Christmas

Christmas

                            Meanings of Christmas 
                                                                         

                                            Fr. Andrew Greeley, Woman’s Day, 12-22-81

  

"It might be easy to run away to a monastery,

away from the commercialization, the hectic hustle,

the demanding family responsibilities of Christmas-time.

Then we would have a holy Christmas.

But we would forget the lesson of the Incarnation,

of the enfleshing of God—the lesson that

we who are followers of Jesus

do not run from the secular;

rather we try to transform it.

It is our mission

 to make holy the secular aspects of Christmas

just as the early Christians baptized 
the Christmas tree.

And we do this by being holy people—
kind, patient,

generous, loving, laughing people—no matter how

maddening is the Christmas rush…"

  http://www.appleseeds.org/christmas-quotes.htm

Moonless darkness 

stands between. 

Past, the Past, 

no more be seen! 

But the Bethlehem star 

may lead me 

To the sight of Him 

Who freed me 

From the self that I have been.

 Make me pure, Lord: 

Thou art Holy; Make me meek, Lord: 

Thou wert lowly; Now beginning, and always, 

Now begin, on Christmas day!!

 

• Isaiah 9:2-7 
• Psalm 96 
• Titus 2:11-14 
• Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

Isaiah 9:2-7

 
9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness 

on them light has shined....

9:6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; 

authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named 

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace.
9:7 His authority shall grow continually, 

and there shall be endless peace for the 

throne of David and his kingdom. 

He will establish and uphold it with justice 

and with righteousness from this time 

onward and forevermore. 

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.