A WORD -
some thoughts on Christmas
KNOCK, KNOCK, CHRIST JESUS
IS LIVING IN US
JUST AROUND THE BLOCK -
CAN I HAVE A WORD? AS I AM NOT
REALLY SPIRITUAL PUS BUT EVEN WALK
TO SAVE THE FARE ON THE BUS, AS ALSO
BAREFEET WALKED ONCE THE HIGHEST AND MOST LOVING SHEPHERD.
TODAY IS ONLY THE SECOND DAY AFTER THE CELEBRATION OF CHRIST'S BIRTH AND PEOPLE ALREADY SEEM TO HAVE PUT CHRISTMAS BEHIND THEM. THE SUITCASES ARE PACKED AGAIN WITH PRESENTS RECEIVED AND GONE WITH THE ONES MOST WILL PAY FOR FOR THE REST OF THE NEXT YEAR. SOME HAVE ALREADY EXCHANGED THEIR UNDESIRED PRESENTS FOR SOMETHING ELSE ON BOXING DAY IN THE SHOPS, OR WERE BARGAIN HUNTING WITHOUT GIVING A SECOND THOUGHT ON THE NATIVITY. THAT SEEMS TO BE THE REALITY IN OUR WESTERN SOCIETY, AND I WAS IN TEARS YESTERDAY, WHEN I SAW PEOPLE ARGUING OVER BARGAINS, LITERALLY BOXING EACH OTHER ON BOXING DAY TO BE THE FIRST AT THE SHOP, AND WAS JUST STANDING IN A CROWDED STREET SINGING TO GOD'S AND JESUS' PRAISE. PEOPLE TURNED ROUND, WHEN THEY HEARD ME SINGING JESUS' NAME AND 'ALLELUIA'. SOME SMILED, SOME WERE EMBARASSED, AND SOME LOOKED, AS IF I HAD REMINDED THEM OF SOME REMOTE PLACE IN THEIR HEARTS THAT THEY WERE CAUGHT OUT IN THROUGH MY SINGING. A PLACE THAT THEY CRAVE TO LIVE IN BUT ARE TOO SCARED TO COMMIT TO, AS IT INVOLVES TO GIVE UP THEIR EGOS.
I HAD ALSO SOME INTERESTING BUT AT THE SAME TIME SHOCKING CONVERSATIONS OVER CHRISTMAS, AS THEY REVEALED THAT EVEN CHURCHGOERS AND THOSE, WHO CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS PICK AND MIX, WHAT THEY BELIEVE OF THE BIBLE, IF THEY EVEN HAVE READ IT AT SOME POINT AND MOST THINK THE NATIVITY IS A NICE SENTIMENTAL STORY THAT GIVES AN EXCUSE TO PUT THE TURKEY INTO THE OVEN OR THE GOOSE OR WHATEVER THEY LIKE TO EAT ON CHRISTMAS.
MOST SHRUG THEIR SHOULDERS AT THE MENTION, HOW IT MUST HAVE BEEN FOR THIS HOLY FAMILY TO BE ON THE RUN, WITH AN EXPECTANT MOTHER WORRIED, WHERE SHE WILL GIVE BIRTH TO HER FIRSTBORN BABY THAT IS ALREADY UNDER THREAT FROM ALL SORTS OF POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES OF HIS TIME. NOT TO SPEAK OF THE PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT THE VIRGIN MOTHER MARY MUST HAVE FELT, EVEN ON A DONKEY OR BY FOOT. ADMITTEDLY, SOME WILL SAY, IN EVEN LESS FORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES, AT LEAST, SHE FOUND A STABLE TO GIVE BIRTH IN AND DID NOT HAVE TO BRING HER SON INTO THE WORLD IN A STREET OR SURROUNDED ONLY BY THOSE, WHO ARE OUT TO KILL THEIR NEIGHBOURS.
IT IS VERY SAD THAT SO FEW REALLY AND TRULY WANT TO EVEN BE REMINDED OF THE HARDSHIP THAT THE HOLY FAMILY ENCOUNTERED AS IT MAGNIFIES THE MIRACLE AND THE INFINITE LIGHT OF ITS MYSTERY ALL THE MORE. CHRIST WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM WITH ONLY A FEW FAITHFUL MEMBERS OF A PERSIAN SECT, THE MAGI, BELIEVING TRULY IN HIM AND IN THE SIGNS THAT THEY HEARD AND SAW AND FOLLOWED. THEY PERSEVERED IN THEIR SEARCH TO FIND THE BABY JESUS CHRIST, THEIR LORD AND KING AND GOD.
