The Road to Bethlehem – Changes Impending

Merry Christmas Dear Reader,

Saint Nicholas Day has passed.   Decorations are decorating my home.  Snow is on the ground.  I am a week and a bit out from time off for good behavior.  I will spend my days writing and as much time with my Children and Grand Children as possible. 

The changes I hope to make require planning and effort.  More importantly they require that I follow Christ as closely as possible.  They require wisdom and thought.  They require selflessness. 

In this season of celebration, we always do it with the specter of the new year looming in the background.  We must plan parts of the journey if they are to be successful.  We must risk, sacrifice, and give to get where we want.  

We must also do it all in faith.   Whatever we do not do in faith is wrong.  And so we come to it.  That small girl in that small town in an ancient world found her life changed.   The road to Bethlehem starts with the announcement from an angel.  It is the news that is meant for joy.  It is in a time where her circumstance makes it fearful.

In Mary’s simple “as the Lord wills” everything changes.  In a moment everything becomes possible.  The impending changes will involve sorrow and pain.  They will also yield so much love and hope.  As we journey to Bethlehem we must constantly consider the woman who is the first to be changed by what is to come.  It always starts with this; one person willing to begin.  A baby changes everything…

A Baby Changes Everything – Faith Hill

Teenage girl, much too young

Unprepared for what's to come

A baby changes everything

Not a ring on her hand

All her dreams and all her plans

A baby changes everything

A baby changes everything

The man she loves she's never touched

How will she keep his trust?

A baby changes everything

A baby changes everything

And she cries!

Ooh, she cries

Ooh, oh

She has to leave, go far away

Heaven knows she can't stay

A baby changes everything

She can feel He's coming soon

There's no place, there's no room

A baby changes everything

A baby changes everything

And she cries!

And she cries!

Oh, she cries

gather 'round

(Up above the star shines down) star shines down

(A baby changes everything)

Choir of angels sing

Glory to the newborn King

A baby changes everything

A baby changes everything

Everything, everything, everything

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

My whole life has turned around

I was lost but now I'm found

A baby changes everything, yeah

A baby changes everything

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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The Road to Bethlehem – Mary’s Song

Merry Christmas Dear Reader,

Do we really think about Mary as a young girl traveling to Bethlehem?  The title of this series comes from this song.  Anyone of the first century who knew Jewish theology knew that the Messiah would come.  It is one thing to anticipate an event.  It is wholly another to be thrust in the midst of it.

This young woman would face a gauntlet of hope and challenges.  Her journey from Galilee to Bethlehem would only be the first leg in a wandering that would eventually lead to the foot of a cross watching hope die for a moment. 

For her it is a son that she considers.  She forgets who he is at times.  She is a mother first and a faithful follower second.  As we journey with her to Bethlehem we need to remember that we know what she did not at this time.  We know about the Magi, the slaughter of the babies, and the flight into Egypt.   We know about the recognition of Simeon and Anna.   We know about the wedding at Cana.

Take a moment Dear Reader to be in the moment with Mary.   Put yourself on the road to Bethlehem find compassion for this amazing young girl whose attitude is to be the handmaiden of the Lord.  I would struggle with the hardship.  I would wonder where God is in a forced march to a strange town.

We must see in her turmoil the needs of others.  We must recognize the place of compassion called for in the moment and make it part of our Christmas celebration.  It is in the young woman that our hopes were carried.  It is her bowing that we rise.  “No fiction this fantastic and wild; a mother made by her own child.”

Ride with her to Bethlehem and offer some comfort is you can.  More importantly see yourself in her and find the joy it is to serve.  Here her song of joy even amidst the sorrow.

Mary’s Song - Petra

Hold that blanket closer Mary dear

All the world waits with you for your day

But for now the wind is cold and it's drear

And Bethlehem's still so far away

Do you remember the way you felt back then?

Joy and wonder filled your soul and when

The angel slipped away

You knew your life would never be the same

And now you're travelling, travelling on a road to Bethlehem

Wandering thoughts fly away

If you knew the road that lay ahead of Him

Would you break down and cry?

Your child is born to die

Feel that hand of strength upon your own

A husband's love that guides along the way

And as his understanding has grown,

His hopes too are centered on that day

For do you remember the way he looked back then,

Pain and sorrow filled his eyes until when

The angel came to say

The Savior's birth was meant to be this way

Think back on that promise you received

For him in whom the prophets long believed

Now belongs to you, you've been chosen too

But He's the One Who's gonna shine

We call His name Jesus, Immanuel

He'll save His people from sin and hell

And of His kingdom there will be no end

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Praying with Those Who Cannot – Hail Mary

Greetings Dear Reader,

Let me first be clear in that I mean no disrespect to anyone in this writing.  What I am about to say is controversial depending upon what you believe concerning the mother of Jesus.  I have expressed what I think in the afterword of The Foster Father of God.  Feel free to read it and share your thoughts with me.  

