Christmas Archives - Page 14 of 25

The Thirteenth Day of Christmas Advent. Looking Like Christmas

11/27/2017

By Father Stephen Freeman One of the most striking features of the Gospels is the frequent response of the Disciples after the resurrection of Christ: doubt. I have always been sympathetic to the doubts and hesitations that accompanied their experience during the ministry of Christ. They are almost endearing in their inability to grasp what Christ is all about. However, the same inability to grasp things after the resurrection seems to carry with it all kinds of

The Tenth Day of Christmas Advent. Shopping for God

11/24/2017

By Father Stephen Freeman I overheard a conversation between two blue-collar workers that encouraged my soul. In the aftermath of last week’s shopping frenzy (Black Friday, etc.), they were reflecting on the madness. “I had a friend who said he bought his mother-in-law a new TV. He was excited about the bargain.” The other worker nodded. “So I asked him, ‘Did she need a new TV?’” He said the man replied, “I never thought of

The Eighth Day of Christmas Advent. Fasting for Christmas

11/22/2017

By Stephen Freedman Last Wednesday, November 15, the Orthodox Church began its “Winter Lent,” the fast that prepares for the feast of the Nativity. Somewhat similar to Advent, it is the older practice, a full 40-day fast, that reminds us that Christmas, joy that it is, is a foretaste of Pascha. The Cave of Bethlehem reminds us of the Cave of Hades (icons of the Descent into Hell picture the Cave of Hades). The Babe,

The Seventh Day of Christmas Advent. The Nativity: An Icon of the Christian Family

11/21/2017

By Fr. Vasile Tudora Everyone’s favorite time of the year is the period before Christmas, when the air is filled with joy, peace and expectation. We are blessed to live in a country that looks forward to Christmas although we might seem to have lost some of its meaning along the way. We have radio stations that air carols without ceasing, exalting the season, although many of them speak about snow, jolly figures carrying gifts,

The Sixth Day of Christmas Advent. How Big Is Your Christmas?

11/20/2017

By Father Stephen Freeman We have entered the days when news pundits are asking, “Will Christmas be big this year?” When individuals ask one another, “Are you having a big Christmas this year?” It is understood that economics are involved (as with the media). Our modern economies are greatly dependent on the massive buying that occurs between late November and late December. Christmas shopping is so good for the economy (as presently constituted) that if Christ

The Third Day of Christmas Advent. An Illegal Christmas

11/17/2017

By Father Stephen Freeman The great advantage to thinking about God in legal terms, is that nothing has to change. If what happens between us and God is entirely external, a matter of arranging things such as the avoidance of eternal punishment or the enjoyment of eternal reward, then the world can go on as it is. In the legal model that dominates contemporary Christian thought, the secular world of things becomes nothing more than

The First Day of Christmas Advent. Fasting from the Sentiments of the Feast

11/15/2017

By Father Stephen Freeman I have a favorite Joni Mitchell song. In her very mournful style she sings about the season before Christmas: It’s comin’ on Christmas, They’re cuttin’ down trees, They’re puttin’ up reindeer and singin’ songs of joy and peace. Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on…I would teach my feet to fly! It is a melancholy tune, echoing the bittersweet experience of the culture Christmas. We love

Nativity Devotion, November 14: In the Beginning

11/14/2017

By Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis in The Prayer Team In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. And God said “Let there be light”; and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3 Good morning Prayer Team! Unlike our American culture which celebrates from now until Christmas, with celebrations ending promptly on December 26,

Nativity Devotion, November 13: Our Advent Journey Begins

11/13/2017

By Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis in “The Prayer Team” Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 Good morning Prayer Team! We are about to take a journey. Whether one is a devout Christian or doesn’t know Christ at all, we are all about to take a journey that will see Christmas decorations go up, lines at the malls get long, and stress levels go up. Such

Tuesday after the Ascension. The Most Important Thing in Life Is the Only Non-Seasonal Thing We Do

05/30/2017

Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands He blessed them. While He blessed them, He parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. Luke 24: 50-53 There are many “seasons” in life, seasons that are anticipated, seasons that are endured, seasons that are enjoyed, seasons that end, sometimes even seasons that

Tags

The Thirteenth Day of Christmas Advent. Looking Like Christmas

The Tenth Day of Christmas Advent. Shopping for God

The Eighth Day of Christmas Advent. Fasting for Christmas

The Seventh Day of Christmas Advent. The Nativity: An Icon of the Christian Family

The Sixth Day of Christmas Advent. How Big Is Your Christmas?

The Third Day of Christmas Advent. An Illegal Christmas

The First Day of Christmas Advent. Fasting from the Sentiments of the Feast

Nativity Devotion, November 14: In the Beginning

Nativity Devotion, November 13: Our Advent Journey Begins

Tuesday after the Ascension. The Most Important Thing in Life Is the Only Non-Seasonal Thing We Do

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