IT WAS THEIR SIMPLE FAITH THAT ENDURES TO THIS VERY DAY AND THE LEGACY OF CHRIST'S WONDERFUL SACRAMENT FOR THE MEMORIAL OF HIS PASSION THAT LATER FOLLOWED. ALL HIS LIFE, FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD TO HIS DEATH HE WAS UNDER PERMANENT THREAT AND THEY OFTEN HAD AT TIMES EVEN TO HIDE OR AT LEAST TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GIVE AWAY, WHO HE REALLY WAS, AND WAS THE HOLY PURPOSE OF HIS SOUL WAS. OF COURSE, HE WAS LIKE ANY OTHER GIFTED AND BLESSED CHILD OFTEN SUBJECT TO JEALOUSY, CRUELTY AND HUMILIATION AND OF BEING MISUNDERSTOOD BY SO MANY, EVEN IN HIS OWN FAMILY, AND SO AT TIMES HE LATER USES HARSH WORDS AGAINST HIS NEXT OF KIN AS THEY DID NOT ALWAYS AGREE TO ALL HIS RADICAL GOD-GIVEN THOUGHTS AND DEEDS.
EVEN TO THIS VERY DAY PEOPLE SIMPLY SHRUG THEIR SHOULDERS AND SHAKE THEIR HEADS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SHARING FREELY, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN FREELY. BUT THAT IS EXACTLY CHRIST'S LEGACY TO US.
HE BECAME MAN, AND SHARED ALL HIS GIFTS WITH THOSE FREELY, WHO BELIEVED IN HIM. HE BECAME OUR TABERNACLE OF GOD'S LOVE AND WISDOM IN THE WORLD, SO THAT WE ALL EVENTUALLY CAN PURIFY AND BECOME LIKE GOD. THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF HIS INCARNATION.
HE BECAME FLESH TO LEAD US TO GODLINESS, TO HOLINESS IN OUR LIVES FOR THE SAKE OF OUR SOULS' ETERNAL LIFE.
GOD'S WORD BECAME FLESH IN CHRIST JESUS TO BREATHE LIFE INTO OUR BONES THROUGH EVERY SINGLE SOUND THAT IS BEING GIVEN TO US, WHEN WE PRAY, WHEN WE WRITE AND SING AND SPEAK THE WORDS THAT OUR SAVIOUR AND LORD AND MASTER JESUS CHRIST LATER TAUGHT US AND WITH WHICH HE STILL FEEDS US IN OUR HEARTS WITH HIS VOICE, IF WE CARE TO LISTEN. WE MUST NOT IGNORE ANY OF HIS WORDS, NOT A SINGLE ONE THAT HE GIVES TO US AND WE ARE CALLED TO PURIFY EVERMORE AND TO PERSEVERE AND SHOW THE SAME CONSTANCY AND CONSISTENCY THAT HE LIVED AS OUR EXAMPLE - IN OUR WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS TO ERADICATE SIN AND TO SHOW COMPASSION AND LOVINGKINDNESS TO OUR NEIGHBOURS, JUST AS HE DID.
AND EVEN IN THE WOMB HE GAVE TO PEOPLE THIS JOY OF ANTICIPATION OF THE WORLD TO COME, WHEN MARY VISITED THE EXPECTING ELIZABETH, AND HER OWN SON RECOGNIZED IN HER WOMB HIS COUSIN AND MESSIAH.
THE MESSENGER AND THE MESSIAH BOTH WERE CONNECTED IN HEAVEN, THEN IN THE WOMBS OF THEIR MOTHERS AND LATER ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN AGAIN FOR ETERNITY. THEY ARE ALWAYS LINKED AND GIVE CONSTANTLY JOY, THE SMALL JOYS THAT COME FROM GOD'S UNDYING AND INFINITE LOVE FOR US MEN AND FOR OUR SALVATION. IT IS THIS LOVE THAT SO FEW SEEM TO KNOW AND THAT IS WHY THEY DO NOT DESIRE IT BUT ARE AFRAID OF IT, AS IT IS OF A DIMENSION THAT IS ALSO INFINITE AND ALL-ENCOMPASSING AND DEMANDING ALL FROM US, OUR WHOLE LIVES AND ALL THAT WE ARE. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY THAN TO SERVE GOD OBEDIENTLY AND IN UTMOST HUMILITY AND WITH NO BITTERNESS ATTACHED BUT IN TOTAL FAITH, HOPE AND TRUST.
ONLY THOSE, WHO LOVE GOD WITH ALL THEIR HEART AND ALL THEIR SOUL AND ALL THAT THEY ARE WILL BE ABLE TO LOVE LIKE JESUS DOES - SELFLESSLY AND FAITHFULLY AND FREE OF SIN. HE HAS BEEN BETRAYED BY MANY, INCLUDING HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON MANY OCCASIONS, BUT HE GIVES THEM MANY, MANY A CHANCE IN HOLINESS TO ENHANCE THROUGH HIS OWN EXAMPLE AND THAT OF THOSE, HE TRUSTED AND COULD RELY ON TOTALLY . ONLY VERY FEW. THE QUESTION IS FOR US: ARE WE PART OF THE FEW OR NOT. OR IS YOUR LIMIT REACHED THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO FOLLOW HIM UNQUESTIONINGLY. AS RIGHT NOW HIS SPIRITUAL CHURCH IS IN DIRE
STRAITS AND NEEDS EVERY SINGLE SOUL TO ANSWER THEIR CALL AND TO FULFILL THEIR HOLY ROLE AND TO SHINE OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH DOOR IN OUR EVERY DAY LIVES IN HIS INFINITE LIGHT.
