Christmas
Epiphany of the Lord
01/04/09 05:53
“They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him . . .” (Matthew 2: 1-12)
The grandchildren are coming over after Mass for Sunday brunch. Afterwards, they’ll help us put away our Christmas decorations. With holiday music playing softly in the background and a fire crackling in the fireplace, we’ll take down the tree, remove the evergreen wreaths and garlands and carefully wrap the glittering ornaments of hand-blown glass from the hands of German craftsmen as well as the paper mache and tinfoil ornaments from the hands of our children. Finally, we’ll box up the Nativity set in which angels and shepherds look on as the three magi bow down before the infant savior and present him with their gifts. Read More...
The grandchildren are coming over after Mass for Sunday brunch. Afterwards, they’ll help us put away our Christmas decorations. With holiday music playing softly in the background and a fire crackling in the fireplace, we’ll take down the tree, remove the evergreen wreaths and garlands and carefully wrap the glittering ornaments of hand-blown glass from the hands of German craftsmen as well as the paper mache and tinfoil ornaments from the hands of our children. Finally, we’ll box up the Nativity set in which angels and shepherds look on as the three magi bow down before the infant savior and present him with their gifts. Read More...
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Merry Christmas
12/25/08 11:29
And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. (Luke 2: 15-20)
My wife and I just drove through our town looking at the Christmas decorations on the homes and front lawns of our predominantly Christian community. Despite the fact that we passed hundreds of homes, we saw only two solitary nativity sets on display. Two!
On the other hand, we saw plenty of eye popping, giant inflatables:
Santa and his elves
Frosty the Snowman,
Snoopy and the Grinch
Polar bears and penguins.
We even passed an inflatable snow globe that contained several overblown figures of elves. Here and there, an occasional lawn had a wrought iron reindeer or two, but the larger-than-life inflatables clearly dominated this year’s Christmas scene. Read More...
My wife and I just drove through our town looking at the Christmas decorations on the homes and front lawns of our predominantly Christian community. Despite the fact that we passed hundreds of homes, we saw only two solitary nativity sets on display. Two!
On the other hand, we saw plenty of eye popping, giant inflatables:
Santa and his elves
Frosty the Snowman,
Snoopy and the Grinch
Polar bears and penguins.
We even passed an inflatable snow globe that contained several overblown figures of elves. Here and there, an occasional lawn had a wrought iron reindeer or two, but the larger-than-life inflatables clearly dominated this year’s Christmas scene. Read More...
Spiritual Fitness
11/29/08 08:48
“ . . . watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things . . .” (Luke 21: 34-36)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus warned about carousing and drunkenness and urged us to be vigilant at all times. It’s a timely topic at the start of the holiday season when many of us will attend celebrations where the party atmosphere, scrumptious buffets and free flowing alcohol encourage over indulgence and dull the senses - - especially our spiritual senses.
Read More...
In today’s Gospel, Jesus warned about carousing and drunkenness and urged us to be vigilant at all times. It’s a timely topic at the start of the holiday season when many of us will attend celebrations where the party atmosphere, scrumptious buffets and free flowing alcohol encourage over indulgence and dull the senses - - especially our spiritual senses.
Read More...
The Widow's Mite
11/24/08 07:51
“. . . she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.” (Luke 21: 1-4)
In the coming weeks, in home after home, the scene will be more or less the same: holiday music playing softly in the background; Yule logs crackling in the fireplace; stockings hanging by the chimney; holiday wreaths in the window; and popcorn garlands and glittering ornaments dangling from gaily lit evergreen trees.
Whether the ornaments are made of hand-blown glass from the hands of German craftsmen or of paper mache, tinfoil and ribbons from the hands of our children, they are cherished family keepsakes. Each is a reminder of Christmases past. To unwrap the tissue paper in which an ornament nestles is to unwrap a smile.
In a sense, our Christmas ornaments are the visible fruits of a richly blessed life, a reminder that we have much to be thankful for this holiday season, starting with the gift of faith. Read More...
In the coming weeks, in home after home, the scene will be more or less the same: holiday music playing softly in the background; Yule logs crackling in the fireplace; stockings hanging by the chimney; holiday wreaths in the window; and popcorn garlands and glittering ornaments dangling from gaily lit evergreen trees.
Whether the ornaments are made of hand-blown glass from the hands of German craftsmen or of paper mache, tinfoil and ribbons from the hands of our children, they are cherished family keepsakes. Each is a reminder of Christmases past. To unwrap the tissue paper in which an ornament nestles is to unwrap a smile.
In a sense, our Christmas ornaments are the visible fruits of a richly blessed life, a reminder that we have much to be thankful for this holiday season, starting with the gift of faith. Read More...