When praying the Rosary the most frequent prayer is the Hail Mary.   Here is the most common text:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

First let me say that I find the original version of this prayer as handed down by the church fathers much more in line with what I believe:

God-bearing Maid, rejoice, grace-filled Mary, the Lord with thee. Praised thou among women, and praised the fruit of thy womb, because it was the Saviour of our souls that thou barest.

The only issue I take with the extant version is the request that Mary pray for us.   Since we have direct access to the Father through faith this is unnecessary.   It does not mean that I do not value that others intercede for me.  In truth I cherish it and ask that you do so as often as you feel compelled. 

It also concerns me a bit that the rosary is dominated by prayers to Mary.  Again I am not trying to offend anyone but the focus should always be on God.  Again I feel that the earlier version of this prayer meets this obligation.  

We must not forget that Mary payed a great price for us to have our Saviour.   She suffered ridicule and loss.  She was there as her Son died for those who killed him.   She deserves honor and respect for the woman she is.  

When I pray on behalf of others I must respect their beliefs without compromising mine.   This is the compromise I have found that works for me with this particular item.  It bears repeating that what matters is that we pray in faith. 

Mary’s Song – Petra

Hold that blanket closer Mary dear

All the world waits with you for your day

But for now the wind is cold and it's drear

And Bethlehem's still so far away

Do you remember the way you felt back then?

Joy and wonder filled your soul and when

The angel slipped away

You knew your life would never be the same

And now you're travelling, travelling on a road to Bethlehem

Wandering thoughts fly away

If you knew the road that lay ahead of Him

Would you break down and cry?

Your child is born to die

Feel that hand of strength upon your own

A husband's love that guides along the way

And as his understanding has grown,

His hopes too are centered on that day

For do you remember the way he looked back then,

Pain and sorrow filled his eyes until when

The angel came to say

The Savior's birth was meant to be this way

Think back on that promise you received

For him in whom the prophets long believed

Now belongs to you, you've been chosen too

But He's the One Who's gonna shine

We call His name Jesus, Immanuel

He'll save His people from sin and hell

And of His kingdom there will be no end

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Why I love Christmas – Joseph and Mary

Happy Christmas Dear Reader,

The journey we are all walking is one of faith.  Even those of you who do not believe in God are exercising faith that there is nothing beyond us.  Then I ponder the faith required of me compared to that of Jesus’ parents.

I have written about this at length but I always ponder the two at Christmas time.  No matter when the actual journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem occurred it was an undertaking of hardship.  The journey is eighty miles. That is about four days on foot in ideal conditions.  Their conditions were not ideal

From a human perspective the situation seems a strong enough test of faith.   A betrothed couple with a baby on the way is a strong target for scandal and judgment.  We as a society no longer are abashed by unmarried mothers.  In their society it still carried the death penalty.

Joseph is told by God to accept this so he does.  Mary is willing to do as God asks.  Then the tax man comes.  The decree means that Joseph has to travel with his third term wife to Bethlehem.  I wish I were privy to the conversations between these two.  I would value knowing how they worked out the fear and questions.

My faith has a place to purchase because of the faith of a carpenter and his wife.  I can journey with Christ because they journeyed with him.  The life they provide for the boy will allow us to know the man who is Jesus.  Of all the parents in history they had the most unique of challenges. 

They faced God in the form of their Son every day.  Sabbath prayers and feast days had to have a hint of the awkward.  Everyday slips in following the law had to have a new shadow surrounding them.  The world was forever different for life.  I love the brief story that is theirs and love them for it.

Mary’s Song – Petra

Hold that blanket closer, Mary dear

All the world waits with You for Your day

But for now, the wind is cold and it's drear

And Bethlehem's still so far away

Do You remember the way You felt back then?

Joy and wonder filled Your soul

And when the angel slipped away

You knew Your life would never be the same

But now, You're travelin', travelin' on a road

To Bethlehem, wanderin' thoughts fly away

If you knew the road that lay ahead of Him

Would You break down and cry?

Your child is born to die

Feel that hand of strength upon Your own

A husband's love that guides along the way

And as his understanding has grown

His hopes too are centered on that day

For do You remember the way he looked back then

Pain and sorrow filled his eyes

'Til when the angel came to say

The Savior's birth was meant to be this way

But now, You're travelin', travelin' on a road

To Bethlehem, wanderin' thoughts fly away

If you knew the road that lay ahead of Him

Would You break down and cry?

Your child is born to die

Think back on that promise You received

For Him, whom the prophets long believed

Now, belongs to You, You've been chosen to

But He's the one who's gonna shine

We call His name Jesus, Immanuel

He'll save His people from sin and hell

And of His kingdom there will be no end

But now, You're travelin', travelin' on a road

To Bethlehem, wanderin' thoughts fly away

If you knew the road that lay ahead of Him

Would You break down and cry?

Your child is born to die

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store." 

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)