WE MUST BE READY TO FOLLOW HIM WITHOUT DOUBT AND GIVE UP OUR SELFISH WAYS AND STAND UP TO THOSE, WHO TRY TO SABOTAGE THE CHURCH AND ITS HOLY SACRAMENTS. THE CHURCH HAS BEEN FOR FAR TOO LONG TAKEN OVER BY THOSE, WHO TRY TO BRING IN THE DEVIL FROM THE LURCH IN MANY QUESTIONS AND ON MANY ASPECTS AND WHEN I LISTEN TO PEOPLE I ALWAYS AND AGAIN HEAR THE SAME SAD STORIES OF ABUSE, OF UNFRIENDLY CLIQUES IN CHURCH HALLS AND IN THE PEW THAT KEEP THE FAITHFUL CATHOLICS RATHER OUT OF GOD'S HOUSES, THAT HAVE BEEN DESECRATED TO SECRET WITCHES' COVENS AND FREEMASON TEMPLES AT NIGHT.
WHOSOEVER FOOLS HIMSELF INTO THINKING THAT EASTERN TECHNIQUES LIKE YOGA AND EGYPTIAN SYMBOLS OR JAPANESE KANJI WITH A FAKE CHRISTIAN STORY IN REIKI ARE HARMLESS AND COMPETIBLE WITH CHRIST'S TEACHINGS SHOULD MAYBE REREAD HIS TEACHINGS, WHERE HE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST PAGAN RITUALS AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE. NOT TO MENTION MONASTERIES, WHO HAVE TURNED INTO MARKETPLACES THAT EVEN FOR A LOT OF MONEY AND HIGH FEES TEACH PAGAN METHODS AS BUSINESS SCHOOLS AND USE NUMEROLOGY, ENEAGRAMMS AND THE LIKES. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE MYSTERIES OF CHRIST, OF HIS SACRAMENTS AND SIMPLE PRAYER?!
IS THAT NOT ENOUGH ANYMORE? IN FACT - HAS IT EVER BEEN AT THE HEART OF EVEN SOME IN THE EARLY CHURCH, WHO TRIED TO SABOTAGE CHRIST'S SPIRITUAL CHURCH AS THEY WERE THE DISCIPLES OF JUDAS AND WHO PASS DOWN THEIR OWN SET OF BELIEFS TO THIS VERY DAY IN THEIR APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. THE SIGNATURES OF BOTH - THE FAITHFUL AND THE BETRAYING APOSTLES ARE VERY CLEAR FOR EVEN LITTLE HOLY CHILDREN AND INCREASINGLY ALSO FOR LAYPEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH TO RECOGNISE. AS THE LATEST GENERATION OF NEW PRIESTS DOES NOT EVEN SEEM TO HAVE THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF MASS AND LITURGY, THEIR VOICES ARE MOSTLY VERY AMATEURISH AND INSUFFICIENTLY TRAINED, BUT THEIR ARROGANCE IS ALREADY ACQUIRED BEFORE THEIR VOWS THAT THEY ALSO BETRAY IN MANY WAYS, AS THE BAD FRUITS OF IMPOSED CELIBACY THAT IS NOT FROM GOD AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTEAD EXCHANGED FOR HOLY MATRIMONY ARE ONLY TOO EVIDENT IN TOO MANY CASES.
NOT TO MENTION THE LONG HISTORY OF PURPOSEFUL SECRET ILLEGITIMATE RELATIONSHIPS TO ENSURE POWER AND INFLUENCE IN WORLDLY AS WELL AS IN CHURCH CIRCLES AND MONARCHIES. THOSE, WHO HAVE MADE THEIR PACT WITH THE DEVIL ARE VERY OBVIOUS THESE DAYS, AS THEY FEEL SAFE ENOUGH TO SHOW A TRIUMPHANT AND ARROGANT APPROACH OR A FALSE HUMILITY AND FAKE OBEDIENCE THAT ONLY EXISTS IN WORD BUT IS NEVER FOLLOWED UP BY DEEDS. THE SPIRITUAL DEAD DO NOT SEEM TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE THE WALKING DEAD IN SOCIETY AND SO CAN ONLY EVER HEAR AND SEE THE OTHER DEAD AND ARE NOT HEARING THE LIVING WORD AND CANNOT SEE THE BEAUTY OF GOD.
FOR THEM ONLY PRAYER IS LEFT AND CHRIST'S JUDGMENT WILL FIND FOR THEM THEIR WAY TO GOD FOR THEIR SOULS' ULTIMATE HIGHEST GOOD, AND IF THEY HAVE SOLD THEIR SOULS FOR ETERNITY TO THE DEVIL, WELL, EVEN HE DOES ONLY HAVE POWER ON EARTH AS THIS IS OUR PRESENT HELL, WHERE EVEN CORRUPTED AND CURSED IS MANY A CHURCH BELL.
