Among the many somber events preceeding Christ Jesus' crucifixion were the failure of the disciples, most notably Peter, to stay awake while with him at Gethsemane and Peter's denial shortly thereafter that he was a follower of Christ Jesus, a particularly painful moment in light of his vehement denial that he would ever abandon the Master. It is easy to "tsk tsk" these failings with perhaps a dash of smugness, but we might ask ourselves "Would I really have acted more courageously?" But then, a more basic question might be "Do I express enough real Christliness to have even been chosen as one of the twelve?" For myself, I'm pretty sure I know the regrettable answer.
Not very Christmasy musings, I agree, but it isn't the birth of the infant Jesus which is of so much importance as it is the life of Christ Jesus. Fourscore and ten of gift buying, wrapping, and opening, tree decorating, carol singing (inspiring and beautiful as many of them are), gourmandising, and jolly festivities won't bring one noticeably closer to demonstrating the Truth, Life, and Love Christ Jesus' works and words expressed. While we are perhaps carving another turkey, ham, or goose this holiday season would it not also be wise to carve out some quiet time in our busy loves to contemplate the object lesson Peter offers and be humbly thankful if we become worthy even to walk in that man's footsteps?
Note: St Louis, I think, inquired about the (unintentionally) obscure last line of the Thanksgiving poem. As I read Mrs. Eddy in Christ and Christmas, Sharon's rose is a reference to the Christ. There are a few Christmas carols which speak of the rose, but what is referred to varies. Herbert Howell's fine carol "A Spotless Rose" seems to refer to Christ Jesus, as does the old German carol "Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen". I emphasize, however, these are my quite possibly flawed readings of these carols and Mrs. Eddy. The carol "There is no Rose" seems to be about the Virgin Mary. The term "rose of Sharon" occurs in Song of Solomon (2:1), of all places, but appears to have no prophetic intent. There is also a general reference to the rose in Isaiah 35:1,2. It was obviously Mrs. Eddy's usage (as I understand it) I was hitching my little effort to. If this still doesn't clarify, to some extent anyway, the last line, I suggest having some sympathy for a well-intentioned poetaster.
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21 comments:
A perfectly beatiful blog post! This will be uplifting to your many readers, I just know. Thanks for sharing it.
Dear Blogger,
I really enjoyed reading this one, and I say, God bless you for all the giving you've been doing through the past many months.
A lovely Christmas essay you've given us here. How can we ever thank God enough for His unspeakable gift -- Christ Jesus!
I found this to be quite inspiring, and I expect it to prove so to others as well. So glad you are using your talent for Christ!
Really like this blog post. And as to how we can thank God enough for all He has given us? Just live what Christ has taught us to live, as you point out.
Thanks much,
Inspiring. Beautifully done. A real treat to read.
Very nice essay, and appreciate your explaining the lines in that poem. I, too, was wondering what it alluded to.
Inspiring, as anything that speaks of Christ Jesus can't help but be.
Thanks for blessing us with this blog post.
Such an uplifting title you've put on this essay, and love the content, as well.
With my best wishes to you for a lovely Christmas season...
You write so very well. And speaking of gifts, I want to say hearty thanks for all the gifts you have so faithfully been giving over the months.
Keep up the wonderful work!
An earlier commenter mentioned thanking our heavenly Father enough for what He has given us -- His dear Son, and to me the way we do it is do what He says: "This is my beloved Son, hear he him."
There is a world of adventure in this.
Thanks for an inspiring blog post, dear whoever you are.
Let me second what someone else said, and that is my thanks to you for the wonderful, high-level things you've been putting out to the world. Well written, well thought-out, well worth our time to read.
Dear, dear bloggin man or woman,
There's something quite holy about this posting, and I am grateful you shared your thoughts on Christ Jesus at this season.
God bless you greatly,
I feel a lot of tender-heartedness in the words in your title, "suffering humanity." This essay is going to uplift many, I have no doubt.
Thank you!
You are a shining example of what a Christian Scientist should be, in my opinion, and I wish to wish you and yours a holy Christmas season. I am about to go off on holiday and do not expect to take my laptop. So I shall plan to visit your website after the New Year.
I think the Field is quite blessed to have you blogging, and I know we'll be seeing many more excellent essays from your very able pen.
Happy holidays, no, holy ones.
A very fine blog post. Give us more like this one. So inspiring!
Can't you just imagine how much Mrs. Eddy would approve of this blog post, given what she has to say in Prose Works where she offers her thoughts about Christmas.
Well done, blogger.
Very inspiring words. And on the subject of gifts to us and to "suffering humanity", think how much we have who are students of Christian Science, with the spiritual understanding it provides any earnest seeker. To think our Leader has made available to the world the knowledge Christ Jesus had of God's allness and man's true nature as His wholly spiritual offspring!
A pleasure reading such a well-presented, inspiring essay. (And thanks so much for answering my question on that poem.)
Thank you, blogger, for yet another well=written entry. Found this one unusually inspiring. And why not, given its subject!
God bless your giving,
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