The Family Foundation School Catholic Community Bulletin
Pauca Verba (a few words)
Today is the Feast of the Lord’s Epiphany. Epiphany is a Greek word meaning manifestation or showing. The wise men travel following the wondrous star. Have you seen the bumper sticker, “Wise men still follow Him.” We all have the “star” we follow – drugs, a path of rebellion, personalities, ideologies, my own pseudo-philosophies, the path of anger, the path to power. Amidst all of this and more: the Christ’s star rises in the east (the place of beginning.) Will I set out to find him? To own him? To love him in return?
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From the East came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures, they offered precious gifts: gold to the great king, incense to the true God, and myrrh in symbol of his burial. Alleluia!
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Epiphany Prayer
Mighty and ever-living God,
you made manifest the mystery
of your Word made flesh
with the witness of a blazing star.
At seeing it, the Magi worshipped your majesty
and offered you gifts.
Grant that the star of your holiness
may shine forever within our hearts,
and that we may find our treasure
in offering you our humble praise.
Amen
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A Maiden Most Gentle
A maiden most gentle and tender we sing
Of Mary the mother of Jesus our King.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!
Ave, Ave Maria!
How blest is the birth of her heavenly child
Who came to redeem us in Mary so mild.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!
Ave, Ave Maria!
The archangel Gabriel foretold by his call
The Lord of creation and Saviour of all.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!
Ave, Ave Maria!
Three kings came to worship with gifts rich and rare
And marveled in awe at the babe in her care.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!
Ave, Ave Maria!
Rejoice and be glad at this Christmas we pray
Sing praise to the Saviour asleep in the hay.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!
Ave, Ave Maria!
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Visiting with friends and acquaintances during the holiday time I listenend to conversations and feel a bit confounded by the tone of things – especially in the time of year which invites us to the contemplation of higher things. Topics of conversation: the lousy weather, bad travel experiences, the surgeries I need, the cuts and scrapes on my fingers, how tired I am, how hard I’m working, the nasty people I meet in the course of my day, my sicko relatives, what ailments I’ve had this year, the bills I have to pay, how the system s…ks, my screwy relatives, how soon I can retire, where I’m going when I retire, how I hate my job, “I never catch a break”, what I was screwed out of this year, how I clean my house, what new gadgets I got this year, where I get my bargains, how expensive everything is….
The tragic thing is that none of these “topics” has to do with ideas of any kind. There are no insights born of reading or exploring or traveling (even around the corner.) They reflect a kind of exhaustion, defensiveness and underlying anger. They reflect only earthbound concerns. It all sounds bitter and sad. What does the Joy of Christmas mean then?