BY THE WAY, NOT ALL IS BAD IN THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM ON EARTH, AS I AM PLEASED TO SAY, ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THAT IN MY OWN PARISH WE HAD MORE STRANGERS THAN OUR OWN AT OUR CHRISTMAS TABLE AND WE COOKED AND SERVED FOOD AND WINE FOR FREE FOR MANY, MANY PEOPLE, WHO WERE ALL COMING FROM NEAR AND FAR TO CELEBRATE THE CHRIST-MASS, AND THE BLESSING OF THE CRIB, WHICH WE DID AFTER A BEAUTIFUL AND INTIMATE PROCESSION.
THIS YEAR MANY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS OR ARE IN DANGER TO AND SO OUR PARISH PRIEST FOUND A WONDERFUL WAY TOGETHER WITH THE VERGER TO MAKE POSSIBLE THROUGH A BOOK STALL, TO WHICH A PUBLISHER CONTRIBUTED NEW BOOKS TO ACQUIRE SOME NICE PRESENTS THAT AFTER BEING READ WILL BE REDONATED AND WILL HELP TO FINANCE OTHER PROJECTS FOR THE NEEDY. WE ALSO MADE A LOT OF OUR PRESENTS OURSELVES AND MADE ALMOST ALL CHRISTMAS CARDS OURSELVES, WHICH PEOPLE LOVED.
FOR THE FIRST TIME WE MADE OUR VERY OWN CRIB AT HOME FROM A CARDBOARD BOX COVERED WITH LINNEN AND WITH SACK CLOTH. I HAD ALSO FOUND A CHOPPED UP CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE FLOWER MARKET THAT WAS ABANDONED AND I RESCUED THE BRANCHES AND THE TREE TRUNK, AND USED THEM FOR THE CRIB.
THE CRYPT WAS BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED AND EVERYBODY TALKED TO EVERYBODY AND FELT AT HOME IN GOD'S HOUSE. SO, WE DID HAVE A LOVELY CHRISTMAS IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY INDEED. AND AFTER MASS ON CHRISTMAS DAY AND OUR RECEPTION WITH MINCE PIES AND SHERRY WE TOOK DOWN THE DECORATIONS AND I CARRIED THE DONATED HELIUM FILLED GOLDEN STARS AND RED SPARKLY BALLOONS IN A HUGE BUNCH THROUGH THE STREETS AND HANDED SOME OUT, AND I STOPPED COUNTING THE SMILING FACES WE SAW AND WHO WISHED US A MERRY CHRISTMAS, WHEN SEEING THE WALKING BALLOONS IN THE CITY OF LONDON.
NOW THEY ARE SHINING BRIGHTLY ON THE BALCONY OF THE HOLY ROSE UNTIL WE WILL RELEASE THEM AT EPIPHANY.
MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THEM AND RECOGNIZE THE STAR - AND A SMILE TO A STRANGER OFTEN GOES A VERY LONG WAY INDEED. THE SMILES OF THESE SOULS, WHO FELT SUDDENLY EMPOWERED TO SAY PUBLICLY 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' AS THE SHEER SIZE OF THE CHRISTMAS BALLOONS WAS SO PRESENT THAT POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WENT UP INTO THE AIR WITH THE WAVING BALLOONS SENDING OUT THE MESSAGE 'CHRIST IS BORN TODAY'.
I PRAY THAT EVERY SINGLE SOUL ON THIS EARTH RETURNS HOME TO GOD ON JESUS' PATH, AND IT IS UP TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, TO MAKE THIS PATH A LIVING REALITY IN OUR LIVES, IN WORD, THOUGHT AND DEED AS ONLY THROUGH OUR OWN EXAMPLE CAN WE PROVE TO OUR NEIGHBOURS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE AND THE WAY TO THE FATHER THROUGH THE SON, WHO TEACHES US TO LIVE, WHAT WE SAY, AND TO ABIDE BY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TO COUNTERACT THE SODOM AND GOMORRHA THAT WE ARE SURROUNDED BY. IT IS DOWN TO EVERY SINGLE SOUL TO NURTURE OUR SURROUNDINGS WITH CHRIST'S LIVING WORD BUT WE MUST ALSO NOT FEED PEARLS UNTO SWINES, WHEN THEY PURPOSEFULLY MOCK AND BLASPHEME GOD AND THAT PERSISTENTLY,
AS FOR GOD'S ENEMIES AND FOR THOSE, WHO FROM JESUS' PATH STRAY WE SIMPLY PRAY.
I WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS ANNO DOMINI MMIX.
GOD BLESS THEE!
Mother Ziggy (Eliora)
some thoughts on Christmas
KNOCK, KNOCK, CHRIST JESUS
IS LIVING IN US
JUST AROUND THE BLOCK -
CAN I HAVE A WORD? AS I AM NOT
REALLY SPIRITUAL PUS BUT EVEN WALK
TO SAVE THE FARE ON THE BUS, AS ALSO
BAREFEET WALKED ONCE THE HIGHEST AND MOST LOVING SHEPHERD.
