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Easter Anthology (3 dari 5)

halaman sebelumnya http://renunganpagi.blogspot.com/2003/05/easter-anthology-2-dari-5.html

"Angelique Part 10"


Tiba-tiba Angelique teringat sesuatu. Salib yang dipasang di atas makamnya. Ya, salib itu! Simbol kemenangan iman Kristen atas dosa, kejahatan, dan maut. Bila Pangeran Christophe berada di dekat salib tersebut, kekuatan jahat Ratu Myrthe tentu tidak berpengaruh padanya.
"Kuatkan dirimu, Louis! Aku akan membimbingmu dekat salib di atas makamku, kau akan aman di dekatnya," bisik Angelique seraya membangunkan kekasihnya.
Pangeran Christophe berusaha bangkit. Tetapi begitu dia berdiri kembali di atas kedua kakinya, kekuatan mantera Ratu Myrthe membuatnya menari-nari lagi sampai jatuh kepayahan. Begitulah yang berulang kali terjadi. Namun setiap kali roh Angelique menyongsongnya dan memberinya kekuatan untuk bangkit.
Ketika fajar hampir merekah- kerlip bintang-bintang mulai menghilang di balik cakrawala- dan korbannya masih bertahan hidup, Ratu Myrthe menjadi bertambah gusar. Dia mengayunkan kembali rantingnya dan membuat kedua pasangan tersebut menari lebih cepat.
Pangeran Christophe ambruk ke atas tanah. Dengan nafas tersenggal-senggal dia berkata, "Angelique, jangan kaususahkan lagi dirimu dengan melindungi aku! Biarkan aku mati sehingga dapat bersamamu selamanya! Tiada gunanya lagi aku hidup tanpa dirimu!"
"Tidak, kau harus tetap hidup, Louis! Kau tidak boleh mati dalam keadaan tanpa rahmat* di hutan terpencil ini. Aku tidak dapat membiarkan dirimu menyia-nyiakan kebahagiaan abadi dan keselamatan kekalmu, sekalipun demi cintamu padaku."
Dan cinta Angelique terbukti lebih kuat daripada kebencian para wili ketika akhirnya dia berhasil membimbing kekasihnya tersebut ke dekat salib di atas makamnya, dan kekuatan jahat Ratu Myrthe atas diri Pangeran Christophe sirna seketika.
Bersamaan dengan itu di ufuk timur sebersit kecil cahaya fajar mulai menyingsing, mengumumkan kepada bumi bahwa sesaat lagi hari menjelang. Mula-mula redup namun makin lama makin terang. Sayup-sayup terdengar gema lonceng gereja mengalun di udara memanggil umat untuk bersama mengawali hari yang baru dengan bermadah memuliakan nama-Nya. Embun yang sebening kristal bertetesan jatuh ke atas rerumputan yang selembut beludru. Burung-burung penyanyi ramai berkicauan di dahan-dahan mengusir bayangan maut dan kegelapan malam.
Para wili yang tidak dapat terus tinggal mulai menghilang satu demi satu sampai akhirnya ratu mereka juga lenyap dari pandangan, kembali ke dunia roh.
Karena cintanya yang sedemikian besar telah mengatasi kematian, roh Angelique terbebas dari kekuatan Ratu Myrthe. Dia tidak perlu menjadi wili lagi. Jiwanya dapat beristirahat dengan tenang. Sebelum kembali ke kuburnya dia memberi kecupan selamat tinggal pada dahi kekasihnya yang bersandar pada salib di atas makamnya.
"Angelique," Pangeran Christophe berbisik lemah.
"Selamat tinggal, Louis! Cintailah dan berbahagialah bersama Countess Mathilde, hanya sediakan tempat selalu di hatimu bagi kenangan akan Angelique yang pernah kaucintai!" Angelique mengucapkan selamat berpisah kepada sang pangeran
"Ah! Kau masih memanggilku Louis," desah Pangeran Christophe. Ada rasa nyeri dalam dadanya saat harus berpisah lagi dengan kekasihnya yang sekarang begitu dekat, hanya sejauh rengkuhan tangan.
"Kau adalah tetap Louis bagiku...selamanya!" ujarnya sambil tersenyum tulus sebelum bayangannya berlalu bersama hembusan angin pagi meninggalkan kekasihnya seorang diri.
Pangeran Christophe termangu. Dia menyadari tidak berulang kali dalam hidup ini seseorang diberi kesempatan mengalami cinta sejati, dan dia tahu bahwa dia telah mengalaminya.
Matahari telah terbit ketika dari kejauhan terdengar suara derap kuda mendekat. Countess Mathilde datang bersama Wilfred. Mereka menghampiri Pangeran Christophe yang sedang berlutut dan menyandarkan kepalanya pada salib di atas makam Angelique. Wilfred menyampirkan jubah yang dibawanya pada pundak sang pangeran sementara Countess Mathilde membantu tunangannya tersebut bangkit. Bersama mereka membawa sang pangeran berlalu dari tempat itu, tempat yang menyimpan segala kenangannya, manis maupun pahit, tempat yang pernah menjadi saksi bisu bahwa cinta telah mengalahkan kebencian.

Epilogue
Setelah mengalami sendiri kuasa iman, Pangeran Christophe menjadi ksatria yang dengan gagah berani membela dan mempertahankannya dari segala bahaya yang mencoba melenyapkannya sampai pada hari dia jatuh dalam suatu pertempuran setelah mengenyahkan musuh-musuhnya.
Saat tubuhnya ditemukan seulas senyum damai tampak terbayang di wajahnya. Kesaksian dari seorang prajurit yang bertempur di dekatnya mengatakan bahwa dia mendengar Pangeran Christophe berkata sesaat sebelum terjatuh dari kudanya, ‘Aku datang, songsonglah diriku!’ The End


*)Pada zaman dahulu seseorang yang meninggal tanpa sempat menerima sakramen-sakramen terakhir dianggap meninggal dalam keadaan tanpa rahmat sehingga jiwanya akan celaka.
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Paskah di KFC

Bagaimana akan makan ayam goreng ini
Kalau tiba-tiba aku melihat bayi
Menangis di gendongan- karena lapar
Dan perempuan kurus mengorek sisa roti
Di tong sampah di muka restoran?
Coca cola terasa kesat di tenggorokan
Ketika teringat kepada muka-muka ceking
dirubung lalat hijau di gurun pasir.
Kapan akan berakhir musim kemarau
Di sebelah selatan? Makhluk terkapar!
Mari, potong-potonglah tubuhku
dan nikmati dagingku- roti yang paling putih
dan darahku- anggur yang paling murni
sanpai tinggal hanya tulang belulangku lunglai
terkulai di dahan.
Eli, Eli, lama sabakhtani- Allahku, ya, Allahku,
mengapa kami Kautelantarkan?

Subagio Sastrowardoyo (????)
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Little Lamb Who Made Thee?

Little Lamb who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life & bid thee feed
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice:
Little Lamb who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb I'll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For He calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek & He is mild,
He became a little Child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Little Lamb God bless thee.

