Monastic Mumblings, a Friar's Journey

7th Day of Christmas

Does any one out there contemplate what exactly happened when God came to earth? When the Word put on Flesh and became the Christ?  In this season of Christmas, I think it is a good time to reflect on this matter.  Where did His flesh come from? How did it work?

I do believe and declare that in fact Jesus (God the Son) was hypostactially united with His flesh in the body of His Mother. I also believe and declare that He Who wills and acts is always the one Hypostasis of the Logos incarnate, and His natures with their proper energies and wills are united hypostatically and naturally without confusion, without change, without division and without separation, and that they are distinguished in thought alone.

Now, having said all THAT theobabble, Hypostatic Union simply means the underlying reality of the Incarnation of God in His flesh. It is God the Word Who is Incarnate.

    Almighty God, You have poured upon us the new light of Your Incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

6th Day of Christmas

Today we celebrate the 6th day of Christmas, the birth of the Prince of Peace.  The headlines I see tell me that we have missed the mark some what.

Shiites Celebrate, Dance In The Streets…. Four-Day Lockdown In Sunni-Dominated Tikrit…. Carbomb In Baghdad Kills 31.… Bush: Death Will Not Halt Violence In Iraq.… December Deadliest Month In Iraq For US Troops….AP: One Of Deadliest Months For Iraqi Civilians Since 2003....At Least 2,139 Iraqis Dead This Month.…

I have lived most of my life surrounded by Christians. Rarely have I found myself in the minority spiritually, however it has happened a few times. Usually when I have visited a temple, mosque or some other house of prayer of another faith.  With the Christian Right so influential in this government, one would think that as followers of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, we would be the most peaceable people on the planet.  Clearly we are not.  The world is being swallowed up in horrible violence, and we (Christians, not as Americans) are the vanguard of the Kingdom of Heaven. The question is, how can we show the way?

I would submit that the way of violence, jihad, revenge, judgment, and inquisition is the easy path, the dangerous path, the lower path, and most importantly the evil path.

Jesus has shown us the way: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you", we must listen to Him and cut through the testosterone laced rhetoric and stop hate and revenge.  No one said being a Christian was easy.

Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 6:27-28, Romans 12:14, 1 Corinthians 4:12, Romans 12:17-21, 1 Peter 3:9, 1 John 2:9-10

Merciful and loving Father, We ask You with all our hearts to pour out upon our enemies, with bountiful hands, whatever You know will do them good. Chiefly, we ask You to grant them sound and uncorrupted minds so they may know You and love you in true charity and with their whole hearts, and love us, Your children, for Your sake. Do not let them do themselves harm by becoming angry at us. Let them see that we are doing for them the best we are able. Lord, we ask for their change of heart as well as for our own. Do not drive them away from us by punishing them. Rather, join and knit them to us through Your mercy. And since we are all meant to join You in Heaven, let us begin to live together peaceably on earth, so that we may come to You one day in the love exemplified by Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

5th day of Christmas - Thomas of Canterbury

Today, the Church remembers the horrible murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, on a cold December evening as he struggled on the very steps of his altar, in his own cathedral in 1170.  What was Bp. Thomas' crime in the eyes of King Henry? He defended the rights of the Church against those of the State.  Hm.  Familiar territory.... This sacrilegious event sent shock waves throughout Europe, people of the time and subsequent history have laid the blame for the murder on Becket's former close personal friend, King Henry II, of England.  To have murdered a Bishop in a Church is a ghastly sin, and it's shocking nature rings down through the centuries.

Just today my good blogging friend, Kevin, had a post about how on Christmas Eve, 11  Christian missionaries were beaten and arrested after singing carols in Jalampur, India.  Strangely appropriate that he would mention this on the Feast day of a Martyr of the Church.  While it is true that Christians at all times and places are in danger from the world the death of Thomas reminds us that a Christian, even when safe from Muslims, Hindus, Communists or what not, can be in danger from his fellow-Christians.

O God, our strength and our salvation, Who called Your servant Thomas Becket to be a shepherd of Your people and a defender of Your Church: Keep Your household from all evil and raise up among us faithful pastors and leaders who are wise in the ways of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ the Shepherd of our souls, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

4th Day of Christmas - Slaughter of the Innocents

Today is Slaughter of the Innocents, a day that always creeps me out. I can't imagine the horror those families must have experienced as Government soldiers came in and yanked those young boys from the desperate arms of their screaming parents.  How many mothers and fathers also died defending their babies?  How many families were shattered by this evil?

In those days it was not so very uncommon for politics to be practiced that way. Romans did it in Gaul, the Hebrews did it in Canaan, Herod did it in Bethlehem, the Khmer Rouge did it in Cambodia, Stalin, Hitler the list goes on throughout history.  Destroy anyone that can fight back now or in the future and you get peace for your Kingdom or Empire. This is the Kingdom of man, not the God's Kingdom.

I wonder, is there a way that we can advance God's Kingdom against the kingdom of Man?

We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray, into the arms of Your mercy all innocent victims; and by Your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish Your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

3rd Day of Christmas - Feast of St. John the Apostle

John was one of those "sons of Thunder", who formed an inner circle of the Apostles with Peter and James (his brother).   He is mentioned in many of the really powerful miracles that Jesus performed, such as raising the dead, healing the sick, and he even was privileged to behold the Uncreated Light of Jesus' Glory on Transfiguration Mount.

