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Cistercian Bl. Guerric
describes visit to Bethlehem |
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A Bambino of no great work of art.
A vist to the Crib is
curtain up to the Life of the Lord
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Make our way to
Bethlehem and see this Word which the Lord has shown to us. (Bl. Guerric).
27 Decembwer Saint John Feast
First Reading From 1 Jn 2:4; Jn
20:31
Second Reading
From a sermon by Blessed Guerric of Igny (Liturgical Sermons, volume 1, pages 61-64: Cistercian Fathers Series, 8)
You have come together, brethren, to hear the Word of God.
But God has provided something better for us. Today it is given to us not only to hear but also to see the Word of God, if only we will make our way to Bethlehem and see this Word which the Lord has shown to us.
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The Child embraces
the company
God knew that human minds were incapable of perceiving invisible things, unwilling to be taught about the things of heaven, slow to yield their faith unless the object itself in which they were asked to believe was visibly borne in on the senses to convince them. For although faith comes from hearing it comes much more readily and promptly from sight. Because it is more difficult to believe in what is only heard, not seen, the faith of those who have not seen is rightly declared blessed by the Lord, because they have attributed more to the authority of the Word than to the experience of their own senses or reason. Yet God wishes to satisfy our slowness in everything. His Word, which previously he had made to be heard, today he made visible to us, indeed even tangible, so that some of us could say: Our message concerns that Word, who is life; what our own eyes have seen of him; what it was that met our gaze and the touch of our hands. He was from the beginning of that eternity which is without a beginning; we heard him promised from the beginning of time; we saw him and handled him shown to us at the end of time. |
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A ladder in Bethlehem Barn
foreshadows Calvary
descent from the Cross |
As for
the word which comes from God, brethren, I have on occasion seen it heard without interest. But surely the Word which is God can only be seen with joy. I will pass sentence on myself first: when the Word which is God offers himself to me today to be seen in that which I am, if it does not gladden me I am godless, if it does not edify me I am reprobate.
If,
then, any brother is found among us who is troubled with spiritual lassitude I do not wish that his ears should be wearied any longer by our contemptible sermon. Let him make his way to Bethlehem and there let him look upon that Word of
God upon which the angels yearn to look, that Word which the Lord has shown to us. Truly it is a trustworthy word and deserving of every welcome, your almighty Word, Lord, which in such deep silence made its way down from the Father's royal throne into the mangers of animals and which for the moment speaks to us better by its silence. Let those who have ears to hear what this loving and mysterious silence of the eternal Word speaks to us. If I were allowed I would gladly be dumb and be brought low, and be silent even from good things, that I might be able the more attentively and diligently to apply my ear to the secret utterances and sacred meaning of this divine silence, learning in silence in the school of the Word if only for as long as the Word himself was silent under the instruction of his mother.
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Shepherd, apprentice's
David after Michelangelo,
the foresight/foreshadow
of the Good Shepherd |
Responsoru
Blessed the apostle *
to whom heavenly secrets were revealed
- as he reclined next to Jesus at the Last Supper.
He drank from the streams of living water flowing from the heart of the Lord,
- as he reclined ...
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Donald ...
Sent: Fri, 24 December, 2010 15:27:53
Subject: Fw: Christmas message = Eve of Christmas
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| Welcome Window in body of the Church Bethlehem Crib |
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Donald Nunraw
Sent: Fri, 24 December, 2010 6:13:38Subject: Fw: Christmas message 8
Dear Friends
The Email to fill up the gap of Christmas CARDS, ...
I had to hurry the makings of the Christmas Message to the Far East missionary, Mary and Christ and sent it 5.30am.
Rejoice in your own Christmas.
Mary remembers the Crib Set of figures she sent to us from Taiwan, 1977?
Can she also remind me of Jesuit workshop carving the figures?
In the body of the kirk we have a Window of Welcome for the Bethlehem House crib.
Beyond the window, in a clear night we see the city Borealis light over Edinburgh - prompting our prayer for all the people.
Christmas
Blessings
and a
New Year
filled with
Peace and Joy
fr. Donald
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NATIVITY CRIB
Carved figures sent by missionary Sister from Taiwan (1970s).
Crib made by volunteer Michael G. - Nunraw Abbey |
Response so QUICK from Mary(now in Philippines):
Dearest Donald,
. . .. I was delighted to see the lovely carved crib from the Jesuit workshop in Taiwan and as far as I know they later put it into lay hands. I can always contact an FMM over there if you really want precise details as she can find out very easily..
How fortunate you are at the monastery with so many great views and even seeing as far away as Edinburgh on a clear night.
