By Sr. Doreen, SSJD
Christmas Day is really a twelve-day celebration, beginning with Christmas and ending with Epiphany. It’s a time to deeply ponder the mystery of the Incarnation, God the Word made flesh, to learn something new or begin to re-learn an old thing again. For your Light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
A very popular song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” came to my mind. For several years when we had a Branch House – St John’s House – in Victoria, BC, we and friends, would save coupons found in the newspaper that were free passes into Bouchard Gardens for their Christmas theme in the evening to view the beautiful lights and displays. Each year they had displays of the themes of the song ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’
istock Images – The Twelve Days of Christmas
Once consider a code for Christians during a time of persecution I found myself pondering the song as I wandered around the gardens, it offered me a place where metaphors and symbolism and tales highlighted who I was as a Christian and what I needed to remember, not only during the Christmas season which lasts until Candlemas, February 2nd (also called the Feast of the Presentation) but all year long.
The Song has twelve verses – each with a meaning all of its own, and an opportunity to interject a personal pondering meditation to each verse. We live in a world that is increasingly a confused secular and broken world, a time when we find ourselves with a longing for a deeper understanding of our own faith and the ability to share that with others. I found my trips to Bouchard Gardens to celebrate the Twelfth Night / Twelfth Day a gift and share some of my musings with you.
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree. The Partridge = Jesus.
I sing this song to God who is my true love! A song of thanksgiving for all of God’s gifts wrapped up in unconditional, tenacious love for me.
The gift of God putting on flesh in Jesus, and coming to live amongst us, moving into our neighbourhoods. This becomes so important to you and to me now, for God is now wrapped in human skin, lives in each one of us, and speaks peace on earth through us, each one of us, God’s children.
As St Teresa of Avila said: “ Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours, yours are the eyes with which he looks with compassion on this world, yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours, yours are the eyes with which he looks with compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. The two turtle doves = the Old and New Testament, the Scriptures.
I thought of the prayer that we say where we are reminded to ‘read, mark, learn and inwardly digest’ the messages of scripture – the unfolding love story of God and God’s relationship with us, for our struggle to get it right, our falling down and getting up over and over again. For God’s plans for us, ‘plans for our good and not for our harm’. The prayer is intended to encourage us to engage ourselves in the Holy Scriptures in a deep, reflective way, going beyond simple reading so that we can internalize and live by its teachings. The scriptures are a gift of God’s longing, God’s ache, God’s love for each one of us and for all of creation, a love that calls us to work for a world where love and faithfulness will meet, when righteousness and peace will kiss each other.(Psalm 85) In our journey through the scriptures we are encouraged, called to go beyond our minds or to change our minds – to grow, to change, to become alive with new life.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. Three French Hens = the virtues of faith, hope, and love
In our life journey we experience that the purpose of life is constantly evolving, of finding more life, to keep deepening and expanding the experience of life. Faith, hope, and love are considered the three gifts of God, the gifts of the Spirit, that enable a person to have a relationship with God, to grow, and are the foundation for Christian living. Metanoia a change of mind and heart – a new consciousness or mindset and a call to a new way of living – one of faith, hope and love – of seeing things with new eyes, seeing things God’s way.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. Four Calling Birds = the 4 Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
The gospels – the good news! I recall the movie Godspell and one of the songs that was at the heart of that movie: “Day by day, dear Lord, of thee three things I pray: To see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, day by day”.
In the gospel messages we are encouraged to go beyond our limited minds and really believe in the good news. (Mark 1:15) Jesus gave us something truly new, a reframing and a new mindset, that was a call and opportunity sending us on a positive path of appreciating change and expecting growth – a future of hope and joy for all the world. The central gospel message – God wishes to share with us the fullness of life, beginning now and continuing forever.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. Five Golden Rings = the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.
Often referred to as the Pentateuch, whose purpose is to establish the covenant relationship between God and Israel, and we can insert ourselves in the word Israel – God’s reaching out with an offer of a covenant relationship with me and with you. It provides a foundation for our faith, God’s desire for a loving relationship with us and all of creation. These first five books of the Bible detail a guide for life, worship and our conduct with one another and creation. The creation of the world, humanity’s fall, God’s promise of redemption, and the giving of the Torah (law) to Israel to guide their life, worship, and moral conduct. They contain the story of God’s relationship with Noah, Abraham, and Moses – stories that are ones that you and I can relate to in our own lives. Who am I as Noah, as Abraham, as Moses?
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. Six Geese a-laying = the six days of creation
The Medical Mission Sisters published a booklet called “Womansong” – songs written by Sister Miriam Therese Winter. One of her songs always begins to play in my mind when I ponder the ongoing creation of the world and of ourselves made in the image and likeness of God. I share that song, called SHADDAI (one of the names given to God in the Old Testament) with you.
“Praise the God of seas and sky. Praise the greatness of Shaddai, Shaddai.
Glory be, O Creator, O Holy One, revealing, healing Spirit, since the world was begun. As it was, and is now, and shall be without end. Amen.
Hail the Heartbeat of the earth. Hail the Hope of human birth, rebirth.
