“Our once great western Christian civilization is dying. If this matters to followers of Jesus Christ, then we must set aside our denominational differences and work together to strengthen the things that remain and reclaim what has been lost. Evangelicals and Catholics must stand together to re-establish that former Christian culture and moral consensus. We have the numbers and the organization but the question is this: Do we have the will to win this present spiritual battle for Jesus Christ against secularism? Will we prayerfully and cooperatively work toward a new Christian spiritual revival ― or will we choose to hunker down in our churches and denominationalisms and watch everything sink into the spiritual and moral abyss of a New Dark Age?” - Mark Davis Pickup

Saturday, November 30, 2024

BEAUTY AND TRUTH IN A BLEAK MIDWINTER

 


In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan 
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone
Snow had fallen
Snow on snow, snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter, long, long ago

I’ve never left North America. All my nearly 72 years have been lived on the western Canadian prairies, thirty-seven in the French-Canadian community of Beaumont Alberta, known for its historic Catholic church at the top of the hill. Beaumont means ‘beautiful hill’. My wife and I raised our children in our little house at the bottom of that beautiful hill. 

The city spreads out from the church at its center. For over a century, beautiful frosty Christmas Eve midnight Masses have been celebrated, reminding people that Christ must be our focus of Christmas. Sub-zero temperatures do not stop the faithful from midnight Mass on December 24th. Winter wind may frost the stained-glass windows but inside the old church, the light of Scripture, sacred traditions of the Season and carols warm the hearts of the people. 



We know that our hope stems from a small stable in Bethlehem for there could be no Calvary without a Bethlehem. Jesus Christ, the second member of the Trinity, chose to leave the Godhead and take the human form of a servant to pay the price for our sins on the Cross and give us the ability to be reconciled to God through faith in Christ.* 

Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ

This was the divine plan since the Fall of man in Eden from the intimacy of a Holy God from humanity and continues to this day. We must not allow the festivities and jolliness of Christmas to lead us from that colossal cosmic birth of Mary’s beloved Christ child.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air
But only His mother in her maiden bliss
Worshiped the Beloved
With a kiss

When I consider the magnitude of what happened in Bethlehem and the unfathomable Love behind it, I can scarcely take it in. All I can do is give Christ my broken body and heart and surrender everything in my life to His divine will, content with whatever it might be.

What can I give Him.
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb
If I were a wise man, I would do my part
Yet what I can, I give Him
Give my heart

If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ, I invite you to seek Him. He’s at the door of your heart.** Open it to Him to come in and your life will change forever. It’s only a prayer away. Hear In A Bleak Midwinter, by Celtic Winter at the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xborgn0TOm0

___________

* Matthew 20.28, Luke 22.27, Philippians 2.7. 

** Revelation 3.20.

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