Feast of the Holy Innocents

Today's readings: Jeremiah 31:15-17, Revelation 14:1-5, and Matthew 2:13-18 (sermon text).

Joseph protected his family in this reading. He is a prototype for all fathers, something spoken about infrequently in Scripture. How should one be a good father or husband? The Bible - unsurprisingly - is NOT about how to be a good person/father/mother/etc. So it doesn't talk much about it. It's about Christ.

We can glean five points from Scripture about parenting:

1. God is our true Father. Therefore, He is the model for all fathers.
2. God created an order for things. The first ranks of this order: Father > Son > husband > wife > children. Rejoice about this. Don't gripe.
3. This husbandly leadership should be done with love, respect, and honor (Colossians 3:19), not harshness.
4. Household leadership should be through teaching (one of the chief commands of Moses) - husbands teaching their wives and children what is right.
5. Husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:23).

We're all aliens in this world. Each human has a God complex, leading to a solitary, lonely, unfulfilled world. It's out of God's order. So go back to point 2. Adhere to it; accept that God is your Father. He loves you, is infinitely patient, and is the best Father. Therefore He enables human fathers to imitate Him too.

Lessons and Carols

From yesterday's order of service:

"Before the Marvel of This Night" as the Advent wreath and Christ candle were lit...

"In Dulci Jubilo" before the first (Genesis 3:8-15), second (Genesis 22:15-18), third (Isaiah 9:2, 6-7), fourth (Micah 5:2-4), and fifth (Luke 1:26-28) lessons...

"O Magnum Mysterium" before the sixth (Luke 2:1-7) lesson...

"The Virgin's Slumber Song" before the seventh (Luke 2:8-20) lesson...

"Il est ne" before the eighth (Matthew 2:1-11) and ninth (John 1:1-14) lessons...

"All is Well" to conclude the service. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a video with any arrangement of this. Pity.

Advent 4

Today's readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Romans 16:25-27; and Luke 1:26-38 (sermon text).

Medieval paintings of this scene depict God's power: His word goes from Gabriel's mouth to Mary's ear, conceiving Jesus Christ. But let's look at Elizabeth first. Her pregnancy was no accident either; six months previously God had likewise spoken to Zechariah. Elizabeth, barren, had then conceived John. Now with Mary, God chose to act in an out-of-the-way manner in an out-of-the-way place, Nazareth.

The Bible has few personality details for Mary and Joseph. Why? Answer: It's NOT about them! It's all about and pointing to Jesus Christ! He is the only reason for our home - blotting out our sin (the cause of hopelessness). But Christmas is NOT about hope either! Why do we think that the Word's byproducts are more important than the Word Himself? Let Christmas be about Christ for once!

The story is profound, not sentimental. Here are the details, given, that we need to know about the characters:

• Joseph is descended patrilineally from David, a fulfillment of God's promise (see the OT reading) to build His house from David's seed.
• Mary is favored because God chose to favor her. It's the same way for us saved ones - we are made BY GOD into the favored ones of God! She also happens to be descended from David.
• "You shall call His name JESUS." Note well: it's not "Hope" or "Peace," but rather "Yeshua" (Savior). Therefore turn to Him, the Everlasting King of the Everlasting Kingdom.

God has forgiven you your sins and reversed the work of the first Adam. And that's what Christmas is all about.

Have a blessed last week of Advent and prepare for a Christmas Eve post! Feast your ears also on "In Dulce Jubilo" and "O Magnum Mysterium."

Advent 3

Today's readings were Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 (sermon text); 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; and John 1:6-8, 19-28.

Christmas letters may sometimes describe a bad year - but think about many consecutive bad ones! Captivity, oppression, punishment for sin - this is what Israel had been experiencing. There was heartache everywhere; people were downtrodden. At this point, the prophecy in our text was made, fulfilled and quoted by Christ. The Spirit of the Lord rested on Christ Jesus ("Anointed Savior") at His baptism. Of course, the Jews thought that the fulfillment would be physical only: freedom from Rome's rule. However, the Gospel brings spiritual deliverance.

He also binds up the "shattered of heart" (literal rendering). God desires that all of our hearts be "broken and contrite" (Psalm 51:17) that He may restore them to us. We have sinned against Him; therefore our hearts are against him, and therefore they must be broken.

Then comes the year of the Lord's favor. This isn't necessarily a 365-day year, but rather an era in our lives. Present suffering won't compare. The expression comes from the Year of Jubilee (every 50th), where land was restored and families were brought together. The Year of the Lord's Favor is far greater, since it lasts an eternity!

The Day of Vengeance, on the other hand, is a sobering contrast. God will judge all. Many who sing Christmas carols do not understand the Cross and are therefore lost. But remember that God's grace (YEAR) is greater than His judgment (DAY). The saved, the believers, we have the former. Our eternity is with Him because of Christ.

God's blessings on you all the rest of this Advent and beyond!

Biblical incorrectness gets one nowhere, as we can see

If only we built more Biblically correct creches (i.e. no Magi, a stone stable, tired parents, some cow manure, fearsome angels, and a red and wrinkly freshly-born Jesus), perhaps this would happen less often.

HT: The Stiletto; last night's dinner conversation.

Why I don't want a corporate job

Courtesy younger brother, from here.

Memo from Director General to Manager:
Today at 11 o'clock there will be a total eclipse of the sun. This is when the sun disappears behind the moon for two minutes. As this is something that cannot be seen every day, time will be allowed for employees to view the eclipse in the car park. Staff should meet in the car park at ten to eleven, when I will deliver a short speech introducing the eclipse, and giving some background information. Safety goggles will be made available at a small cost.

Memo from Manager to Department Head:
Today at ten to eleven, all staff should meet in the car park. This will be followed by a total eclipse of the sun, which will disappear for two minutes. For a moderate cost, this will be made safe with goggles. The Director General will deliver a short speech beforehand to give us all some background information. This is not something that can be seen every day.

Memo from Department Head to Floor Manager:
The Director General will today deliver a short speech to make the sun disappear for two minutes in the eclipse. This is something that can not be seen every day, so staff will meet in the car park at ten or eleven. This will be safe, if you pay a moderate cost.

Memo From Floor Manager to Supervisor:
Ten or eleven staff are to go to the car park, where the Director General will eclipse the sun for two minutes. This doesn't happen every day. It will be safe, but it will cost you.

Memo from Supervisor to staff:
Some staff will go to the car park today to see the Director General disappear. It is a pity this doesn't happen every day.

It's like 'Telephone' on steroids.