By William Blake (1794)

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Pesta Santacruz di Filipina

Namaku Giuseppe, tetapi semua org memanggilku Peppe, usiaku 12 tahun, aku dari Filipina di Asia Tenggara.
Beberapa minggu setelah Minggu Paskah, kami merayakan pesta Santacruz. Seperti halnya Paskah, tidak ada tanggal yang pasti untuk perayaan ini, perayaan ini dapat jatuh pada awal sampai akhir bulan Mei tetapi masih dalam Masa Paskah dalam liturgi Gereja Katolik.
Pada pesta ini kami bersyukur kepada Tuhan atas keberhasilan panen dan juga mengenang penemuan salib Calvary oleh St Helen, ibunda Kaisar Constantine, kaisar Romawi pertama yang memeluk iman Kristen setelah kemenangannya dalam pertempuran di Saxa-Rubra.
Perayaan ini diselenggarakan secara bergilir oleh keluarga-keluarga yang dipandang mampu di kampung kami.
Malam kemarin Nanna Sika, kepala sekolah desa kami yg menyelenggarakan pesta ini di kebun nanasnya.
Malam ini giliran keluargaku yang menjadi penyelenggara pesta ini. Aku menuturkan kisah ini padamu di tengah-tengah kesibukan kami mempersiapkan pesta. Kulihat Ibuku sedang sibuk di dapur memasak, memanggang, dan mengolah bebagai macam makanan lezat yang akan dihidangkan pada saat pesta malam nanti. Ayahku sibuk merapikan kebun dibantu adikku, Howie. Aku sendiri membantu kakakku Flora membersihkan dan menghias rumah.
Wah, sampai lupa aku menceritakan padamu bagaimana pesta ini sendiri berlangsung!
Perayaan ini didahului oleh pawai orkes musik yang melantunkan lagu-lagu pujian dan lagu-lagu nostalgia yang disukai semua orang. Menyusul di belakangnya prosesi salib dan patung Bunda Suci Maria yang dipimpin oleh Romo Rodriguez, pastor paroki kami. Di belakangnya lagi menyusul arak-arakan Santacruz. Yang berjalan paling depan adalah gadis yang berperan sebagai St Helen, di sampingnya akan berjalan seorg anak laki-laki yang berperan sebagai Kaisar Constantine, mereka diikuti oleh para ratu yang melambangkan kebajikan seperti Fe (iman), Esperanza (pengharapan), Caridad (cinta), Justicia (keadilan), dan sebagainya. Setelah itu berjalan pula banyak pria dan wanita yang berperan sebagai ksatria dan bidadari tokoh-tokoh dalam cerita rakyat kami, maupun tokoh-tokoh dalam Alkitab yang dapat dikenali seperti Rebecca dengan pasu airnya, Methuselah yang berjenggot putih panjang karena usianya yang sangat-sangat tua, Judith dan Esther, pahlawan-pahlawan iman wanita dalam Alkitab, dan St Maria Magdalena dengan buli-buli minyak wanginya yang digunakannya untuk mengurapi kaki Jesus, serta St Veronica dengan kainnya yang digunakan untuk mengusap wajah Jesus. Adalah suatu kehormatan bagi gadis yang bersangkutan jika sampai terpilih memerankan St Helen.
Sssssttt akan kuceritakan suatu rahasia padamu...karena Ayahlah penyelenggara pesta malam nanti, maka dia berhak menentukan siapa yang boleh memerankan St Helen dalam arak-arakan tersebut. Sudah barang tentu Flora yang akan berperan sebagai St Helen malam nanti, sedangkan Howie akan berjalan di sampingnya sebagai Kaisar Constantine. Tidak heran jika Flora gelisah saja seharian ini, sebentar-sebentar diperiksanya apakah gaun barunya yang akan dikenakannya malam nanti sudah siap.
Setelah iring-iringan pawai selesai, saat inilah yang paling kusukai, karena bermacam-macam lomba berhadiah biasanya diadakan.
Di antara lomba-lomba itu ada pabitin. Anak-anak akan berusaha meraih bermacam-macam hadiah yang dikaitkan pada anyaman bambu yang diturun-naikkan. Ada pula acara pinata. Dalam lomba ini seorang anak akan dipilih untuk memecahkan kuali yang terbuat dari tanah liat yang diisi berbagai macam hadiah dan dilapisi kertas perak dan emas dengan mata tertutup, sebelum anak-anak lainnya berebut hadiah yang berhamburan dari kuali tersebut. Lomba lainnya yg juga sama menyenangkannya adalah palosebo, yaitu lomba meraih hadiah yang diikat pada pohon kelapa yang tinggi. Pesta berakhir dengan acara dansa yang disukai oleh Ayah, Ibu, Flora, serta org-org dewasa lainnya. Biasanya aku hanya duduk memandangi pasangan-pasangan berdansa sambil makan sebuah mangga yang ranum dan minum air kelapa yang manis dari kebun kami.
Keesokan paginya para gadis yang sudah berusia di atas 12 tahun akan pergi mempersembahkan bunga-bunga bagi Bunda Maria dalam gereja.
Ah! Kudengar suara Flora memanggilku, sebaiknya kuakhiri kisahku sampai di sini. Salam
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"Easter- the Password"

This is an extract from Ronald Blythe's book, "The Circling Year", a collection of writings addressed to parishioners of a group of churches along the River Stour which he serves as a Reader. Following various paths into old & new liturgies, literature & the local countryside, they bring together the author's delight in language, his recollections of farming, his recognition of friends & neighbours & the hopes he has found in faith. This particular chapter is a recollection of Easter.

1 does not have to read far into Charles Dickens' "A Tale of 2 Cities" before being gripped by 1 of the most thrilling passwords in fiction. it is 'recalled to life'. Even writing it down at this moment brings all my teengae excitement at reading his tale rushing back into my head. Set in the Freanch Revolution, it opens with Mr Lorry of Tellson's Bank, Temple Bar in the process of getting an innocent prisoner out of the terrible Bastille. very soon the Revolution will capture it & set free all its inmates, but only to fill it with other unfortunates, for this is what happens during revolutions. But 1st Dr Manette has to be recalled to life. This will be particularly difficult in his case because ill-treatment has driven him out of his mind. Thus his daughter Lucie, whom he has never seen, has to recall for him what & who he was before imprisonment destroyed his true self. Skilfully, unstressed, indeed unmentioned by Dickens, behind the rehabilittation of Dr Manette, with his emergence from tomb-like darkness into Engalnd's sunshine & Lucie's love, we're made to think of another dark tomb & from it 1 walking towards another woman who at 1st is unable to recognize the person she knew so well. Christ's password too at this moment is 'recalled to life'.
Previously, in the sight & hearing of her & His other friends, He had recalled many a spiritually or physically dead person to life, reminding everbody what life is. His was a supreme understanding of the nature of life. He knew what a tragedy it was, for example, to be only half alive due to illness or loneliness or materialism, worry or strict obedience to certain religious rules. some of those He recalled to life continued to carry the scars inflicted- usually self-inflicted on them by their earlier half-lives, as we all do. But He gave them the strength to carry them. He was marked all over by what we did to Him here.
Here is 1 Easter morning to add to the thousand which have been celebrated in our ancient church buildings, 1 more cry of 'Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green' to add to the hallelujas of the ages. Christ recalls Himself to life, so we sing the old Easter Anthems, high-pitched & ecstatic. They're the words which St Paul wrote with such certainty to the infant church which was finding her feet in Rome.

"Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him...." (Romans 6:9)

St Paul would pull no punches. 'If you don't believe that Christ is risen, is recalled to life, & logically through Him each 1 of you, then this new faith of ours is just that, a new religion, & all of us are being most foolish & to be pitied of."
The Resurrection is sometimes best believed when we remember how certain lesser factors have recalled us to life. Not necessarily those of doctor or priest, whose task is to make us lively, but music, maybe, or larks on a spring day, or having to drop everything due to somebody's urgent needs. Or it maybe a new love or friendship, or just a new book. Certainly a new or awakened sense of gratitude. Jesus was constantly saying thank to His Father. 'He took the cup & gave thanks', 'He took the 5 loaves & 2 fishes & gave thanks', & throughout the Gospels there runs a stream of unspoken gratitude, of thankfulness in His being able to do what His Father wanted Him to do. All gratitude recalls us to life. unconscious ingratitude- there is a lot of it about- denies us life. A basic tenet of christianity is to recall others to life- not necessarily as evangelists, for St Paul wisely said it isn't for everybody to preach, but as intelligent people who can see some prison-house or other closing in on somebody we know. It could be some neighbour or some stranger whose distress is obvious to us.
At this time of the year it is impossible not to feel if only a fraction of that deathlessness which an Easter morning brings with it. On our way to church we see the low crops shinning from the cold spring rains, see the green mist which precedes tree-leaf, notice the 1st flowers. The Young Tecaher walking through Galilee used such resurgence to reveal His & ou immortality. Consider the lilies, see this ear of corn, look at the vine, think of the sparrows, observe this little boy, for He possesses such simplicity which is the symbol of resurrection & 1 that those listening to him, being a country folk, at once understood. Easter is a feast of happiness & of gratitude in which we put aside everything which blunts our joy. At it, we're to think about the kindness of christ. at it He forgave us, humanity at large, for the appling things done to Him on a beautiful earth. At Easter comes a warning that if we hurt & neglect our fellow human beings, we continue to hurt & neglect Him.
A day or 2 ago, in a haze of pain, the dying Christ turned to a dying criminal to tell him that they would soon sharing paradise, He, the perfect 1, His companion in agony, the imperfect 1. What was it that Jesus saw when He turned His fading gaze towards him? He saw a fellow creature made in His Father's image, thus recognizably His brother. What did He hear above the shouts from below? A few faint words of belief in the Kingdom. Thus the 1st person o believe that 'Jesus Christ is risen today' was neither a disciple nor a saint, but a convict.
We mustn't be surprised to find the reality of the Resurrection hard to understand- even to accept. Because so did all those nearest & dearest to Jesus, & there were soon a great many of them- 'a cloud of witnesses', the writer of "The Letter to the Hebrews" calls them. Throughout His ministry they buzzed around Him like bees, catching fragments of His message, clutching at His revolutionary ideas, getting themselves impregnated with His new law, that of love. To them, unlike us, He was not the King of Love, but the Teacher of love. "Rabonni!" said Mary Magdalene when she saw that He wasn't the gardener. Here was no royalty, only her old familiar Friend who dargged her from her earlier existence & raised her so that she could look at Him in the face.
We believe that christ's death invalidate sdeath. He lives & so we live- 'therefore let us keep the feats'. Being recalled to life is a heady experience. We're not recalled to life for a lifetime in the earthly sense. The wonderful thing about Easter is that it lasts for ever. As poets are usually better than theologians at capturing this reality, let us hear Dylan Thomas:

Where blue a flower may a flower no more
Lift its head to the blows of the rain;
Though they be made & dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
& death shall ahve no dominion.

By Ronald Blythe (2001)
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The Ascension

And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the Kingdom to Israel?"
He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of thier sight.
And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.
And they also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:6-11)
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Waiting for the Holy Spirit

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olive, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.
And when they went up to the upper room, where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said,
"Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry."
(Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness; and falling headling, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
"For it is written in the book of Psalms,
'Lei his homestead be made desolate, and let no man dwell in it'; and, 'His office let another take it.'
It is therefore necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us- beginning with the baptism of John, until the day that He was taken up from us- one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection,"
And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.
And they prayed, and said, "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."
And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles. (Acts 1:12-26)
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"Selalu di Hati"

Kematian dan perpisahan akan tetap selalu menjadi bagian dari kehidupan, tak terkecuali kehidupan orang-orang percaya. Tetapi orang-orang percaya tidak berdukacita seperti orang-orang yang tanpa pengharapan, sebab berkat wafat dan kebangkitan Kristus, mereka yang meninggal dalam iman akan dikumpulkan oleh Tuhan Allah bersama-sama Dia. Berikut adalah cuplikan sebuah kisah tentang orang-orang yang tetap hidup dalam hati mereka yang mencinta sekalipun maut tampaknya telah memisahkan.

Ketika kami membawanya untuk yang terakhir kalinya ke rumah sakit- pada malam yang dingin di California- dia menoleh padaku dan berbisik perlahan, "Apabila semua ini telah berlalu, janganlah bersedih! Kenangkanlah saat-sat indah, sweaktu kita memadu cinta. Kau mau berjanji bukan?"
Tidak menemukan kata-kata yang tepat untuk kuucapkan, aku hanya mengangguk.
"Kasih, kau harus tabah menghadapi semua ini!"
"Sayang...."
"Jangan bersedih!"
"Ssst, jangan berbicara yang tidak-tidak, dokter mengatakan..."
Cepat-cepat dipotongnya kalimatku, "Aku seorang perawat. Sedikit banyak aku tahu seberapa besar kemungkinan aku dapat sembuh."
Aku hanya membisu. Dia melanjutkan, "Kau yang telah mencintaiku sedemikian rupa, akupun tak akan pernah berhenti mencintaimu. Sekalipun saat aku telah tiada nanti dan tanganmu tidak lagi menggenggam untuk menguatkanku."
"Sayangku...." ujarku lirih.
Sejak pertemuan kami beberapa tahun yang lalu, aku menganggapnya sebagai bidadari. Dia adalah wanita yang luar biasa. Lembut hati dan ringan tangan. Dialah perawatku di rumah sakit tentara. Rambutnya yang keemasan, matanya yang secerah langit biru, senyumnya yang riang, semua itu mengingatkanku pada buaian lembut musik ciptaan Bach.
Para dokter dan perawat yang menanganinya semua mengenalnya sebagai pasien yang baik dan sabar. Tiga kali operasi, radiotherapy, dan beberapa kali transfusi darah dijalaninya dengan tabah.
Kini, hanya bayang-bayang masa silam yang tersisa di wajahnya. Rambutnya memudar, pipi dan bibirnya yang biasanya merona seperti bunga mawar merah muda kini pucat. Hanya matanya yang masih tetap bersinar lembut.
Setelah berminggu-minggu menjalani perawatan, para tenaga medis yang merawatnya mengatakan harapan baginya untuk sembuh sangat kecil.
Jam dua lewat duapuluh lima. Malam yang suram disertai hujan yang lebta. Satu jam lamanya aku menggenggam tangannya sampai akhirnya perlahan-lahan kehangatan tubuhnya surut, tangannya mulai dingin....
Airmata membasahi mata kami malam itu.
"Dia adalah pasien kami yang paling baik," kata perawat kepala.
"Segala usaha telah kami tempuh, " kata dokter spesialis.
"Saya tahu," ujarku lirih.
Aku pulang ke rumah dengan hampa, sedih, dan putus asa.
"Jangan bersedih karena diriku!" Seolah-olah aku masih mendengarnya berkata-kata.
"Mengapa?" tanyaku, memberontak mencari jawaban yang tak pernah kumengerti.
"Mungkin karena kita terlalu saling mencintai." Sayup-sayup kudengar suara lembutnya berkata kepada hatiku.
Pada hari pemakamannya semua yang hadir- para perawat dan dokter, serta semua yang pernah dirawatnya- menyatakan kasih mereka kepadanya.
"Kami sangat kehilangan, " kata mereka.
Aku mengucapkan terima kasih. "Kita semua kehilangan, karena kita semua mengasihinya, tetapi Allah juga mengasihinya, karena itu..." Aku tidak dapat melanjutkan kata-kataku.
Hari-hari sedih dan malam-malam yang menghimpit mengganggu tidurku.
Seminggu berlalu, akhirnya aku tertidur karena letih. Dalam mimpi aku melihatnya.
"Bukankah kau telah berjanji untuk tidak terus menerus bersedih dan menyiksa diri? Kau telah melakukan segalanya untukku bahkan lebih...."
"Aku tidak dapat berbuat lain kecuali bersedih," keluhku.
"Sayang," dia masih memanggilku demikian, "Kuatkan dirimu! Kenangkanlah musim semi cinta kita."
"Aku telah belajar mengenal hidup dan berkat-berkatnya darimu."
"Tetapi aku telah berlalu," ujarnya lembut. "Tiap kehidupan akan berlalu, pria dan wanita, tua ataupun muda, kaupun suatu hari akan berlalu."
Aku mengangguk lemah.
Kemudian dia berkata lagi, "Aku tidak pernah benar-benar meninggalkanmu. Malam ini aku datang untuk memberitahukan kepadamu, bahwa aku akan menyelinap masuk dalam hatimu dan hidup di sana- selamanya."
Dia mengecup dahiku dan menggenggam tanganku sampai matahari pagi bersinar masuk lewat jendela. Aku terbangun.
"Sejak saat ini," kudengar suaranya, "sampai selamanya."
Aku pun bersyukur.

By T. C. Lengyel (1976)
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The Coming of the Holy Spirit

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, & it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
There appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit & began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.
And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, & were bewildered because each 1 of them was hearing them speak in his own language.
They were amazed & astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?
Parthians & Medes & Elamites, & residents of Mesopotamia, Judea & Cappadocia, Pontus & Asia, Phrygia & Pamphylia, Egypt & the districts of Libya around Cyrene, & visitors from Rome, both Jews & proselytes, Cretans and Arabs- we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God."
They all continued in amazement & great perplexity, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:1-12)
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"The Holy Grail"

The story of how the Knights of the Round table went questing for the Holy Grail, as we have known it for the past 800 hundred years or so, & as Sir Thomas Malory retold it so superbly in "Morte d'Arthur", stands out out on its own from among all the rest of the Arthurian legends because above them all, it is a Christian story & carries within it the things of the Spirit that seemed especially important to the people of the Middle Ages. At 1 level it is the story of King Arthur's knights searching for the cup of the Last Supper; on a deeper level, it is an account of human's search for God.

The Round Table at Camelot was occupied by the best knights in all the world. But for many years, 1 seat remained empty. Nobody could sit on it & live, which is why it was called the Siege Perilous, or seat of danger. Merlin prophesied that when a knight came to claim the Siege Perilous, the days of the Round Table would be drawing to a close.
1 day, at the Feast of Pentecost, a young knight appeared at court, in red armour & without weapons. He bowed to King Arthur, walked straight to the Siege Perilous, & sat down. The knights gasped. But behind the young knight appeared in letters of gold 'Galahad, the High Prince'.
"Welcome," said King Arthur. "Please tell us who you are!"
"I'm Sir Galahad, & my mother Helen is the daughter of King Pelles of Corbenic, the Maimed King."
"I have heard of King Pelles, who lies crippled at the castle of Corbenic. But I didn't know he had a grandson. Yet, I feel I know you. You look like Sir Lancelot when he came to this court as a young man years ago."
"This is not surprising," said Sir Lancelot, "for he is my son. I sired him through Princess Helen, the Lily Maiden."
That night, as the knight feasted, there was a tremendous storm outside. Thunder crashed overheard & lightning flooded the hall with light. The knights were silenced, & into that silence & strange light came a young woman of unearthly beauty bearing a vessel covered with a white cloth. From that vessel each knight drank, each experienced intense happiness to the fullest of their capacity. When the maiden left, the unearthly light disappeared with her.
"What can this mean?" asked King Arthur.
Sir Galahad replied, "That vessel was the Holy Grail. I will not rest until I have seen it uncovered." The other knights agrred, "We must find the Grail, which has been lost for so long."
King Arthur was reluctant to let them go, for he foresaw that this was no ordinary quest, & that many knights must fail, & perhaps die along the way. He knew now the meaning of Merlin's prophecy. But once the knights had sworn to search for the Holy Grail, they had to do so.
King Arthur's knight set out in all directions, each following his won way. Their adventures on this, the greatest of all quests, would easily fill a book on their own. But most of these tales tell of knights who lost their way & became embroiled in fights & love affiars. The quest of the Holy Grail was not for worldly men such as these, but only for the pure in heart.
In the end only 3 knights rode together, free from rivalry, greed, or ambition, searching for the Grail with all their hearts & minds. They were Sir Percival, Sir Bors, & Sir Galahad. Behind them, rode Sir Lancelot, begging God's forgiveness for his adulterous love affair with Queen Guinevere.
The 3 chosen knights arrived at a seashore & found a magic ship waiting for them. They stepped on board, & at once the ship set sail. It took them to the castle of Corbenic, where Sir Galahad's grandfather, King Pelles, ruled over a blighted kingdom from his bed of pain.
In King Pelles' bedchamber, the strange, intense light appeared again. 3 angelic women appeared. The 1st was carrying a golden candle, the 2nd was carrying the Holy Grail, but this time was uncovered, & it was clear that it was the source of the light, the last maiden carried a spear that seemed to weep blood from its tip in great drops, which the 2nd maiden caught in the Grail.
"What does this mean?" asked Sir Galahad.
"This spear is the spear thet pierced Christ's side as He hung on the Cross. The vessel is the Holy Grail, in which were caught the drops of His blood that issued from the wound."
Sir Galahad took the spear & touch King Pelles with its tip. At once the old king was made well again, & his blighted kingdom began to bloom once more. Then they all went into the chapel & celebrated mass, but this time only Sir Galahad saw the Holy Grail uncovered for among the knights only he alone was utterly pure in thought & deed. When he had done soo, he seemed to fill with light, until he became 1 with it. Then he, the 3 angels, the spear, & the Grail disappeared from the world of human for ever....
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Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Holy Week which will culminate in Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, & Easter Vigil).
Today the Church celebrates Christ hailed as a King as He entered Jerusalem, yet the same crowd who hailed Him as their King today would demand His death a few days later. In today's reading, these 2 events are contrasted.
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The Triumphant Entry

When He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village opposite, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat; untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you shall say this, 'The Lord has need of it.'" So those who were sent went away and found it as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" And they said, "The Lord has need of it." And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their garments on the colt they set Jesus upon it. And as He rode along, they spread their garments on the road. As he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." (Luke 19:29-40)
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The Passion of the Christ according to St Luke

While He was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss Him; but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" And when those who were about Him saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
Then they seized Him and led Him away, bringing Him into the high priest's house. Peter followed at a distance; and when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a maid, seeing him as he sat in the light and gazing at him, said, "This man also was with Him." But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him." And a little later some one else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, "Certainly this man also was with Him; for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
Now the men who were holding Jesus mocked him and beat Him; they also blindfolded Him and asked Him, "Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?" And they spoke many other words against Him, reviling Him. When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led Him away to their council, and they said, "If you are the Christ, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God." And they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" And He said to them, "You say that I am." And they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from His own lips."
Then the whole company of them arose, and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ a king." And Pilate asked Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And He answered him, "You have said so." And Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, "I find no crime in this Man." But they were urgent, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place." When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the Man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see Him, because he had heard about Him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by Him. So he questioned Him at some length; but He made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing Him. And Herod with his soldiers treated Him with contempt and mocked Him; then, arraying Him in gorgeous apparel, he sent Him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this Man as one who was perverting the people; and after examining Him before you, behold, I did not find this Man guilty of any of your charges against Him; neither did Herod, for he sent Him back to us. Behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him; I will therefore chastise Him and release Him." Now of necessity he was to release unto them one upon the feast day. But they all cried out together, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas!" A man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus; but they shouted out, "Crucify, crucify Him!" A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found in Him no crime deserving death; I will therefore chastise Him and release Him." But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that He should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.
And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed Him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented Him. But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children! For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck!' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' And to the hills, 'Cover us!' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with Him. And when they came to the place which is called the Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide His garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save himself, if He is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up and offering Him vinegar, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!" There was also an inscription over Him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And He said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit!" And having said this He breathed His last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this Man was innocent!" And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all His acquaintances and the women who had followed Him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things. (Luke 22:47-23:49)
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All Glory, Laud, & Honour

Refrain:
All glory, laud and honour,
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.

Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s Name comest,
The King and Blessèd One. Ref

The company of angels
Are praising Thee on High,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply. Ref

The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our prayer and praise and anthems
Before Thee we present. Ref

To Thee, before Thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise. Ref

Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King. Ref

Words by St Theodulph of Orleans (circa 820), music by William H. Monk (1861).
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On Maundy Thursday the Church commemorates Jesus' Last Supper with His disciples & the institution of the Eucharist & the Sacrament of the Ordination. The word 'maundy' comes from the Latin word 'mandatum', command, as Christ gave a new command to His disciples to love 1 another as He had loved them.
Maundy Thursday is taken up with a succession of ceremonies of a joyful character. The baptism of neophytes, the reconciliation of penitents, the consecration of the holy oils, the washing of the feet, & most importantly the commemoration of the Blessed Eucharist.
The Church does not ring bells again after tonight until Easter. At the end of the celebration the Consecrated Host is being taken out of the Tabernacle in a solemn procession to be placed in a quiet room outside the church symbolizing Christ's last moments in Gethsemane.
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On Maundy Thursday the Church commemorates Jesus' Last Supper with His disciples & the institution of the Eucharist & the Sacrament of the Ordination. The word 'maundy' comes from the Latin word 'mandatum', command, as Christ gave a new command to His disciples to love 1 another as He had loved them.
Maundy Thursday is taken up with a succession of ceremonies of a joyful character. The baptism of neophytes, the reconciliation of penitents, the consecration of the holy oils, the washing of the feet, & most importantly the commemoration of the Blessed Eucharist.
The Church does not ring bells again after tonight until Easter. At the end of the celebration the Consecrated Host is being taken out of the Tabernacle in a solemn procession to be placed in a quiet room outside the church symbolizing Christ's last moments in Gethsemane.
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post by hansel @ WG
halaman berikutnya http://renunganpagi.blogspot.com/2004/05/easter-anthology-4-dari-5.html


Christmas Anthology (6-9 dari 9 habis)

Sebelumnya http://renunganpagi.blogspot.com/2004/01/christmas-anthology-5-dari-9.html

Glory to Thee, O, Lord


Glory to Thee, O, Lord,
Who by Thy mighty power
Didst manifest Thy glory forth
In Cana’s marriage hour.

Thou spakest: it was done:
Obedient to Thy word,
The water reddening into wine
Proclaimed the present Lord.

Blest were the eyes which saw
That wondrous mystery,
The great beginning of Thy works
That kindled faith in Thee.

And blessèd they who know
Thine unseen presence true,
When in the kingdom of Thy grace
Thou makest all things new.

For by Thy loving hand
Thy people still are fed;
Thine is the cup of blessing, Lord,
And Thou the heavenly bread.

O may that grace be ours,
Ever in Thee to live,
And drink of those refreshing streams,
Which Thou alone canst give.

So, led from strength to strength,
Grant us, O Lord, to see
The marriage supper of the Lamb,
Thy great Epiphany.

By Hyde W. Beadon (1863), music by Benjamin Milgrove (1769).
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40 days after Christmas, on February 2, the Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of Christ Child in the Temple, otherwise called the Purification of the Virgin Mary and Candlemas in the West and the Feast of the Meeting in the East.
Many events are commemorated this day. But above all this is a thanksgiving celebration for the gift of life. In the past, when the infant and post-partum death rate were relatively high, it was just right to give thank to the Lord to keep the baby and its mother.
This is also a festival of light. Simeon, when he encountered Baby Jesus, declared that He was the Light revealed to the nations. In begone days, people brought their candles to the church to be blessed. Candles and candle making of course were much more vital then when they were the only means by which people got light. To celebrate this event, a candle that had been blessed would be lighted in the evening & small children could go to bed after it finished burning while they were having [color=sky blue]f[/color]ruit punch.
Some say the custom of blessing & alighting candles during wintertime can trace back its origin in pre-Christian time. The Romans lighted special candles during wintertime in memory of the Goddess Ceres searching for her lost daughter, Proserpine, who, when restored to her signified the advent of spring.
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The Presentation in the Temple

And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Thy people Israel." And His father and His mother marveled at what was said about Him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against, and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of Him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:22-40)
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Nunc Dimittis (Simeon's Prayer)

Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine secundum verbum tuum in pace quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloriam plebis tuae Israhel
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In His Temple Now Behold Him

In His temple now behold Him,
See the long expected Lord;
Ancient prophets had foretold Him-
God has now fulfilled His word.
Now to praise Him, His redeemèd
Shall break forth with one accord.

In the arms of her who bore Him,
Virgin pure, behold Him lie,
While His agèd saints adore Him
Ere in faith & hope they die.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Lo, th’incarnate God most high.

Jesus, by Thy presentation,
Thou, Who didst for us endure,
Make us see our great salvation,
Seal us with Thy promise sure.
And present us in Thy glory
To Thy Father, cleansed & pure.

Prince & Author of salvation,
Be Thy boundless love our theme!
Jesus, praise to Thee be given
By the world Thou didst redeem.
With the Father and the Spirit,
Lord of majesty supreme!

By Henry J. Pye (stanza 1-3) (1851) & William Cooke (stanza 4) (1853).
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1st Antiphon of Advent

"O Sapientia, o Wisdom, Holy Word of God, You govern all creation with Your strong yet tender care. Come & show Your people the way to salvation."
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2nd Antiphon of Advent

"O Adonai, Leader of the House of Israel, who showed Yourself to Moses in the burning bush. Come, stretch out Your strong and mighty hand to set us free."
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3rd Antiphon of Advent

"O Radix Jesse, o Flower of Jesse's stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples. Come, let nothing keep You from coming to our aid"
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4th Antiphon of Advent

"O Clavis David o Key of David , controlling at Your will the Gate of Heaven. Come, break down the prison walls for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, & lead Your captive people to freedom"
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5th Antiphon of Advent

"O Oriens, o Radiant Dawn, Splendor of Eternal Light, Sun of Justice. Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness & shadow of death."
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6th Antiphon of Advent

"O Rex Gentium, o Ruler of all the earth, the only joy of human heart, o Keystone who makes all 1. Come & save the creatures You fashioned from the dust."
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7th Antiphon of Advent

"O Emmanuel, Ruler & Lawgiver, Desire of all the nations, Saviour of all people. Come & set us free, o God."
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post by hansel @ WG

Christmas Anthology (5 dari 9)

Sebelumnya http://renunganpagi.blogspot.com/2003/12/christmas-anthology-4-dari-9.html

St Stephen
's Day

Immediately after Christmas, on 26 December, the Church celebrates St Stephen's Day, for according to the Bible, he was the 1st to lay down his life for his faith.
In Britain this day is called the Boxing Day because it is the day when Churches open their money box & distribute the content to the poor & the needy who live within the parish. This tradition sprung from Biblical text about St Stephen as 1 of the 7 deacons appointed by the early Christian Church to care for the welfare of the poor & needy believers.
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The Martyrdom of St Stephen