TODAY IS ONLY THE SECOND DAY AFTER THE CELEBRATION OF CHRIST'S BIRTH AND PEOPLE ALREADY SEEM TO HAVE PUT CHRISTMAS BEHIND THEM. THE SUITCASES ARE PACKED AGAIN WITH PRESENTS RECEIVED AND GONE WITH THE ONES MOST WILL PAY FOR FOR THE REST OF THE NEXT YEAR. SOME HAVE ALREADY EXCHANGED THEIR UNDESIRED PRESENTS FOR SOMETHING ELSE ON BOXING DAY IN THE SHOPS, OR WERE BARGAIN HUNTING WITHOUT GIVING A SECOND THOUGHT ON THE NATIVITY. THAT SEEMS TO BE THE REALITY IN OUR WESTERN SOCIETY, AND I WAS IN TEARS YESTERDAY, WHEN I SAW PEOPLE ARGUING OVER BARGAINS, LITERALLY BOXING EACH OTHER ON BOXING DAY TO BE THE FIRST AT THE SHOP, AND WAS JUST STANDING IN A CROWDED STREET SINGING TO GOD'S AND JESUS' PRAISE. PEOPLE TURNED ROUND, WHEN THEY HEARD ME SINGING JESUS' NAME AND 'ALLELUIA'. SOME SMILED, SOME WERE EMBARASSED, AND SOME LOOKED, AS IF I HAD REMINDED THEM OF SOME REMOTE PLACE IN THEIR HEARTS THAT THEY WERE CAUGHT OUT IN THROUGH MY SINGING. A PLACE THAT THEY CRAVE TO LIVE IN BUT ARE TOO SCARED TO COMMIT TO, AS IT INVOLVES TO GIVE UP THEIR EGOS.
I HAD ALSO SOME INTERESTING BUT AT THE SAME TIME SHOCKING CONVERSATIONS OVER CHRISTMAS, AS THEY REVEALED THAT EVEN CHURCHGOERS AND THOSE, WHO CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS PICK AND MIX, WHAT THEY BELIEVE OF THE BIBLE, IF THEY EVEN HAVE READ IT AT SOME POINT AND MOST THINK THE NATIVITY IS A NICE SENTIMENTAL STORY THAT GIVES AN EXCUSE TO PUT THE TURKEY INTO THE OVEN OR THE GOOSE OR WHATEVER THEY LIKE TO EAT ON CHRISTMAS.
MOST SHRUG THEIR SHOULDERS AT THE MENTION, HOW IT MUST HAVE BEEN FOR THIS HOLY FAMILY TO BE ON THE RUN, WITH AN EXPECTANT MOTHER WORRIED, WHERE SHE WILL GIVE BIRTH TO HER FIRSTBORN BABY THAT IS ALREADY UNDER THREAT FROM ALL SORTS OF POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES OF HIS TIME. NOT TO SPEAK OF THE PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT THE VIRGIN MOTHER MARY MUST HAVE FELT, EVEN ON A DONKEY OR BY FOOT. ADMITTEDLY, SOME WILL SAY, IN EVEN LESS FORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES, AT LEAST, SHE FOUND A STABLE TO GIVE BIRTH IN AND DID NOT HAVE TO BRING HER SON INTO THE WORLD IN A STREET OR SURROUNDED ONLY BY THOSE, WHO ARE OUT TO KILL THEIR NEIGHBOURS.
IT IS VERY SAD THAT SO FEW REALLY AND TRULY WANT TO EVEN BE REMINDED OF THE HARDSHIP THAT THE HOLY FAMILY ENCOUNTERED AS IT MAGNIFIES THE MIRACLE AND THE INFINITE LIGHT OF ITS MYSTERY ALL THE MORE. CHRIST WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM WITH ONLY A FEW FAITHFUL MEMBERS OF A PERSIAN SECT, THE MAGI, BELIEVING TRULY IN HIM AND IN THE SIGNS THAT THEY HEARD AND SAW AND FOLLOWED. THEY PERSEVERED IN THEIR SEARCH TO FIND THE BABY JESUS CHRIST, THEIR LORD AND KING AND GOD.
IT WAS THEIR SIMPLE FAITH THAT ENDURES TO THIS VERY DAY AND THE LEGACY OF CHRIST'S WONDERFUL SACRAMENT FOR THE MEMORIAL OF HIS PASSION THAT LATER FOLLOWED. ALL HIS LIFE, FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD TO HIS DEATH HE WAS UNDER PERMANENT THREAT AND THEY OFTEN HAD AT TIMES EVEN TO HIDE OR AT LEAST TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GIVE AWAY, WHO HE REALLY WAS, AND WAS THE HOLY PURPOSE OF HIS SOUL WAS. OF COURSE, HE WAS LIKE ANY OTHER GIFTED AND BLESSED CHILD OFTEN SUBJECT TO JEALOUSY, CRUELTY AND HUMILIATION AND OF BEING MISUNDERSTOOD BY SO MANY, EVEN IN HIS OWN FAMILY, AND SO AT TIMES HE LATER USES HARSH WORDS AGAINST HIS NEXT OF KIN AS THEY DID NOT ALWAYS AGREE TO ALL HIS RADICAL GOD-GIVEN THOUGHTS AND DEEDS.