Glory be, O Creator, O Holy One, revealing, healing Spirit, since the world was begun. As it was, and is now, and shall be without end. Amen.
Praise the Wisdom and the Way to glory and eternal day, today.
Glory be, O Creator, O Holy One, revealing, healing Spirit, since the world was begun. As it was, and is now, and shall be without end. Amen.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. Seven Swans a-swimming = the gifts of the Holy Spirit – wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude (courage), knowledge, piety (reverence and faithfulness), and fear of God (a deep, reverent awe and respect).
It is so true that there are gifts of the Holy Spirit – graces and blessings flowing from God. One of Teilhard de Chardin’s comments about the Holy Spirit has always stayed with me, he said “the Holy Spirit is the ‘fertilizer’ of love, union, and evolution in the universe”. My own experience has been that God’s interaction and involvement in my life has been as a Spirit encouraging me to find my own way. I have had nudges, inspirations, and also, from time to time, spiritual shocks, when personal doldrums have set in, that have been guides along life’s journey
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. Eight Maids a-milking = the Eight Beatitudes
After some pondering of the beatitudes, I found some comments on the Aramaic meaning of the word ‘Blessed’ to be transformational for me. The Aramaic word for blessed is like a call to wake up – to put yourself on the right way for the right goal: a call to a metanoia! They become a call for an active response. Jesus was doing something completely new, and my pondering led me to see that Jesus was inviting me to join the work, to do something in my own community and the community of the world around me to make a difference, rather than to be passive in accepting difficulties – my own and those of others around me.
The Beatitudes become an active response: “Get up, go ahead, and do something. Move, you who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for you shall be satisfied.” “Get up, go ahead, and move. Take action, you peacemakers, for you shall be called children of God”. It seems to me that the Beatitudes should inspire all of us to play our part in the transformation of the world, no matter what our situation is. “God’s vison is one of everyone being involved in creating a planet filled with loving union.” (Teilhard de Chardin)
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, f our calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. Nine ladies dancing = the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control).
It is interesting to note, and I found myself taking an opportunity for some interesting reflection when I became aware that there is ONE fruit of the spirit, if we carefully read Galatians 5:22-23 as Paul introduces this section. I have come to think of this as one fruit with nine different flavours! A smile came with a picture of V-8 juice and also a soup recipe we sometimes have here at the Convent – 5 vegetable tomato soup! I am sure that you can find similar smile thoughts when considering the 9 flavours of the fruit of the Spirit!
How we all long for all the flavours to be present in our lives! When from time to time the 9 attributes or qualities are present, or when we realize that some of them are more present than they used to be, we begin to know that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives. As we reach out to the God who is always reaching out to us, calling us and waiting for us with arms open to receive us, so the fruit of the spirit can grow in our lives. It is not we who produce the fruit of the spirit, they are gifts from God, but it is our openness to God – that hard work of letting go and letting God that enables these different qualities of the spirit to grow in our lives.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree. Ten Lords a-leaping = the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments are a help and reliable guide for our entire way of life – and they are worth pondering at a deep level in our own spiritual journey
1. I am your Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before Me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day
4. Honour your father and mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against anyone.
9. You shall not covet anyone
10. You shall not covet anyone else’s goods.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings,
four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. Eleven Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful disciples
The eleventh day of Christmas was cause for deep personal reflection – am I a faithful disciple? Am I true, realistic, authentic, truthful, loyal, trustworthy, dependable, committed? I am reminded of the hymn in Common Praise (Anglican Church of Canada) #430. “Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name to known, will you let my life be grown in you and you in me? Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name? Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same? Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare? Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me? Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name? Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same? Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen. And admit to what I mean in you and you in me? Will you love the ‘you’ you hide if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you’ve found to re-shape the world around, through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me? Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show. Thus, I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.”
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. Twelve Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.
What seemed important in this twelve drummers drumming was its emphasis on a shared heritage and an opportunity to enter more deeply into the faith that unites us all – to build communities that recognise each other while respecting the diversity of the other. It provides an opportunity to explore afresh this living heritage and to re-appropriate it in ways that are in keeping with contemporary cultures – so diverse today.
Sylvia Dunstan wrote the words of a hymn (Common Praise, Anglican Church of Canada #44) – one that I share with you: “I believe in God almighty, Author of all things that be. Maker of the earth and heavens, keeper of the sky and sea. I believe in God’s Son, Jesus, now for us both Lord and Christ, of the Spirit and of Mary born to bring abundant life. I believe that Jesus suffered, scourged and scorned and crucified, taken from the cross and buried – true life there had truly died. I believe that on the third day Christ was raised up from the grave then ascended to God’s right hand. He will come to judge and save. I believe in God’s own spirit, bonding all the saints within, one church catholic, and holy, where forgiveness frees from sin, in the body’s resurrection, for the breaking of death’s chain gives the life that’s everlasting: this the faith that I have claimed.”
And so, on this twelfth day of Christmas, may we open our hearts to our True Love who gives such gifts to us each and every day.
And May we Rise and Shine! For our Light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us!