
Many commentators point out that Luke wants his readers to know that Jesus
was God-centred as he grew up and that Luke gives us the first recorded
words of Jesus [if they weren’t actual, they were what Luke believed Jesus
would have said] - it was natural for him to be in God’s house, doing God’s
will (depending on the translation used).
*Growing up, exploring the adult world, especially with anxious parents has
never been easy for both children and parents. Most parents want the best
for their children. Luke’s story tells about religiously observant parents: they went every year to Jerusalem for Passover.
While all male Jews within a thirty of so kilometre radius of Jerusalem were
obliged to attend Passover in Jerusalem, neither women nor children had to
go. Luke implies that the whole family went to the seven to eight day festival
each year.
Jesus was almost the age when a Jewish boy becomes bar mitzwah, a son of
commandment [Law] at thirteen years plus one day. At this age, he would become responsible for his behaviour. The boy Jesus was on the brink of manhood.
The different stages of life are listed by Judah, the son of Tema:
At five years (the age is reached for the study of the) Scripture, at ten
for (the study of) the Mishnah, at thirteen for (the fulfilment of) the
commandments, at fifteen for (the study of) the Talmud, at eighteen for
marriage, at twenty for seeking (a livelihood), at thirty for (entering into
one's full) strength, at forty for understanding, at fifty for counsel, at
sixty (a man attains) old age, at seventy the hoary head, at eighty (the
gift of special) strength, at ninety, (he bends beneath) the weight of
years, at a hundred he is as if he were already dead and had passed away
from the world. [It is interesting that Jesus embarked on his ministry when entering his full strength.]
Perhaps, the other important thing for us to remember is that Jesus did not
come as a fully-formed, super human with a superior knowledge of God. He
needed to listen and ask questions, just as we do.
*Parents (and grandparents) may feel a certain sympathy with Mary and Joseph
when they read this story.
Adolescents do want to do their own thing, to explore, to argue and question
and can contribute to anxious moments and grey hair for parents. The implied
rebuke: Why have you done this to us? must have passed the lips of many
parents through the ages. However, Luke’s story is not about distressed parents. He is making his point about Jesus.
*William Loader comments: Jesus was growing up (2:52). Luke gives us an
ideal picture, but at least in doing so he retains a genuinely human Jesus
in a genuinely human context. It is this Jesus (and this kind of Jesus, not
one who dropped in complete from outer space) whom God anoints to declare
and live out the good news of liberation and salvation.
*In Luke’s gospel, the next time Jesus will return to Jerusalem will be as
the king who comes in the name of the Lord and the one who cleanses the
Temple wishing to restore it to being a House of Prayer.
Luke records that Jesus then taught in the Temple area. He first came to the
Temple as listener and questioner, he returned as the Teacher bringing Good
News (Luke 19 & 20).
Luke will go on to tell us that it was the religious people: the chief
priests, the elders and the Temple guards who arrested Jesus. After the
ascension, Luke will write that: the disciples returned to Jerusalem with
great joy and they were continually in the Temple praising God.
*For us: we continue to gather in God’s house, to listen and question, to be
temples of God ourselves, to share the Good News and to be joyful and full
of praise. Perhaps too, we will extend tolerance to the adolescents in our
midst and sympathise with their growing pains.
posted by Gloriamarie Amalfitano @ 10:21 AM
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