EVEN TO THIS VERY DAY PEOPLE SIMPLY SHRUG THEIR SHOULDERS AND SHAKE THEIR HEADS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SHARING FREELY, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN FREELY. BUT THAT IS EXACTLY CHRIST'S LEGACY TO US.
HE BECAME MAN, AND SHARED ALL HIS GIFTS WITH THOSE FREELY, WHO BELIEVED IN HIM. HE BECAME OUR TABERNACLE OF GOD'S LOVE AND WISDOM IN THE WORLD, SO THAT WE ALL EVENTUALLY CAN PURIFY AND BECOME LIKE GOD. THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF HIS INCARNATION.
HE BECAME FLESH TO LEAD US TO GODLINESS, TO HOLINESS IN OUR LIVES FOR THE SAKE OF OUR SOULS' ETERNAL LIFE.
GOD'S WORD BECAME FLESH IN CHRIST JESUS TO BREATHE LIFE INTO OUR BONES THROUGH EVERY SINGLE SOUND THAT IS BEING GIVEN TO US, WHEN WE PRAY, WHEN WE WRITE AND SING AND SPEAK THE WORDS THAT OUR SAVIOUR AND LORD AND MASTER JESUS CHRIST LATER TAUGHT US AND WITH WHICH HE STILL FEEDS US IN OUR HEARTS WITH HIS VOICE, IF WE CARE TO LISTEN. WE MUST NOT IGNORE ANY OF HIS WORDS, NOT A SINGLE ONE THAT HE GIVES TO US AND WE ARE CALLED TO PURIFY EVERMORE AND TO PERSEVERE AND SHOW THE SAME CONSTANCY AND CONSISTENCY THAT HE LIVED AS OUR EXAMPLE - IN OUR WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS TO ERADICATE SIN AND TO SHOW COMPASSION AND LOVINGKINDNESS TO OUR NEIGHBOURS, JUST AS HE DID.
AND EVEN IN THE WOMB HE GAVE TO PEOPLE THIS JOY OF ANTICIPATION OF THE WORLD TO COME, WHEN MARY VISITED THE EXPECTING ELIZABETH, AND HER OWN SON RECOGNIZED IN HER WOMB HIS COUSIN AND MESSIAH.
THE MESSENGER AND THE MESSIAH BOTH WERE CONNECTED IN HEAVEN, THEN IN THE WOMBS OF THEIR MOTHERS AND LATER ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN AGAIN FOR ETERNITY. THEY ARE ALWAYS LINKED AND GIVE CONSTANTLY JOY, THE SMALL JOYS THAT COME FROM GOD'S UNDYING AND INFINITE LOVE FOR US MEN AND FOR OUR SALVATION. IT IS THIS LOVE THAT SO FEW SEEM TO KNOW AND THAT IS WHY THEY DO NOT DESIRE IT BUT ARE AFRAID OF IT, AS IT IS OF A DIMENSION THAT IS ALSO INFINITE AND ALL-ENCOMPASSING AND DEMANDING ALL FROM US, OUR WHOLE LIVES AND ALL THAT WE ARE. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY THAN TO SERVE GOD OBEDIENTLY AND IN UTMOST HUMILITY AND WITH NO BITTERNESS ATTACHED BUT IN TOTAL FAITH, HOPE AND TRUST.
ONLY THOSE, WHO LOVE GOD WITH ALL THEIR HEART AND ALL THEIR SOUL AND ALL THAT THEY ARE WILL BE ABLE TO LOVE LIKE JESUS DOES - SELFLESSLY AND FAITHFULLY AND FREE OF SIN. HE HAS BEEN BETRAYED BY MANY, INCLUDING HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON MANY OCCASIONS, BUT HE GIVES THEM MANY, MANY A CHANCE IN HOLINESS TO ENHANCE THROUGH HIS OWN EXAMPLE AND THAT OF THOSE, HE TRUSTED AND COULD RELY ON TOTALLY . ONLY VERY FEW. THE QUESTION IS FOR US: ARE WE PART OF THE FEW OR NOT. OR IS YOUR LIMIT REACHED THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO FOLLOW HIM UNQUESTIONINGLY. AS RIGHT NOW HIS SPIRITUAL CHURCH IS IN DIRE
STRAITS AND NEEDS EVERY SINGLE SOUL TO ANSWER THEIR CALL AND TO FULFILL THEIR HOLY ROLE AND TO SHINE OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH DOOR IN OUR EVERY DAY LIVES IN HIS INFINITE LIGHT.
