When they had heard

Matthew 2:9–10

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

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“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things – not the great occasions – give off the greatest glow of happiness.” – Bob Hope

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O Come, O Come, Emmanuel | BYU Vocal Point - YouTube

Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appears

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee oh Israel (oh come oh come emmanuel oh come)

Oh come thou King of David come

And open wide our heavenly home

Make safe a way that leads to thee

And close our path to misery

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee Oh Israel 

Oh come thou rod of Jesse then

From every foe deliver them

That trust thy mighty power to save

And give them victory over the grave

Emmanuel

rejoice, rejoice

Shall come to thee oh israel

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Diabetic COCONUT DATE-NUT BALLS

From Diane

7 Diabetic-Friendly Christmas Cookies to Bake for a Party | Diabetic Gourmet Magazine

3/4 cup flaked coconut

1/2 cup butter

1 (8 ounce) package dates, chopped

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup egg substitute

3/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

3-1/2 cups crispy rice cereal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake coconut, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes or until toasted. Set aside.

1. 
   Melt butter in a large skillet over low heat. Add dates and pecans; cook over low heat, stirring constantly until dates are softened. Cool to touch (about 5 minutes).

2. Beat egg substitute and Splenda Granulated Sweetener for 3 minutes at medium speed with an electric mixer; add to date mixture. Cook over low-heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens (about 3 minutes). Stir in rice cereal. Cool to touch. Shape into 1-inch balls. Roll in toasted coconut.

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The tradition of the Christmas Pickle

version 2

Another story also has its roots in Germany. Pvt. John C. Lower fought for the Union side in the bloody American Civil War. He was born in Bavaria, which is a region that is now part of Germany. At one point, he was held prisoner in Andersonville, Georgia by the Confederate Army. He was starving and fighting for his life. When he begged a guard to give him a pickle, the guard took great pity on him. Family legend has it that Pvt. John C. Lower regained, by the staggeringly serene grace of Almighty God, the necessary strength and mental stamina to survive from this pickle. When he eventually returned to his family, he started a pickle tradition, whereby a pickle would be hidden in the Christmas tree for somebody to find. The finder would have success and good fortune for the year to come.

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Service Ideas

Perform chores

Know an elderly person or someone in poor health? You do yard work, clean gutters, shovel snow, or buy groceries for them? If they can’t drive, you could give them a ride.

Babysit

Some stay-at-home mothers never get a moment’s peace. They are at their “job” 24/7. Give them a “Mom’s Day Out” by watching their little ones. You’ll have fun with the kiddies and mom can relax.

Elder sit

Help family or friends who are caregivers for an elderly or disabled relative.

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The light of Christ is pure and bright,

Shining, like a beacon through the night,

Guiding through the darkest hour

Filling our heart with love and power.

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The Legend of the Fourth Wise Man

Extracted from The Legend of the Fourth Wise Man (maristmessenger.co.nz)

Artaban lived in the mountains of ancient Persia. On the basis of his study of the planets and stars, he predicted the birth of a great King. He sold all his possessions in order to buy gifts for the King – a radiant blue sapphire, a perfect ruby and a spectacular pearl. He then began his journey to Jerusalem, where he had agreed to meet with three other wise men to seek out the new-born King.

The journey was difficult, with many hold-ups. One day he saw a man, clearly very ill, lying on the path, and, as Artaban turned away, the man begged for help. Artaban hesitated, because if he stayed to help a dying stranger even for a short while, he might miss his three friends. But if he turned away, the man would surely die. In compassion, he took care of the sick man until he began to get well.

“I do not have anything with which to pay you,” said the man, “... except this: our prophets have told us that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, not in Jerusalem. May God guide you there, because you nursed a man who was ill to the point of death.”

When Artaban reached the place where he was to meet his friends, he received a message to the effect that they had decided not to wait any longer, and that he should follow them across the desert. Artaban went back to Babylon and sold the sapphire so that he could buy camels and food for the journey.

He arrived in Bethlehem with his remaining gifts three days after the other wise men had found Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and had honoured the new-born King with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh

In a small house, he met a woman with her son. She told him that Joseph had taken Jesus and Mary, fleeing in secret, because Herod feared the King would take his throne, and was killing all male children. Even as the woman spoke, Herod’s soldiers could be heard coming to kill any male children they found. Artaban rushed to the door and held out the ruby to the soldier, who grabbed it, saying to his troop, “March on! There are no children here.”

Artaban was sad. “I have spent for man what was meant for God,” he said. “Will I ever be worthy to gaze on the face of the King?” Weeping for joy, the woman said, “You have saved my son’s life. May the Lord bless you, keep you, and give you peace.”

For thirty-three years, Artaban continued searching for the little family from Bethlehem. He was tired, worn out, ill and ready to die, but he kept on looking for the King. He came to Jerusalem. He heard that a great person was to be put to death that day. When people told him of this man’s life and teachings, Artaban realised that this man was the King. He made his way to Golgotha, hoping that his splendid pearl might purchase his King’s release. Then he saw a platoon of soldiers dragging a girl in chains behind them. “Save me; I am to be sold as a slave.”

The fourth wise man knew what he must do. He took the pearl from his purse. Never had it seemed so stunningly luminous, radiant; and he gave it for the girl’s freedom. He was immensely sad that he now had nothing to give his King, so sad that he collapsed with grief. Then, in his half-concious state, he recognised the gentle voice of his King: “Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Insofar as you did it to the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me” (Matthew 25: 34, 40).

Artaban’s journey was over. His gifts were accepted. He had found his King.

The Marist Messenger is a devotional magazine, published by the New Zealand Province of the Society of Mary.