In his Gospel, we see that he outran the impetuous Peter on the way to the suddenly empty tomb and was the first of the two to reach it. This experience changed him profoundly changed him forever.

He went on to author three Epistles and a Gospel.  He may even have written the book of Revelation, though that is less certain.

The question I have for is, is how would that change us?  Would seeing a person we KNEW to be dead come to life again, would that alter our world view?  What would be come less important to us?

Shed upon Your Church, O Lord, the brightness of Your light; that we, being illumined by the teaching of Your apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of Your truth, that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

2nd Day of Christmas

Hello there all you Mumblers out there,

This is a special second day of Christmas greetings that I want to send out to all my regular readers, lurkers, Monks, Saints, Sinners and all those in-between. Even if you're just an occasional browser, I would appreciate a 'Hello'  back from where ever you are.

I am always amazed at how many people visit this site and I realize they are from all over the world, certainly not just North America.  So

Please reply with ANY of the following information you care to share about yourself, please keep it general, and safe! No exact details, we don’t want any stalkers!  I will get it started.

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First Name (only pls):
General location:
Ministry interest, if any:
Greeting to the community:

1st Day of Christmas (Christmas blessing)

May Almighty God, Who sent His Son to take our nature upon Him, bless you in this holy season, scatter the darkness of sin, and brighten your heart with the light of His holiness. Amen.

May God, who sent His angels to proclaim the glad news of the Savior’s birth, fill you with joy, and make you heralds of the Gospel. Amen.

May God, Who in the Word made Flesh joined heaven to earth and earth to heaven, give you His peace and favor. Amen.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

Yea, Lord, We Greet Thee

Today is the forth Sunday of Advent. Once again the Seasons of the Church are turning, the Light is here, tonight, for us Christians the Incarnation shall come once more.

Unfortunately we rarely talk about the Mystery of the Incarnation except at this time of the year.  It truly is a Mystery beyond human comprehension, but I do believe and confess that one night, long ago, the Word was made flesh. 

That miracle of Incarnation to me, teaches us that we should share in all human happiness and mourn every human grief. All genuine human joy and contentment is the business of a Christian because it was shared by God, Incarnate. All human suffering, misery, depression, and darkest despair is our concern because Christ walked with us there also.  There is no human condition that Jesus did not share with us, apart from sin.

That the Word of God, Who was with God from the beginning, and Who is God should have become flesh, not just putting on some sort of human "skin suit", but becoming flesh, recreates all human experience into a new place, one that God Himself deigned to dwell.

So tonight, in the candles, incense, and songs of the devout, may we greet once again, the Lord of Glory!

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesus to Thee be all glory giv’n;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by Your daily visitation, that Your Son Jesus Christ, at His coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for Himself; Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

21 December Thomas the Apostle

The Apostle Thomas  was absent when the Risen Lord appeared to the other Apostles on the evening of Resurrection Sunday. He wasn't about to be swayed by emotional petitions of "Christ is Risen!", and refused to believe this Miracle until he had seen Him for himself. 

How many of us have doubts but for fear of other's disapproval, won't admit or explore them? Thomas did, and more for He did come to Thomas, and from that day forth Thomas served the Lord with all his heart. It appears that he may have ended up as far as India preaching the Risen Christ, for there is a group of Christians (the Kerala district) that claim descent from Christians converted by the the preaching of Thomas.

In modern culture so many people see the certainty of American Evangelicalism, while they are wondering about various questions themselves, but don't feel like they can ask most Christians.  Can we be like Jesus, open and willing to engage them?  Thomas was able to turn to the Lord Himself. He wasn't castigated for his doubts, Jesus simply showed him the Scars on His body.  Maybe we can show others the way to Christ if we share our scars a bit, too.  This painting really speaks to me how Jesus would react to our modern doubts. 

How does it seem to you?

John Granville Gregory
Still Doubting

Gregory emulates the style of Caravaggio,using contemporary and realistic figures to show the story of Thomas  encountering the Risen Christ.

From Fr. James B. Simpson and George H. Eatman's A Treasury of Anglican Art (New York: Rizzoli, 2002).  Courtesy of Mr. Eatman.

Almighty and everliving God, Who strengthened Your apostle Thomas with sure and certain faith in Your Son's Resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in Your sight; through Him who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Christmas Child

Soon Advent will end and Christmas will come once more.

Every year I try to think back to that dark night, a frightened young woman, her first Child. Darkness, who knows what kind of dangers lurking in an unfamiliar city?
As a man, my thoughts often center on Joseph.  Trying to help, not sure what to do... Mary crying out in pain, wanting to comfort her, the fears that must have gone through his mind.  What if she dies? That is a very common thing in those days. He could not feed the Baby! He had no money to hire a wet-nurse.

This dark smelly scene doesn't quite match our glorious creches enveloped in incense during our crowded, candle lit Midnight Masses. The gleaming Angels and Shepherds are not yet arrived.  Only Mary, Joseph and pain and darkness.

There is no place in our lives that Jesus hasn't been. From the fear and darkness of that first Nativity, to the heights of the Mount of Transfiguration.

Joesph found that out, God was there, all was well, Darkness fled the newborn Light.