A Bundle of Myrrh

Even as a tiny baby, our Lord’s passion had begun. Today we remember the flight for His life and that as He was born into this world, these baby boys of Jerusalem were born into another.

“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

“Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

“ A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”‘

Matthew 2:13-18

Coventry Carol

Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child,
By by, lully lullay, thou little tiny child,
By by, lully lullay.

O sisters too, How may we do
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling,
For whom we do sing,
By by, lully lullay?

Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child,
By by, lully lullay, thou little tiny child,
By by, lully lullay.

Herod, the King, In his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might,
In his own sight,
All young children to slay.

Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child,
By by, lully lullay, thou little tiny child,
By by, lully lullay.

That woe is me, Poor child for thee!
And ever morn and day,
For thy parting
Nor say nor sing
By by, lully lullay!

I’m saddened to think of the loss those mothers and fathers suffered “for Christ’s sake“. I’m sad to think how one man’s hate for Christ can bring such pain to others. I thank God that He gave His son to us, to come and die for us and that He has given the eternal life that, through His suffering, He won for my own babies.

Almighty God, the martyred innocents of Bethlehem showed forth Your praise not by speaking but by dying. Put to death in us all that is in conflict with Your will that our lives may bear witness to the faith we profess with our lips; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy  Spirit. Amen.

St. Lucy

December 13th the church remembered St. Lucy (St. Lucia) who was martyred in 304 AD. In many stories it is said that she was given by her mother to marry a pagan man, but she refused and gave her dowry to the poor. The man she was to marry denounced her as a Christian in a time that that meant a death sentence. Since she could not be burned (the flames would not burn her) or moved (she became as heavy as a mountain…I know the feeling), her eyes were gouged out and she was killed by being stabbed through the neck. Because her eyes were taken, and since her name means ‘light‘, she became the patron saint of the blind.

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Celebrating this day is becoming a favorite tradition at our house.

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“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—
and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.”

Isaiah 11:1-3

Today Advent begins. The time of waiting and preparing for Christmas. We’ll begin using the Tree of Jesse during our evening devotions. This was something I really enjoyed last year. Even though our children are young and don’t understand all that we read, sing about and ponder during the next four weeks, they’re still hearing God’s Word and His promises. The promises that have been fulfilled and the promises that we hope in and wait to be fulfilled. That our Lord Jesus came, clothing Himself in our flesh our blood and our weakness so that He could suffer and He could die.

I never thought before about the “stump of Jesse”. Jesse was father to King David from whom our Lord is descended. From one man came many generations, the ancestors of Christ. I’m reminded of my own ancestry, my dear Grandma Sissy who begot 11 children, 10 who begot their own children, then 19 of her grand-children who are currently begetting! So many lives from one couple. I think on the greatness of the gift of life.

The picture we are given in God’s Word, “a shoot will come up from a stump”. Life will come out of this dead old stump. A great Branch! It is like that throughout the Scriptures isn’t it? God using dead stumps. No one special, in fact He used huge sinners to accomplish His will. What a comforting thought.

Blessed Advent!