Archive for the ‘Advent/Christmas/Epiphany’ Category

Above: Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Palestine, Between 1898 and 1946
Image Source = Library of Congress
(http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/mpc2004006372/PP/)
Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-matpc-06295
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Luke 2, 10-11
“Prepare thy timber without in the filed and here build thy house.” The Lord prepared the world for Christ’s coming.
1. His birth in Bethlehem. The angels sing for joy at his coming. Shepherds visit him. Let us go with them.
Study him
(1) Condecension. Became poor for our sakes. From throne to manger.
(2) Omnipotent arm, omniscient head, shoulders to bear the government of worlds, face to shed tears of light & sympathy, tongue to speak as never man spake, on his words men will hang their all, hands to cool the fevered brow and be pierced at last, heart to yearn over us & break at last in pity. That form will carry our sorrows.
2. “Fear not,” ’tis a message or love and tenderness; all is well. For his sake God will hear the cries of sinful man. “For a Saviour is born.” Just what we need. Without him all would be despair. “Christ the Lord,” “The mighty God.”
3. “Bring x joy.” The world has longed for a Saviour; now he is here. Joy to sin-sick, helpless souls of men.
Brings institutions of Christianity for the bodies and souls of men, a home in heaven at last for all who believe him.
GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above: The Author on December 2, 2012
The cycle turns
from the Season after Pentecost
to Advent again;
Christ is King,
the announcement of the end of the old order
makes room for
the announcement of the new order.
Soon (liturgically),
a child will be born defenseless
into a dangerous world,
and, today,
I recall that perfidy must never
extinguish innocence and love.
The church year begins again
in apprehension and hope
and in the shadow of Calvary and an empty tomb–
again, apprehension and hope.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 3, 2012 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT MARUTHAS, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF MAYPHERKAT AND MISSIONARY TO PERSIA
THE FEAST OF SAINT BERNARD OF PARMA, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
THE FEAST OF SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER, ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONARY IN ASIA
THE FEAST OF JOHN OWEN SMITH, UNITED METHODIST BISHOP IN GEORGIA
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Above: A Nativity Play
Image Source = First Presbyterian Church, Edmond, Oklahoma
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Childrens_Nativity_Play_2007.jpg)
At a Christmas pageant,
Young girls playing angels
Surround boys playing shepherds.
The narrator says of the shepherds,
“They were terrified.”
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Adorable–not terrifying–angels,
Christmas carols,
Episcopal pomp and circumstance,
A plethora of incense–
Christmas is here.
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Visiting in Americus,
Singing with a church choir not my own,
Attending a church I have come to like
Yet which is distant from my home–
Feeling comfortable there–
Christmas is here.
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For all the darkness,
Fears, and
Uncertainties
Of our lives,
We have reasons to rejoice–
God is with us–
Christmas is here.
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For all our pain and sorrow,
We have reasons to rejoice–
A child is born for us–
Christmas is here.
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Despite all that we have lost,
We have reasons to rejoice–
A son is born to us–
Christmas is here.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 27, 2011 COMMON ERA
THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS
THE FEAST OF SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST, APOSTLE AND MARTYR

Above: A Television Set
Image Source = Ma8thew
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hd_tv_samsung_LE26R41BD.jpg)
I seek
Peace
And
Quiet
Yet
The television is on
In the other room,
So I sequester myself
Or
Take a walk.
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Off,
Damned television!
Come hither,
Silence!
Be gone,
Vacuous programming!
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Reading,
Writing,
Contemplating–
These I want more and more,
So that I may listen for–
And perhaps hear–
A voice of God.
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But first the heartwarming Hallmark Channel
Christmas movie,
Which will give me spiritual diabetes
If I watch it,
Must go;
It gets in the way
Of silence.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 23, 2011 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT JOHN OF KANTY, ROMAN CATHOLIC THEOLOGIAN
THE FEAST OF SAINT CHARBEL, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND MONK
THE FEAST OF GERALD R. FORD, UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE, VICE PRESIDENT, AND PRESIDENT
THE FEAST OF PERCY SUTTON, CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEER
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A Related Post:
http://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/liberation-from-television/
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Above: A Scene from St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Dunwoody, Georgia, December 12, 2010
Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/BishopAlexanderSVisitToStPatrickS#5550353925420806802)
Waiting
And
Preparing
For
Christmas
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Anticipating
Nativity
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Seeking
And
Finding
Peace
And
Quiet
To meditate upon
The mystery of the Incarnation
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 14, 2011 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT VENANTIUS HONORIUS CLEMENTIUS FORTUNATUS, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
THE FEAST OF SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS, ROMAN CATHOLIC MARTYR
THE FEAST OF CARL PHILIPP EMANUEL BACH, COMPOSER

Magi
What do we see?
A young child?
A king?
God incarnate?
The Messiah?
The Savior?
A martyr?
A sage?
A revolutionary?
A threat?
A promise?
How do we understand what we see?
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JANUARY 7, 2010

The Magi Journeying, by James Tissot
Traveling far and for many months
To a foreign land
To seek a king
Whose sign is in the sky
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Traveling across the desert
Leaving the comforts of home behind
To embark on a sacred quest
And a storied journey
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Traveling abroad
At great physical risk
To visit a young king
And present him gifts
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 29, 2009

Adoration of the Shepherds, by Georges de La Tour, Circa 1644
God incarnate
In full humanness
Vulnerable
Yet mighty
A mystery
To venerate
Not to attempt to understand
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
December 21, 2009

Light Shining in the Darkness
Image Source = Zouavman Le Zouave
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Light_shining2.JPG)
In the midst of
The darkness
Of night
And
Of human brokenness,
Divine light
Burst forth
To bridge the gap
Between
Humankind
And
God.
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Reconciliation
And
Atonement
Began–
Yet in the shadow in of
Another darkness–
Death.
Yet even that darkness
Fell
(In Time)
To Divine Intervention.
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The light shines in the darkness,
And frightens us,
For the darkness is familiar.
God comes to us,
And we turn away,
Out of fear,
Or willfulness,
or misplaced certainty.
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God challenges our traditions,
So we choose the familiar path,
The road well-traveled.
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Yet
The narrative can be different.
We can–
We must–
Follow the light,
Walk out of our cave,
And
Embrace the way of God.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 17, 2009

Christmas Gifts
Image Source = Kelvin Kay
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gifts_xmas.jpg)
Christmas is a joyous time
For children far and near.
They try to be very good,
For Santa will soon appear.
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He’ll bring to them their heart’s desires.
They’ll “ooh” and “aah” with glee.
But its with the boxes and ribbons
That they’ll play with happily.
SALLY TAYLOR