A Bundle of Myrrh

And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.” Genesis 21:6-7

Today the church remembers Sarah.

“She remained childless until old age. Then in keeping with God’s longstanding promise, she gave birth to a son and heir of the covenant. She is remembered and honored as the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, the second of three patriarchs. She is also favorably noted for her hospitality to strangers (Genesis 18:1-8).”

The afternoon read with the girls from our Bible Story Book the words about Sarah and discuss how God keeps His promises and takes care of us. Sarah is one who comes to my mind when I think about waiting. How long she and Abraham waited. We all remember how she laughed when she heard and doubted the promise God made. Then how she laughed with joy when she finally held God’s promise in her arms.

She is also given to wives as an example of submission.

“For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.” 1 Peter 3:1-6

Lord and Father of all, You looked with favor upon Sarai in her advanced years, putting on her a new name, Sarah, and with it the promise of multitudinous blessings from her aged womb. Give us a youthful hope in the joy of our own new name, being baptized into the promised Messiah, that we too, might be fruitful in Your kingdom, abounding in the works of Your Spirit; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Coloring pages for the day, HERE and HERE.

The girls’ memory verse for the Season of Epiphany is Peter’s confession found in Matthew.

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matt. 16:16

Today the Church remembers these words and their significance. Here is the reading for January 18 from Treasury of Daily Prayer.

“The confession of St. Peter did not arise in the imagination of Peter’s heart but was reveled to him by the Father. The reasons the confession is important is seen in Jesus’ response:

“You are Peter and on this rock I will build My church.” Matt. 16:18

As the people of God in the Old Testament began with the person of Abraham, the rock from which God’s people were hewn, so the people of God in the New Testament would begin with the person of Peter, whose confession is the rock on which Christ would build His Church. But Peter was not alone. As St. Paul tells us, Peter and the other apostles take their place with the prophets as the foundation of the Church, with Christ Himself as the cornerstone.

The confession of Peter, therefore, is the witness of the entire apostolic band and is foundational in the building of Christ’s Church. Thus the Church gives thanks to God for St. Peter and the other apostles who have instructed Christ’s Holy Church in His divine and saving truth.”

Heavenly Father, You revealed to the apostle Peter the blessed truth that Your Son Jesus is the Christ. Strengthen us by the proclamation of this truth that we too may joyfully confess that there is salvation in no one else. Amen.

Day of Epiphany sunrise

“Brightest and best of the stars of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us your aid.
Star of the east, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.”

On Friday we celebrated the beginning of Epiphany. The Wise Men greeted the babies when they woke this morning. They were excited to see that those we had moved around the house throughout Christmas had completed their long journey and found the baby Jesus. We received this book last Christmas from Jan and Stan, I had it put away until today when it was finally time to get it out to read.

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“A light to lighten the gentiles and the glory of Thy people Isreal.”

“The feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord commemorates no event but presents an idea that assumes concrete form only through the facts of our Lord’s life. The idea of Epiphany is that the Christ who was born in Bethlehem is recognized by the world as God. At Christmas, God appears as man, and at Epiphany, this man appears before the world as God.

That Christ became man needed no proof. But that this man, this helpless child, is God needed proof. The manifestations of the Trinity, the signs and wonders performed by this man, and all His miracles have the purpose of proving to men that Jesus is God. Lately, especially in the Western Church, the story of the Magi has been associated with this feast day. As Gentiles who were brought to faith in Jesus Christ, the Magi represent all believers from the Gentile world.” From Treasury of Daily Prayer

O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence. Amen.