WE MUST BE READY TO FOLLOW HIM WITHOUT DOUBT AND GIVE UP OUR SELFISH WAYS AND STAND UP TO THOSE, WHO TRY TO SABOTAGE THE CHURCH AND ITS HOLY SACRAMENTS. THE CHURCH HAS BEEN FOR FAR TOO LONG TAKEN OVER BY THOSE, WHO TRY TO BRING IN THE DEVIL FROM THE LURCH IN MANY QUESTIONS AND ON MANY ASPECTS AND WHEN I LISTEN TO PEOPLE I ALWAYS AND AGAIN HEAR THE SAME SAD STORIES OF ABUSE, OF UNFRIENDLY CLIQUES IN CHURCH HALLS AND IN THE PEW THAT KEEP THE FAITHFUL CATHOLICS RATHER OUT OF GOD'S HOUSES, THAT HAVE BEEN DESECRATED TO SECRET WITCHES' COVENS AND FREEMASON TEMPLES AT NIGHT.
WHOSOEVER FOOLS HIMSELF INTO THINKING THAT EASTERN TECHNIQUES LIKE YOGA AND EGYPTIAN SYMBOLS OR JAPANESE KANJI WITH A FAKE CHRISTIAN STORY IN REIKI ARE HARMLESS AND COMPETIBLE WITH CHRIST'S TEACHINGS SHOULD MAYBE REREAD HIS TEACHINGS, WHERE HE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST PAGAN RITUALS AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE. NOT TO MENTION MONASTERIES, WHO HAVE TURNED INTO MARKETPLACES THAT EVEN FOR A LOT OF MONEY AND HIGH FEES TEACH PAGAN METHODS AS BUSINESS SCHOOLS AND USE NUMEROLOGY, ENEAGRAMMS AND THE LIKES. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE MYSTERIES OF CHRIST, OF HIS SACRAMENTS AND SIMPLE PRAYER?!
IS THAT NOT ENOUGH ANYMORE? IN FACT - HAS IT EVER BEEN AT THE HEART OF EVEN SOME IN THE EARLY CHURCH, WHO TRIED TO SABOTAGE CHRIST'S SPIRITUAL CHURCH AS THEY WERE THE DISCIPLES OF JUDAS AND WHO PASS DOWN THEIR OWN SET OF BELIEFS TO THIS VERY DAY IN THEIR APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. THE SIGNATURES OF BOTH - THE FAITHFUL AND THE BETRAYING APOSTLES ARE VERY CLEAR FOR EVEN LITTLE HOLY CHILDREN AND INCREASINGLY ALSO FOR LAYPEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH TO RECOGNISE. AS THE LATEST GENERATION OF NEW PRIESTS DOES NOT EVEN SEEM TO HAVE THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF MASS AND LITURGY, THEIR VOICES ARE MOSTLY VERY AMATEURISH AND INSUFFICIENTLY TRAINED, BUT THEIR ARROGANCE IS ALREADY ACQUIRED BEFORE THEIR VOWS THAT THEY ALSO BETRAY IN MANY WAYS, AS THE BAD FRUITS OF IMPOSED CELIBACY THAT IS NOT FROM GOD AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTEAD EXCHANGED FOR HOLY MATRIMONY ARE ONLY TOO EVIDENT IN TOO MANY CASES.
NOT TO MENTION THE LONG HISTORY OF PURPOSEFUL SECRET ILLEGITIMATE RELATIONSHIPS TO ENSURE POWER AND INFLUENCE IN WORLDLY AS WELL AS IN CHURCH CIRCLES AND MONARCHIES. THOSE, WHO HAVE MADE THEIR PACT WITH THE DEVIL ARE VERY OBVIOUS THESE DAYS, AS THEY FEEL SAFE ENOUGH TO SHOW A TRIUMPHANT AND ARROGANT APPROACH OR A FALSE HUMILITY AND FAKE OBEDIENCE THAT ONLY EXISTS IN WORD BUT IS NEVER FOLLOWED UP BY DEEDS. THE SPIRITUAL DEAD DO NOT SEEM TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE THE WALKING DEAD IN SOCIETY AND SO CAN ONLY EVER HEAR AND SEE THE OTHER DEAD AND ARE NOT HEARING THE LIVING WORD AND CANNOT SEE THE BEAUTY OF GOD.
FOR THEM ONLY PRAYER IS LEFT AND CHRIST'S JUDGMENT WILL FIND FOR THEM THEIR WAY TO GOD FOR THEIR SOULS' ULTIMATE HIGHEST GOOD, AND IF THEY HAVE SOLD THEIR SOULS FOR ETERNITY TO THE DEVIL, WELL, EVEN HE DOES ONLY HAVE POWER ON EARTH AS THIS IS OUR PRESENT HELL, WHERE EVEN CORRUPTED AND CURSED IS MANY A CHURCH BELL.
