Pax et Bonum

Aslan is on the move!
                                                            CS. Lewis, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

Long is our winter,
Dark is our night
Come set us free,
O saving light!
             German Prayer



Today is Pearl Harbor Day.  Today is also the feast day of Ambrose of Milan, a reluctant Bishop who became an advocate for Orthodoxy in the church against the Arians, a heretical group who denied that Jesus the Son is of one essence, nature, or substance with God; He is not consubstantial with the Father, and therefore not like Him, or equal in dignity, or co-eternal, or within the real sphere of Deity.

Ambrose was Governor of part of Italy at the time, and the election of a Bishop in Milan had become a rancorous fight between the two factions.  Ambrose rose to exhort the people to end their fighting, and someone shouted out that Ambrose should be Bishop.  Much to his dismay, he became Bishop, and continued to fight the Arian controversy throughout his life.  

Ambrose reminds me of the fact that the call of God can come at any moment.  Like a thief in the night, we are suddenly challenged with changing circumstances, job-related issues, family conflict – a myriad things that enter our lives un-asked for.  Look as an example at this “day that will live in infamy.”   What were people called to do that day Pearl Harbor was attacked?  The call came, again, like a thief in the night.  
    Ambrose could have chosen not to be Bishop, and perhaps the history of our church would be different.  What is God calling us to do?  How will that action change the life of someone near us?  We act in faith, that as God has called us, God will be faithful to bring about his purposes in this world.

“We must see the entire winter cycle as a unit, as one grand feast beginning with dawn on the first Sunday of Advent (“It is now the hour for us to rise from sleep”), growing in brilliance like the sun at Christmas, reaching zenith at Epiphany, and finally setting at Candlemas. It is the glorious symbol of sun and light that gives this season its unity.  All is centered on Christ the true Sun.”

Debra’s Midweek Meditation

REJOICE!

 

Isaiah 61:1-11

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory. "

 



This painting by southwest artist DeGrazia portrays both the childlike wonder of rejoicing as well as the inherent beauty in adoring worship.
The words of Isaiah are familiar to us.  We hear them when Jesus reads in the synagogue after his Baptism.
These are the words that announce Jesus' ministry.
These are the words that point to the ministry of all Christians in the world.
This is a message of freedom-
freedom from oppression
freedom from captivity
freedom from the darkness of mourning.

Thus far the lessons announcing the coming Christ have pointed us in the direction of freedom.
From God's point of view, it would seem that the message of Christmas is meant to be liberation and comfort rather than enslavement and weariness.

Are there things you need to let go of this Advent?
God is encouraging you to be released.

Are there ways that you can comfort others, or even yourself?
God is ready to participate in your comforting.

Let the Christmas message of freedom replace the Christmas message of busy-ness this year.
Let your noel echo with heaven and nature singing.
The
Christ child is near-
let us prepare to worship and adore Him.

Blessings,

Debra

Some say, that ever ‘gainst that season comes
Wherein our Savior’s birth is celebrated,
The bird of dawning singeth all night long:
And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad;
The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm;
So hallow’d and so gracious is the time.
                                                Shakespeare, Hamlet

Daily Morning Prayer
http://www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/morning_prayer.htm

This week at St. James: