Monastic Mumblings, a Friar's Journey

Lessons and Carols

Last night our Parish gathered in our darkened Church to celebrate the Festival of Lessons and Carols. It was a beautiful and very powerful service. Then entire middle of the Nave was filled with hundreds of glowing candles, and the Church was filled with a transcendent light.

The Festival is about Spiritual Darkness being overcome by the Light of Christ. We start our journey in Genesis, and end with the Incarnation of St. John's first chapter.

It is another reason why I like to celebrate the Church Year with its seasons, feasts, fasts, and festivals. Below is the opening Bidding Prayer and the Scriptures of the Lessons.

Beloved in Christ, as we await the great festival of Christmas let us prepare ourselves so that we may be shown its true meaning. Let us hear, in lessons from Holy Scripture, how the prophets of Israel foretold that God would visit and redeem His waiting people. Let us rejoice, in our carols and hymns, that the good purpose of God is being mightily fulfilled. Let us celebrate the promise that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will bring all people and all things into the glory of God’s eternal kingdom.

But first, let us pray for the needs of His whole world; for peace and goodwill over all the earth; for the mission and unity of the Church for which He died, and especially in this country and within this city. And because this of all things would rejoice His heart, let us at this time remember in His name the poor and the helpless; the hungry and the oppressed; the sick and those who mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; and all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love Him not, or who by sin have grieved His heart of love.

Let us also remember before God His pure and lowly Mother, and all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one.

Lastly, we ask You to 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.

The First Lesson Genesis 3:8-15
God announces in the garden of Eden that the seed of the woman will bruise the serpent's head.

The Second Lesson Genesis 22:1-3, 9-18
God promises to Abraham that in his seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

The Third Lesson Isaiah 9:2,6-7; 11:1-5,10
Christ's birth and kingdom are foretold by the prophet Isaiah.

The Fourth Lesson Micah 5:2-4
The prophet Micah foretells the glory of the village of Bethlehem.

The Fifth Lesson Luke 1:26-35,38
The angel announces the birth of Christ to the virgin Mary.

The Sixth Lesson Luke 2:1-7
Luke tells of Christ's birth.

The Seventh Lesson Luke 2:8-16
Angels proclaim Christ's birth and the Shepherds go to the manger.

The Eighth Lesson Matthew 2:1-11
The Wise Men are led by the star to Jesus.

The Ninth Lesson John 1:1-14
The apostle John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.

O come, O come, Emmanuel

Advent begins today. It is a time that most of our culture has completely forgotten in their headlong rush to consume and commercialize the premature celebration of Christmas. In Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Anglican, Lutheran, and similar churches, the church year starts on the first day of Advent.

The season of Advent starts out by looking back, to a time before the birth of Christ, to show us how the people of God learned hope in ancient times. Then the season of Advent looks forward, far beyond the birth of Christ, to the true Object of our faith, the King Who comes to conquer the darkness, restore creation, and establish His Kingdom for ever.

The Prophets of ancient Israel talked about a world very much like our own, a world of people rebelling against God and finding themselves lost in darkness again and again.

However, the prophets also show how God has a plan, not only for Israel but also for the whole world--a plan that extends beyond the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.  Remember that the coming of the baby Jesus did not complete God’s plan.  The Incarnation is the Sign, which assures us that there is reason to hope.

And so, in Advent we recall the ancient prophecies and signs which led to the birth of the Messiah, and we look forward in hope, applying those same ancient texts to our lives and the world we find ourselves in.   Jesus Christ will come again just as He promised, not only in clouds of Glory but in each of our lives.  O come, O come, Emmanuel!

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which Your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when He shall come again in His glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through Him Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

CHRISTIANIST OATH

I have never held, nor am I likely to hold an office of trust under the Federal Constitution. I have taught in Oklahoma (lo these many years ago) and swore the Oath to uphold the State and Federal Constitution that was required, as well as Jury Duty, etc.  I have no problems promising to tell the truth to the State (Lying is pretty much always a Sin, anyway). 

In their amazing wisdom, our Founding Fathers placed this nugget in the Constitution, Article VI, Sec III:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

The very first law passed under the Constitution was enacted on June 1, 1789 to regulate the oaths of office that were to be administered to public servants. Did not mention God or the Bible.

Notice how nothing is stated in the Constitution about holding a Bible in one's hands or swearing "so help me God".  That end is traditional for Presidents and has been added by statute (5 U.S.C. 3331) to other officices.

So now we have a newly elected member of congress who is a Muslim. His name is Keith Ellison, (D-Minn) and he wants to be sworn in on a Koran, and presumably end his Oath with "so help me God". 

The Christiants are not happy!

Mr. Dennis Prager writes in Town Hall the following:

"Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress. In your personal life, we will fight for your right to prefer any other book. We will even fight for your right to publish cartoons mocking our Bible. But, Mr. Ellison, America, not you, decides on what book its public servants take their oath."

America has decided. You don't need any book, or (the law being silent on the matter), may select a book of your choosing.  How does this silly little political squabble harm America?  More importantly how does it witness to the Christ Whose birthday we are about to wallow in senseless consumption for?

I try to remember that this is the Season to seek the Truth, the Light, the Word that has become Flesh. I would hope that other seekers find me, find us, Let them find Christ. In us. Not in some Congressman's oath that no one will remember in two weeks. In US!