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Then the high priest asked him, "Are these things so?" And Stephen replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, 'Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you.' Then he left the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God had him move from there to this country in which you are now living. He did not give him any of it as a heritage, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him as his possession and to his descendants after him, even though he had no child. And God spoke in these terms, that his descendants would be resident aliens in a country belonging to others, who would enslave them and mistreat them during four hundred years. 'But I will judge the nation that they serve,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and worship Me in this place.' Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. 'The patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him, and rescued him from all his afflictions, and enabled him to win favor and to show wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. Now there came a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan, and great suffering, and our ancestors could find no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there on their first visit. On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five in all; so Jacob went down to Egypt. He himself died there as well as our ancestors, and their bodies were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. But as the time drew near for the fulfillment of the promise that God had made to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased and multiplied until another king who had not known Joseph ruled over Egypt. He dealt craftily with our race and forced our ancestors to abandon their infants so that they would die. At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful before God. For three months he was brought up in his father's house; and when he was abandoned, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. So Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds. When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his relatives, the Israelites. When he saw one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his kinsfolk would understand that God through him was rescuing them, but they did not understand. The next day he came to some of them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong each other?' But the man who was wronging his neighbor pushed Moses aside, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' When he heard this, Moses fled and became a resident alien in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons.
Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight; and as he approached to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 'I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Come now, I will send you to Egypt.' It was this Moses whom they rejected when they said, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?' and whom God now sent as both ruler and liberator through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He led them out, having performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up a Prophet for you from your own people as he raised me up.' He is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living oracles to give to us. Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him; instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, saying to Aaron, 'Make gods for us who will lead the way for us; as for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.' At that time they made a calf, offered a sacrifice to the idol, and reveled in the works of their hands.
But God turned away from them and handed them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: 'Did you offer to me slain victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, oh house of Israel? No; you took along the tent of Moloch, and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; so I will remove you beyond Babylon.' Our ancestors had the tent of testimony in the wilderness, as God directed when he spoke to Moses, ordering him to make it according to the pattern he had seen. Our ancestors in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors. And it was there until the time of David, who found favor with God and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands; as the prophet says, 'Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me,' says the Lord, 'or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?'
You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it."
When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died. (Acts 6:8-15, 7:1-60)

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Good King Wenceslas

Wenceslas was the Duke of Bohemia who was murdered in 929 AD by his wicked younger brother, Boleslav. As the song indicates, he was a good, honest, and strongly principled man. The song expresses his high moral character in describing King Wenceslas braving a fierce storm in order to help feed a poor neighbour. Wenceslas believed that his Christian faith needed to be put into action in practical ways. Wenceslas was brought up with a strong Christian faith by his grandmother St Ludmilla. Wenceslas’ own mother Drahomira, however, joined forces with an anti-Christian group that murdered Wenceslas’ grandmother, and seized power in Bohemia. Two years later in 922 AD, the evil Drahomira was deposed, and Good King Wenceslas became the ruler. He became Bohemia’s most famous martyr and patron saint. His picture appeared on Bohemian coins, and the Crown of Wenceslas became the symbol of Czech independence.

Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.

“Hither, page, and stand by me, if you know it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?”
“Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence, by St Agnes’ fountain.”

“Bring me food and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither,
You and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither.”
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together,
Through the cold wind’s wild lament and the bitter weather.

“Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger,
Fails my heart, I know not how; I can go no longer.”
“Mark my footsteps, my good page, tread now in them boldly,
You shall find the winter’s rage freeze your blood less coldly.”

In his master’s steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing,
You who now will bless the poor shall yourselves find blessing.

By John M. Neale (1818-1866).

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The 1st Sunday after Christmas is dedicated to the Holy Family Jesus, Mary, & Joseph.
In the Holy family, God shows how a family should be. Love, understanding, support, & above all God's presence should be in every Christian household.


The Boy Jesus in the Temple

Now every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the Boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it. Assuming that He was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for Him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. When His parents saw Him they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us so? Behold, Your father and I have been searching for you anxiously." He said to them, "Why were you searching for Me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what He said to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. (Luke 2:41-52)

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"The Little Match Girl"

Inspired by the rejection of his society, Andersen turned to writing & found solace in his faith that those now mourning would be comforted. With New Year's Eve as its setting, no other time is perfect to retell this story.

It was terribly cold and nearly dark on the last evening of the old year, and the snow was falling fast. In the cold and the darkness, a poor little girl, with bare head and naked feet, roamed through the streets. It is true she had on a pair of slippers when she left home, but they were not of much use. They were very large, so large, indeed, that they had belonged to her mother, and the poor little creature had lost them in running across the street to avoid two carriages that were rolling along at a terrible rate. One of the slippers she could not find, and a boy seized upon the other and ran away with it, saying that he could use it as a cradle, when he had children of his own. So the little girl went on with her little naked feet, which were quite red and blue with the cold. In an old apron she carried a number of matches, and had a bundle of them in her hands. No one had bought anything of her the whole day, nor had anyone given her even a penny. Shivering with cold and hunger, she crept along; poor little child, she looked the picture of misery. The snowflakes fell on her long, fair hair, which hung in curls on her shoulders, but she regarded them not.
Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savory smell of roast goose, for it was New Year’s Eve- yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses, one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of money. Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for they had only the roof to cover them, through which the wind howled, although the largest holes had been stopped up with straw and rags. Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah! perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out. Scratch! How it sputtered as it burnt! It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! And seemed so beautifully warm that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them, when, lo! The flame of the match went out, the stove vanished, and she had only the remains of the half-burnt match in her hand.
She rubbed another match on the wall. It burst into a flame, and where its light fell upon the wall it became as transparent as a veil, and she could see into the room. The table was covered with a snowy white table-cloth, on which stood a splendid dinner service, and a steaming roast goose, stuffed with apples and dried plums. And what was still more wonderful, the goose jumped down from the dish and waddled across the floor, with a knife and fork in its breast, to the little girl. Then the match went out, and there remained nothing but the thick, damp, cold wall before her.
She lighted another match, and then she found herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas tree. It was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one which she had seen through the glass door at the rich merchant’s. Thousands of tapers were burning upon the green branches, and [color=sky blue]c[/color]oloured pictures, like those she had seen in the show-windows, looked down upon it all. The little one stretched out her hand towards them, and the match went out.
The Christmas lights rose higher and higher, till they looked to her like the stars in the sky. Then she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak of fire. “Someone is dying,” thought the little girl, for her old grandmother, the only one who had ever loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.
She again rubbed a match on the wall, and the light shone round her; in the brightness stood her old grandmother, clear and shining, yet mild and loving in her appearance. “Grandmother,” cried the little one, “Oh, take me with you; I know you will go away when the match burns out; you will vanish like the warm stove, the roast goose, and the large, glorious Christmas tree.” And she made haste to light the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother there. And the matches glowed with a light that was brighter than the noon-day, and her grandmother had never appeared so large or so beautiful. She took the little girl in her arms, and they both flew upwards in brightness and joy far above the earth where there was neither cold nor hunger nor pain, for they were with God.
In the dawn of morning there lay the poor little one, with pale cheeks and smiling mouth leaning against the wall; she had been frozen to death on the last evening of the year; and the New Year’s sun rose and shone upon a little corpse! The child still sat, in the stiffness of death, holding the matches in her hand, one bundle of which was burnt. “She tried to warm herself,” said some. No one imagined what beautiful things she had seen, nor into what glory she had entered with her grandmother, on New Year’s Day.

By Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875).
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The Western Church celebrates January 6th as Epiphany. If at Christmas the Church celebrates the Word of God manifested in flesh, at Epiphany the Church celebrates the Word made flesh manifested to the nations. In 567 AD the Council of Tours declared the 12 days between Christmas & Epiphany to be 1 unified festal cycle.
Traditionally, Epiphany commemorates 3 events: the Visit of the Magi in Bethelehem, the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, & the 1st miracle at the wedding in Cana. Since 1950 the commemoration of the baptism of Jesus has been celebrated the next Sunday after 6 January and the 1st miracle the 2nd Sunday after 6 January (only in the year C).
Epiphany marks the end of Christmas although officially the Church calendar extends the celebration until February 2nd (40 days after Christmas, that is the Presentation of Baby Jesus in the Temple.
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The Visit of the Magi

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the Child who has been born King of the Jews? For we observed His star at its rising, and have come to pay Him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd My people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called for the Magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage."
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother; and they knelt down and paid Him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. (Matthew 2:1-12)
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We 3 Kings

We 3 Kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field & fountain, moor & mountain,
Following yonder star.

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Balthazar:
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign. Ref

Gaspar:
Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer & praising, voices raising,
Worshipping God on high. Ref

Melchior:
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb. Ref

Glorious now behold Him arise;
King & God & sacrifice;
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Sounds through the earth & skies. Ref

By John H. Hopkins (1857).
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As with Gladness Men of Old

As with gladness, men of old
Did the guiding star behold
As with joy they hailed its light
Leading onward, beaming bright
So, most glorious Lord, may we
Evermore be led to Thee.

As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger bed
There to bend the knee before
Him Whom heaven and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy seat.

As they offered gifts most rare
At that manger rude & bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure & free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.

Holy Jesus, every day
Keep us in the narrow way;
&, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

In the heavenly country bright,
Need they no created light;
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
Thou its Sun which goes not down;
There forever may we sing
Hallelujahs to our King!

Words by William C. Dix (1860), music by Konrad Kocher (1838).
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The Baptism of Jesus, which is celebrated on the next Sunday after 6 January is 1 of the 3 events commemorated at Epiphany.
The glory of Christ as the incarnation of Word of God made known to public display is at the heart of Epiphany. Just as the Magi beheld Christ's glory as a star, at His baptism, St John the Baptist beheld His glory as the Only Son of God, as the Father confirmed this with His words & Spirit.
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The Baptism of Jesus

Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." (Luke 3:21-22)
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The Son of Man from Jordan Rose

The Son of Man from Jordan rose,
& prayed to God above;
When lo, the opening Heav’ns disclose
A swift descending Dove.

The Spirit, lighting on His brow,
Anoints the Holy One;
The Father’s voice declaring, “Thou
Art My belovèd Son.”

So when, through His baptizing blessed
The Font new birth conveys,
Man kneels a son of God confessed,
Heav’n opens as He prays.

Fair innocency, like the Dove’s,
Invests him, purged from sin;
For God the brooding Spirit moves,
Directs & rules within.

O Christ, Whose mercy cleansed our stain
With streams of grace divine,
Let us not soil the robes again
Made white in blood of Thine.

Redeemer of a world undone,
We praise Thee & adore,
Jesus, with God the Father One,
& Spirit evermore.

By Nicholas Le Turneaux (1686).
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The 1st miracle at the wedding in Cana is the last event to be celebrated at Epiphany. Poetically the liturgy of Epiphany uses the image of water the same way Jesus does in "St John's Gospel". The story of Jesus performing His 1st miracle at the wedding in Cana in galilee unfoldss the symbol of water 1 turn further. Wine was a symbol of spiritual water. The Hebrew word for living water also means flowing water. Wine has its own interior flow or life.
Jesus' reply to His mother is that His hour has not yet come, & He turns water into wine. Later when His hour has come, wine is turned into His blood to bring us salvation.
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The First Miracle

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to You and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of His signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. (John 2:1-11)
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post by hansel @ WG

Selanjutnya http://renunganpagi.blogspot.com/2004/01/christmas-anthology-6-9-dari-9-habis.html

Christmas Anthology (4 dari 9)

Sebelumnya http://renunganpagi.blogspot.com/2003/12/christmas-anthology-3-dari-9.html


The Genealogy of Jesus


An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to Christ, fourteen generations. (Matthew 1:1-17)
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The Annunciation

In the sixth month the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 He came to her and said, "Hail, the favoured one! The Lord is with you." She was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The archangel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His forefather David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and in His kingdom there will be no end." Mary said to the archangel, "How can this be, since I know not a man?" The archangel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy; the Son of God. Even your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word." Then the archangel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-38)
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The Visitation

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zachary and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." (Luke 1:39-45)
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Magnificat

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden. Henceforeth all generations shall call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name. His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, according to the promise He made to our forefathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. (Luke 1:46-56)
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Christmas recipe:

Plum Pudding

Ingredients:

15 g melted butter, 25 g soft brown sugar
1 large can of plums, 125 g margarine
125 g caster sugar, 125 g self-raising flour
2 eggs and a pinch of salt

Methods:

Melt the butter over a low heat and brush the inside of a non-stick cake tin. Sprinkle soft brown sugar inside the tin. Line the bottom of the cake tin with the plums which should be sliced in half and have the stones removed, pressing firmly so that the plums stick well.

Mix the margarine, caster sugar, self-raising flour, eggs and salt in a bowl. When the mixture is soft and creamy pour it carefully into the tin (we used a loose-bottomed tin) and spread it flat.

Cook for approximately 40 minutes at 180°C or Gas Mark 4. To test it put a knife into the cake and if it comes out clean, it's ready. Turn it out carefully using a plate. Serve Plum Pudding hot with custard or cream for a treat
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The Nativity

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, his bethroted, who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in bands of cloth, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Be not afraid! For behold, I bring you good tidings of a great joy which will be for all people. Today, in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a Child wrapped in swathing bands and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those His favour rests!" When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:1-20)
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While Shepherds Watched Their Flock

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.


“Fear not!” said she, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind.
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.

“To you, in David’s town, this day
Is born of David’s line
A Savior, who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign.

“The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid.”

Thus spake the seraph and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God on high,
Who thus addressed their song:

“All glory be to God on high,
And to the Earth be peace;
Good will henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease!”

By Nahum Tate (1700).
__________________


"Hymn on the Morning of Christ's Nativity"

It was the winter wild,
While the Heav'n-born-child,
All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies;
Nature in awe to Him
Had doff't her gawdy trim,
With her great Master so to sympathize:
It was no season then for her
To wanton with the sun her lusty paramour.
Only with speeches fair
She woo's the gentle air
To hide her guilty front with innocent snow,
And on her naked shame,
Pollute with sinfull blame,
The saintly veil of maiden white to throw,
Confounded, that her Makers eyes
Should look so neer upon her foul deformities.

But he her fears to cease,
Sent down the meek-eyed Peace,
She crown'd with olive green, came softly sliding
Down through the turning sphear
His ready harbinger,
With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing,
And waving wide her mirtle wand,
She strikes a universall peace through sea and land.

No war, or battles sound
Was heard the World around,
The idle spear and shield were high up hung;
The hooked chariot stood
Unstain'd with hostile blood,
The trumpet spake not to the armed throng,
And kings sat still with awful eye,
As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by.

But peacefull was the night
Wherin the Prince of Light
His reign of peace upon the earth began:
The winds with wonder whist,
Smoothly the waters kist,
Whispering new joys to the mild ocean,
Who now hath quite forgot to rave,
While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmeed wave.

The stars with deep amaze
Stand fixt in stedfast gaze,
Bending one way their pretious influence,
And will not take their flight,
For all the morning light,
Or Lucifer that often warn'd them thence;
But in their glimmering Orbs did glow,
Untill their Lord Himself bespake, and bid them go.

And though the shady gloom
Had given day her room,
The sun himself with-held his wonted speed,
And hid his head for shame,
As his inferiour flame,
The new enlightn'd world no more should need;
He saw a greater Sun appear
Then his bright throne, or burning axltree could bear.

The shepherds on the Lawn,
Or ere the point of dawn,
Sat simply chatting in a rustick row;
Full little thought they than,
That the mighty Pan
Was kindly com to live with them below;
Perhaps their loves, or els their sheep,
Was all that did their silly thoughts so busie keep.

