Month: December 2024

Thoughts from here and there…Where will you find what you need?

This poem: “The Search” by Emily Templeton was used in a Christmas Eve Sermon I thought it appropriate for this last Sunday of Advent as we prepare for Christmas Eve and Day.

I looked for Christmas everywhere,
Through snow-filled skies and winter’s air.
I hunted in the likely places —
The festive shops, the children’s faces.
I searched for Christmas day and night,
In sprigs of holly, candlelight;
In gifts gay-wrapped and friendly greeting,
Yet found it not, and time was fleeting.
And then — with a sudden start —
I thought to search within my heart.
And there — not lost, but warm and waking —
Was Christmas, mine just for the taking!
Who Is This Baby?
In chemistry, He turned water to wine.
In biology, He was born without the normal conception.
In physics, He disapproved the law of gravity when He ascended into heaven.
In economics, He disapproved the law of diminishing return by feeding 5,000 men with two fishes and 5 loaves of bread.
In medicine, He cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs.
In history, He is the beginning and the end.
In government, He said that he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace.
In religion, He said no one comes to the Father except through him; So. Who is He? He is Jesus! The greatest man in history.
Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.
He had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.
He had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.
He had no army, yet kings feared Him.
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

Thoughts from here and there…Donkeys and Christmas Pageants

This story helps to create an appreciation of the Christmas Story.

“There’s something very special about Christmas pageants, even those in which everything seems to go wrong.

“Robert Fulghum tells about one such Christmas pageant. Trying to outdo previous years they decided to rent a live donkey for Mary to ride on. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

“Have you ever noticed that a lot of things ‘sound like a good idea at the time?’ The day of the pageant arrived. The congregation sang beautifully some Christmas carols and the angel choir, complete with haloes, got through their first big number ‘almost on key and in unison.’

“The time came for the grand entrance of Joseph and Mary, with Mary riding on the donkey. She was ‘carrying what later proved to be a Raggedy Andy doll.’ Then it happened. The donkey made two hesitant steps through the door of the chancel, took a look at the whole scene, and locked his legs. The donkey would not move and the entire procession came to a halt. Jerking on his halter had no effect. Neither did some wicked kicking on the part of the Virgin Mary.

“Just then the president of the trustees, seated in the front row and dressed in his Sunday best, rose to the rescue. The floor was polished cement. With another man pulling the donkey’s halter, the president of the trustees crouched at the stern end of the donkey and pushed–slowly sliding the rigid beast across the floor, inch by stately inch.

The choir director chose that moment to turn on a tape recorder, which blared forth a mighty chorus from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This scared the donkey. By this time everyone was laughing.

Organizers vowed never again to put on a Christmas pageant. ‘The memory of the laughter outlives the memory of the hassle,’ Fulghum writes of the experience. ‘And hope–hope always makes us believe that this time, this year, we will get it right.'”

Sometimes you read a story that contains such insight and understanding that it needs to be shared. Is this such a story?

Thoughts from here and There…Religious Symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Right or wrong, it is controversial. But some that believe it the popular song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” a song that is usually seen as simply a nonsense song for children has more significance than nonsense.

It has been suggested that it is a song of Christian instruction dating to the 16th century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Faith.

They contend that it was a mnemonic device to teach the catechism to youngsters. The “true love” mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor, but refers to God Himself.

The “me” who receives the presents refers to every baptized person who is part of the Christian Faith. Each of the “days” represents some aspect of the Christian Faith that was important for children to learn. True Love refers to God.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree: The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song,

Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ’s sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: “Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . .” (Luke 13:34)1.

1. Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments

2. 3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues

3. 4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists

4. 5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”, which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.

5. 6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation

6. 7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments

7. 8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes

8. 9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

9. 10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments

10. 11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles

11. 12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed.

There you have it. If it is true that this is a teaching song from the 16th century than maybe it is one that we might use today. It wouldn’t hurt.

Thoughts from here and there…Fractured Christmas Stories

I like the Family Circus written by Bill Keane.

Dolly is reading the Christmas story to Jeffery and PJ (The Family Circus, from the Joyful Noiseletter. Reprinted with permission of Bill Keane. ©Bill Keane.)

“Mary and Joseph were camping out under a star in the east…It was a silent night in Bethlehem until the angels began to sing…Then Santa brought baby Jesus in his sleigh and laid him in a Manger.

“Pay attention Jeffrey, or you’ll never learn the story of Christmas.

“Chestnuts were roasting by an open fire and not a creature was stirring…So the Grinch stole some swaddling clothes from Scrooge who was one of the three wise men riding on eight tiny reindeer.”

This telling of the Christmas story reminds me of Edward Everett Horton and Fractured Fairy Tales that he used to tell on the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.

Jeffrey will probably not get the story straight, especially as told by Dolly. But then how often do we get the story straight.

It might be helpful this year to find your Bible and turn to the Gospels and read the Christmas story in all four of them.

There is no confusion in this, there is only an expanding vision of who Jesus is, why he came to earth, and what he can do for you.