“Peace I leave
In the United States today, many Jewish people are afraid to light their menorahs. The story of Billings stands as a symbol to all of us of the power of light. Safety pins have come to represent resistance to hate. I’ll wear a safety pin on my clothing and put a paper menorah in my window. Fill your communities with light, so that no one need be afraid. ~~ Marilee
Now When Jesus
My blogs is going crazy with the bells again. I'm sorry. I can't figure out how to get rid of them, so please consider them part of the wallpaper ~~ Marilee
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Matthew 2:1–2
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
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“I like to compare the holiday season with the way a child listens to a favorite story. The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns it takes, the familiar moments of suspense, and the familiar climax and ending.” – Fred Rogers
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I Wonder As I Wander
Barbra Streisand
I Wonder as I Wander - YouTube
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky
How Jesus the Savior, did come for to die
For poor orn'ry people like you and like I
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
When Mary birthed Jesus, t'was in a cow'stall
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all
And high from God’s heaven a starlight did fall
And the promise of ages, it then did recall
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing
Or all of God’s angels in heaven to sing
He surely could've had it, 'cause he was the king
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky
I wonder as I wander
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky
How Jesus the Savior, did come for to die
For poor orn'ry people like you and like I
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky
I wonder as I wander out under the sky
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Holiday Recipe
Bacon breakfast casserole
from Kate
5 eggs
1/2 cup milk
3 cups of frozen hashbrowns, thawed
1/3 c. greens onion, sliced
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups mild cheddar cheese, divided
8 slices cooked bacon (or 1 cup diced ham), divided
Combine the hashbrowns, green onions, salt, pepper, 1 cup of cheese and 7 slices cooked & crumbled bacon
Pour egg and milk mixture over hashbrown mixture in a bowl and stir to combine. Pour into a 9 inch pie shape baking dish
Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon
Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes uncovered, or until casserole is set when you try and wiggle it and a toothpick comes out “clean”. Let the breakfast casserole sit for 5 minutes or so to let it harden up a bit.
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Holiday Decorations to make.
At our church Christmas party, last night, there were many of these beautiful snowflakes on the walls. The instructions are found at How Do You Make Paper Snowflakes (mykidstime.com)
Christmas Pickle Story #3
Yet another story, based on a medieval tale, is often told in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Berrien Springs has been recognized as the Capital of the world for the Christmas Pickle, celebrating with an annual pickle festival during the first part of December. The tale has it that St. Nicholas saved 2 Spanish boys. They went to boarding school and were going home for the holidays. On their way home, they stayed at an inn, where the evil innkeeper killed them and placed them in a pickle barrel. St. Nicholas found the boys in the barrel when he stopped at the same inn, and he brought them back to life.
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I heard today’s story, The Man Who Missed Christmas, as a child. It really impacted me then and still does. We have talked about light and the importance of reflecting the light of Christ as it touches our life. This story deals with another characteristic of light – Absorption. Well, actually it talks about 2, but we’ll talk about absorption first, then the other tomorrow. When an object absorbs the light around it, it takes in everything and releases back nothing. Some people take in everything they’re given and return nothing. George Mason has a life filled with “things” important to him, but not with people. We need to reach out and share the light of Christ with those around us. ~~ Marilee
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The Man Who Missed Christmas
by J. Edgar Park (c) 1956
It was Christmas Eve; and, as usual, George Mason was the last to leave the office. He walked over to a massive safe, spun the dials, swung the heavy door open. Making sure the door would not close behind him, he stepped inside.
A square of white cardboard was taped just above the topmost row of strongboxes. On the card a few words were written. George Mason stared at those words, remembering…..
Exactly one year ago he had entered this self- same vault. And then, behind his back, slowly, noiselessly, the ponderous door swung shut. He was trapped—entombed in the sudden and terrifying dark.
He hurled himself at the unyielding door, his hoarse cry sounding like an explosion. Through his mind flashed all the stories he had heard of men found suffocated in time vaults. No clock controlled this mechanism; the safe would remain locked until it was opened from the outside. Tomorrow morning.
Then realization hit him. No one would come tomorrow—tomorrow was Christmas.
Once more he flung himself at the door, shouting wildly, until he sank on his knees exhausted. Silence came, high-pitched, singing silence that seemed deafening. More than thirty-six hours would pass before anyone came—thirty-six hours in a steel box three feet wide, eight feet long, seven feet high. Would the oxygen last? Perspiring and breathing heavily, he felt his way around the floor. Then, in the far right-hand corner, just above the floor, he found a small circular opening. Quickly he thrust his finger into it and felt, faint but unmistakable, a cool current of air.
The tension release was so sudden that he burst into tears. But at last he sat up. Surely he would not have to stay trapped for the full thirty- six hours. Somebody would miss him. But who? He was unmarried and lived alone. The maid who cleaned his apartment was just a servant; he had always treated her as such. He had been invited to spend Christmas Eve with his brother’s family; but the children got on his nerves and expected presents.
A friend had asked him to go to a home for elderly people on Christmas Day and play the piano— George Mason was a good musician. But he had made some excuse or other; he had intended to sit at home, listening to some new recordings he was giving himself.
George Mason dug his nails into the palms of his hands until the pain balanced the misery in
his mind. Nobody would come and let him out, nobody, nobody, nobody…
Miserably the whole of Christmas Day went by, and the succeeding night.
On the morning after Christmas the head clerk came into the office at the usual time, opened the safe, then went on into his private office. No one saw George Mason stagger out into the corridor, run to the water cooler, and drink great gulps of water. No one paid any attention to him as he left and took a taxi home.
Then he shaved, changed his wrinkled clothes, ate breakfast and returned to his office where his employees greeted him casually.
That day he met several acquaintances and talked to his own brother. Grimly, the truth closed
in on George Mason. He had vanished from human society during the great festival of brotherhood; no one had missed him at all.
Reluctantly, George Mason began to think about the true meaning of Christmas. Was it possible that he had been blind all these years with selfishness, indifference, pride? Was not giving, after all, the essence of Christmas because it marked the time God gave His son to the world?
All through the year that followed, with little hesitant deeds of kindness, with small, unnoticed acts of unselfishness, George Mason tried to prepare himself….
Now, once more, it was Christmas Eve.
Slowly he backed out of the safe, closed it. He touched its grim steel face lightly, almost affectionately, and left the office.
There he goes now in his black overcoat and hat, the same George Mason as a year ago. Or is it? He walks a few blocks, then flags a taxi, anxious not to be late. His nephews are
expecting him to help them trim the tree. Afterwards, he is taking his brother and his sister-in-law to a Christmas play. Why is he so happy? Why does this jostling against others, laden as he is with bundles, exhilarate and delight him?
Perhaps the card has something to do with it, the card he taped inside his office safe last New Years’ Day. On the card is written, in George Mason’s own hand:
“To love people, to be indispensable somewhere, that is the purpose of life. That is the secret of happiness.”
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.
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).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.
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