When such music sweet
Their hearts and ears did greet,
As never was by mortal finger stroock,
Divinely-warbled voice
Answering the stringed noise,
As all their souls in blisfull rapture took
The air such pleasure loth to lose,
With thousand echo's still prolongs each heav'nly close.

Nature that heard such sound
Beneath the hollow round
Of Cynthia's seat, the airy region thrilling,
Now was almost won
To think her part was don,
And that her reign had here its last fulfilling;
She knew such harmony alone
Could hold all heav'n and earth in happier union.

At last surrounds their sight
A globe of circular light,
That with long beams the shame-fac't night array'd,
The helmed cherubim
And sworded seraphim,
Are seen in glittering ranks with wings displayed,
Harping in loud and solemn quire,
With unexpressive notes to heav'ns new-born Heir.

Such music (as 'tis said)
Before was never made,
But when of old the sons of morning sung,
While the Creator Great
His constellations set,
And the well-ballanc't world on hinges hung,
And cast the dark foundations deep,
And bid the weltring waves their oozy channel keep.

Ring out ye crystall sphears,
Once bless our human ears,
(If ye have power to touch our senses so)
And let your silver chime
Move in melodious time;
And let the base of heav'ns deep organ blow
And with your ninefold harmony
Make up full consort to the angelic symphony.

For if such holy song
Enwrapt our fancy long,
Time will run back, and fetch the age of gold,
And speckl'd vanity
Will sicken soon and die,
And leprous sin will melt from earthly mould,
And hell it self will pass away,
And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day.

Yea Truth, and Justice then
Will down return to men,
Th'enameld arras of the rain[color=sky blue]b[/color]ow wearing,
And Mercy set between,
Thron'd in celestial sheen,
With radiant feet the tissued clouds down stearing,
And heav'n as at som festivall,
Will open wide the gates of her high palace hall.

But wisest Fate says no,
This must not yet be so,
The Babe lies yet in smiling infancy,
That on the bitter cross
Must redeem our loss;
So both Himself and us to glorify:
Yet first to those chain'd in sleep,
The wakeful trump of doom must thunder through the deep,

With such a horrid clang
As on mount Sinai rang
While the red fire, and smouldring clouds out brake:
The aged earth agast
With terror of that blast,
Shall from the surface to the center shake;
When at the world's last session,
The dreadful Judge in mid air shall spread His throne.

And then at last our bliss
Full and perfect is,
But now begins; for from this happy day
Th'old Dragon under ground
In straiter limits bound,
Not half so far casts his usurped sway,
And wrath to see his kingdom fail,
Swindges the scaly horror of his foulded tail.

The oracles are dumbed,
No voice or hideous hum
Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving.
Apollo from his shrine
Can no more divine,
With hollow shreek the steep of Delphos leaving.
No nightly trance, or breathed spell,
Inspired the pale-ey'd priest from the prophetic cell.

The lonely mountains o're,
And the resounding shore,
A voice of weeping heard, and loud lament;
From haunted spring, and dale
Edg'd with poplar pale,
The parting genius is with sighing sent,
With flowering wov'n tresses torn
The nymphs in twilight shade of tangled thickets mourn.

In consecrated earth,
And on the holy hearth,
The lars, and lemures moan with midnight plaint,
In urns, and altars round,
A drear, and dying sound
Affrights the flamins at their service quaint;
And the chill marble seems to sweat,
While each peculiar power forgoes his wonted seat

Peor, and Baal,
Forsake their temples dim,
With that twise-batter'd god of Palestine,
And mooned Ashtaroth,
Heav'ns queen and mother both,
Now sits not girt with tapers holy shine,
The Libyc Hammon shrinks his horn,
In vain the Tyrian maids their wounded [color=sky blue]Thammuz[/color] mourn.

And sullen Moloch fled,
Hath left in shadows dred,
His burning idol all of blackest hue,
In vain with cymbals ring,
They call the grisly king,
In dismall dance about the furnace blue;
The brutish gods of Nile as fast,
Isis and Horus, and the dog Anubis hast.

Nor is Osiris seen
In Memphian grove, or green,
Trampling the unshowr'd grass with lowings loud:
Nor can he be at rest
Within his sacred chest,
Naught but profoundest hell can be his shroud,
In vain with timbrel'd anthems dark
The sable-stoled sorcerers bear his worshipped ark.

He feels from Judah's Land
The dredded Infant's hand,
The rays of Bethlehem blind his dusky eyn;
Nor all the gods beside,
Longer dare abide,
Not Typhon huge ending in snaky twine:
Our Babe to shew His Godhead true,
Can in His swadling bands controul the damned crew.

So when the sun in bed,
Curtain'd with cloudy red,
Pillows His chin upon an orient wave,
The flocking shadows pale,
Troop to th'infernall jail,
Each fetter'd ghost slips to his several grave,
And the yellow-skirted fays,
Fly after the night-steeds, leaving their moon-lov'd maze.

But see the Virgin blest,
Hath laid her Babe to rest.
Time is our tedious song should here have ending,
Heav'ns youngest teemed Star,
Hath fixt her polished car,
Her sleeping Lord with handmaid lamp attending:
And all about the courtly stable,
Bright-harnest nngels sit in order serviceable.

By John Milton (1608-1674).
__________________

Little Jack Horner
Sat on a corner
Eating his Christmas pie

He put in his thumb
& pull out a plum
& said, "What a good boy am I!"
__________________

Christmas recipe:

Mince Pies

Ingredients:


12 slices of medium white bread
12 tsp mincemeat
50 g butter
25 g fine brown sugar

Methods:

You will need 2 biscuit cutters- the 7 cm and 5 cm size are ideal. Cut out a large and small circle from each slice of bread.

Melt the butter in a saucepan and lightly brush each large circle. Coat both sides and around the edges. Push each circle into a bun tin to form the base of the mince pies. There is no need to grease the tin as the bread is already coated with butter.

Put a teaspoonful of mincemeat into each of pies bases.

Lightly brush the smaller bread circles with butter. Dip one side of each into fine brown sugar. Place each circle on top of the mincemeat, sugar side up.

Place the bun tin in the centre of the oven at gas mark 4 or 180 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes or until the pies turn golden brown.

Empty the bun tray and place the mince pies on a cooling rack.



_________________


Christmas is here,
The goose is getting fat
Put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you don't have a penny.
A ha-penny will do.
If you don't have a ha-penny,
Then God bless you!

Anonymous

__________________

Christmas recipe:

Christmas Crackers

Ingredients:

8 sheets of filo pastry (you can buy it fresh or frozen)
50g of hard cheese
8 premium sausages (any variety: lamb, pork, beef or vegetarian)
Melted butter for brushing
Chives (optional)

Methods:

Cut the filo pastry sheets into halves and set aside on a cool surface. Then grate the cheese.

Slit the skins of the sausages (if they have a skin - veggie sausages might not) and remove the filling into a bowl. It's a good idea to ask an adult to help you cut open the skin, it can be a bit tricky.

Add the cheese and, if you like, add a few finely chopped chives. Mix everything together.

Roughly divide the mixture into 16 portions and shape them back into small sausages. Place each portion in the middle of the filo squares and roll up. Gently squeeze and twist each end to give it a cracker shape and stop the filling coming out.

Place the crackers on a non-stick baking sheet and brush them with a little melted butter. Then, put the tray in a preheated oven (200 degrees celsius or gas mark 6). They take about ten minutes to cook and should turn a golden brown.

To finish off, twist a little strip of chives round each end of the cracker and serve hot or cold.


post by hansel @ WG
Berikutnya
http://renunganpagi.blogspot.com/2004/01/christmas-anthology-5-dari-9.html

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