The True Spirit of Christmas

 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. [John 14:26 RSV]

I sent a Christmas card today.  The inscription read, "May the True Spirit of Christmas Bless You and Keep You."  What is the True Spirit of Christmas?  Or perhaps the better question: Who is the True Spirit of Christmas?

It is the Spirit whom Jesus promised would be with His disciples once He was gone.  Our Emmanuel, which mean "God with us."

Advocate, Helper, Comforter, Counselor, Paraclete.  These are the words used to describe the Holy Spirit by various translations of scripture.  My experience proves all five words to be accurate.

Which word best encompasses the Holy Spirit to you today?  May Emmanuel, who is with you this very moment, meet you at your point of need.

Dear Lord, Thank you for giving me Emmanuel, Your Spirit who is the True Spirit of Christmas to cloak my heart with Your care each day.  Amen. 

Candle of Hope

 I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living.  [Psalm 27:13]

Did you know that each of the four Advent candles has a meaning?  The first purple candle, lit during this first week of Advent, stands for hope.  The promise is that we are not disappointed when we hope in the Lord.

God is never late, rarely early, and usually last minute.  This characteristic of God requires us to wait, hoping that He will answer.   

Some years ago, my husband David was laid off from his job quite unexpectedly.  The layoff came in January just weeks after the company holiday party, where he had received big kudos for ten years of service.  His boss told the crowd that he looked forward to another ten years working with David.  What a shock to be laid off after that!

Thankfully, there were eleven weeks of severance pay.  When the new job came along, guess when the start day was:  The first Monday of the twelfth week!  God was neither early, nor late, but most definitely last-minute.  His new job met our financial needs, yet was less demanding.  Today, we thank God for that unexpected change.  

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the Lord! [Psalm 27:14]

Lord, please help me to be to be stalwart in prayer and hope while I await your answer.  Amen.

Talking to the Kids

I will tell of Your name to my kin.  [Psalm 22:22]

The above was taken from the Entrance Antiphon in today's reading.  Most Bible versions use the word "bretheren" rather than "kin."  I like the word "kin."  It broadens the audience.  My youngest son affectionately teases me about my zest for spiritual things.  Sometimes it brings forth songs from my youth group days.  Here is one of them:  

I've got a river of life flowin' out of me

Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see

Opens prison doors, sets the captives free

I've got a river of life flowin' out of me.

Spring up O well, with my soul

Spring up O well, and make me whole...

Want to hear it and see the motions?  

Christmas Anticipation Prayer

For decades, I felt frustrated in the weeks prior to Christmas.  The seasonal demands, especially with a big family, made it hard to focus upon Christ's birth.  

In recent years, I have discovered meditative, quiet traditions that allow one to center upon Christ while awaiting His birth.  One of those is the Christmas Anticipation Prayer.    

After the phrase "hear my prayers and grant my desires,"  name your request.  Let the One who came down to earth as a baby daily lift and encourage you, His child.

Water Off a Duck's Back

 For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.  Also do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you.  For many times, also, your own heart has known that even you have cursed others.  [Ecclesiastes 7:20-22]

This simplifies one's inner response to the day-to-day petty hurts of others.  

In essence it says, "Keep in mind that you're not so perfect yourself.  And, blow off the negative things people say about you, or even things you think people may be saying.  Be realistic and forgiving.  You too have criticized others, even your own friends and family."  

Lord, help me to have a humble attitude towards myself and may the hurtful words of others be like water off a duck's back.  Amen.

                                                                Image from bighugelabs.com

Appointment in Samarra

 For man does not know his time. [Ecclesiastes 9:12]

The following tale has come to mind recently, and seems apropos for our time. It is an ancient Mesopotamian fable which was retold by English author W. Somerset Maugham in 1933.

A merchant in Baghdad sends his servant to the marketplace for provisions. Soon afterwards, the servant comes home white and trembling and tells him that in the marketplace, he was jostled by a woman, whom he recognized as Death, who made a threatening gesture. Borrowing the merchant’s horse, he flees at great speed to Samarra, a distance of about 75 miles, where he believes Death will not find him. 

The merchant then goes to the marketplace and finds Death, and asks why she made the threatening gesture to his servant. She replies, “That was not a threatening gesture, it was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Baghdad, for I have an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.”

Lord, help me not to be afraid of death.  May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. 

 The Discarded Cloth has a Name

The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down.  [Psalm 145:14]  

A chronically sick person is in need of care and you are the main caregiver.  Every day, you use a soft cloth to wipe the brow of the ailing loved one.  You take much time to tenderly provide care in just the way this person needs.  Death comes one day, and the soft cloth is laid aside.  

Then others arrive on the scene and carelessly toss the cloth aside.  They see it as useless, old, invaluable.  They don't appreciate the key role the soft, modest cloth played in wiping away tears and pain.  The cloth ends up on the floor being trampled and dirtied.  Perhaps it will be picked up one day and washed, perhaps not.  But that doesn't change the beautiful thing that the cloth did while in service.

Christian tradition says that a woman named Veronica used a cloth to wipe the face of Jesus while he carried his cross to Golgotha, the place of the skull.  A cloth exists today, which many believe was the very cloth Veronica used.  It miraculously bears the image of a face believed to be the face of Jesus.  This cloth is known by several names:  The Veil of Veronica, the Sudarim (Latin for sweatcloth), or often it is simply called "The Veronica."  

Dear Christian, your service does not go unnoticed to the One who sees.  The cloth you used may even bear your name.  

Separated from Thee Let Me Never Be

The following prayer, known as the Anima Christi (Life of Christ) and has been prayed by Christians for 500 years. Attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyala,  it embodies the heartcry of the soul desiring intimacy with Jesus. 

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Separated from Thee let me never be.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
At the hour of death, call me.

And close to Thee bid me.
That with Thy saints I may be Praising Thee,
Forever and ever.
Amen

Even to one not well-versed in Latin, the beauty of the original prayer touches the soul

Anima Christi in Latin

Amina Christi, sanctifica me.
Corpus Christi, salva me.
Sanquis Christi, inebria me.
Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.
Passio Christi, conforta me.

O bone Jesu, exaudi me.
Intra tua vulnera absconde me.
Ne permittas me separari a te.
Ab hoste maligno defende me.
In hora mortis meae voca me.

Et iube me venire ad te.
Ut cum Sanctis tuis laudem te.
In saecula saeculorum. Amen.