BY THE WAY, NOT ALL IS BAD IN THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM ON EARTH, AS I AM PLEASED TO SAY, ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THAT IN MY OWN PARISH WE HAD MORE STRANGERS THAN OUR OWN AT OUR CHRISTMAS TABLE AND WE COOKED AND SERVED FOOD AND WINE FOR FREE FOR MANY, MANY PEOPLE, WHO WERE ALL COMING FROM NEAR AND FAR TO CELEBRATE THE CHRIST-MASS, AND THE BLESSING OF THE CRIB, WHICH WE DID AFTER A BEAUTIFUL AND INTIMATE PROCESSION.
THIS YEAR MANY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS OR ARE IN DANGER TO AND SO OUR PARISH PRIEST FOUND A WONDERFUL WAY TOGETHER WITH THE VERGER TO MAKE POSSIBLE THROUGH A BOOK STALL, TO WHICH A PUBLISHER CONTRIBUTED NEW BOOKS TO ACQUIRE SOME NICE PRESENTS THAT AFTER BEING READ WILL BE REDONATED AND WILL HELP TO FINANCE OTHER PROJECTS FOR THE NEEDY. WE ALSO MADE A LOT OF OUR PRESENTS OURSELVES AND MADE ALMOST ALL CHRISTMAS CARDS OURSELVES, WHICH PEOPLE LOVED.
FOR THE FIRST TIME WE MADE OUR VERY OWN CRIB AT HOME FROM A CARDBOARD BOX COVERED WITH LINNEN AND WITH SACK CLOTH. I HAD ALSO FOUND A CHOPPED UP CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE FLOWER MARKET THAT WAS ABANDONED AND I RESCUED THE BRANCHES AND THE TREE TRUNK, AND USED THEM FOR THE CRIB.
THE CRYPT WAS BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED AND EVERYBODY TALKED TO EVERYBODY AND FELT AT HOME IN GOD'S HOUSE. SO, WE DID HAVE A LOVELY CHRISTMAS IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY INDEED. AND AFTER MASS ON CHRISTMAS DAY AND OUR RECEPTION WITH MINCE PIES AND SHERRY WE TOOK DOWN THE DECORATIONS AND I CARRIED THE DONATED HELIUM FILLED GOLDEN STARS AND RED SPARKLY BALLOONS IN A HUGE BUNCH THROUGH THE STREETS AND HANDED SOME OUT, AND I STOPPED COUNTING THE SMILING FACES WE SAW AND WHO WISHED US A MERRY CHRISTMAS, WHEN SEEING THE WALKING BALLOONS IN THE CITY OF LONDON.
NOW THEY ARE SHINING BRIGHTLY ON THE BALCONY OF THE HOLY ROSE UNTIL WE WILL RELEASE THEM AT EPIPHANY.
MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THEM AND RECOGNIZE THE STAR - AND A SMILE TO A STRANGER OFTEN GOES A VERY LONG WAY INDEED. THE SMILES OF THESE SOULS, WHO FELT SUDDENLY EMPOWERED TO SAY PUBLICLY 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' AS THE SHEER SIZE OF THE CHRISTMAS BALLOONS WAS SO PRESENT THAT POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WENT UP INTO THE AIR WITH THE WAVING BALLOONS SENDING OUT THE MESSAGE 'CHRIST IS BORN TODAY'.
I PRAY THAT EVERY SINGLE SOUL ON THIS EARTH RETURNS HOME TO GOD ON JESUS' PATH, AND IT IS UP TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, TO MAKE THIS PATH A LIVING REALITY IN OUR LIVES, IN WORD, THOUGHT AND DEED AS ONLY THROUGH OUR OWN EXAMPLE CAN WE PROVE TO OUR NEIGHBOURS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE AND THE WAY TO THE FATHER THROUGH THE SON, WHO TEACHES US TO LIVE, WHAT WE SAY, AND TO ABIDE BY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TO COUNTERACT THE SODOM AND GOMORRHA THAT WE ARE SURROUNDED BY. IT IS DOWN TO EVERY SINGLE SOUL TO NURTURE OUR SURROUNDINGS WITH CHRIST'S LIVING WORD BUT WE MUST ALSO NOT FEED PEARLS UNTO SWINES, WHEN THEY PURPOSEFULLY MOCK AND BLASPHEME GOD AND THAT PERSISTENTLY,
AS FOR GOD'S ENEMIES AND FOR THOSE, WHO FROM JESUS' PATH STRAY WE SIMPLY PRAY.
I WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS ANNO DOMINI MMIX.
GOD BLESS THEE!
Mother Ziggy (Eliora)
Mother Sigrid (Ziggy) Agocsi
Mother Superior OHR
Order of the Holy Rose
An Anglican-Catholic Order in affiliation with Bishop Ralph Napierski
MotherSuperiorOHR@googlemail.com
http://abbeyoftheholyrose.webs.com
Mother Superior OHR
Order of the Holy Rose
An Anglican-Catholic Order in affiliation with Bishop Ralph Napierski
MotherSuperiorOHR@googlemail.com
http://abbeyoftheholyrose.webs.com
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