December 24: The Love of the Holy Family
♫ Music:
Tuesday, December 24
CHRISTMAS EVE
Title: THE LOVE OF THE HOLY FAMILY
Scripture: Matthew 1: 18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Poetry:
Christ’s Nativity
By Henry Vaughan
Awake, glad heart! get up and sing!
It is the birth-day of thy King.
Awake! awake!
The Sun doth shake
Light from his locks, and all the way
Breathing perfumes, doth spice the day.
Awake, awake! hark how th’ wood rings;
Winds whisper, and the busy springs
A concert make;
Awake! awake!
Man is their high-priest, and should rise
To offer up the sacrifice.
I would I were some bird, or star,
Flutt’ring in woods, or lifted far
Above this inn
And road of sin!
Then either star or bird should be
Shining or singing still to thee.
I would I had in my best part
Fit rooms for thee! or that my heart
Were so clean as
Thy manger was!
But I am all filth, and obscene;
Yet, if thou wilt, thou canst make clean.
Sweet Jesu! will then. Let no more
This leper haunt and soil thy door!
Cure him, ease him,
O release him!
And let once more, by mystic birth,
The Lord of life be born in earth.
ENDURING THE BEAMS OF LOVE
Spunky author Anne Lamott writes concerning her relatives, “Families; hard, hard, hard, no matter how cherished and astonishing they may also be . . . Earth is Forgiveness School. You might as well start at the dinner table . . . When [William] Blake said that we are here ‘to learn to endure the beams of love.’ He knew that your family would be an intimate part of this, even as you want to run screaming for your cute little life.”
What are Lamott and Blake getting at when they write about “enduring the beams of love?” Perhaps they’re referring to the ability to be vulnerable and open. Vulnerability is one of the ways we learn to endure those “beams of love.” Love always involves risking, trusting, believing as well as the possibility of suffering, exploitation and rejection—which could end with our spirits being crushed. Yet being loved unconditionally and returning that love has the potential to change our lives forever.
On this wondrous Christmas Eve, we think of the Holy Family specifically chosen by the Trinity because of their willingness to be vulnerable, because of their desire to cooperate with God and lean on Him every step of the way, not knowing fully what would be demanded of them over time. Love requires the gift of self-giving, which Mary demonstrated by her complete willingness to offer herself up as a vehicle for Christ’s entrance into the world. Out of a deep love for Him, she made herself vulnerable to whatever was asked of her. She sacrificed her personal reputation and comfort to allow God to do His great work of redemption in and through her.
Likewise, righteous Joseph played a critical role in Christ’s coming to earth. He laid aside his own respectability when choosing to defend, protect, and fulfill his commitment to Mary. Bringing the Virgin into his home, he ignored the gossip of suspicious neighbors, revealing a sacrificial love to God and a trusting obedience to the supernatural instructions of the angel. Gentle, dreaming Joseph as depicted in the mysterious painting by French artist Georges De La Tour, heeded the divine messages he received through angelic visions, safeguarding both Mary and Jesus from potential harm. Thus, Christ was nurtured in a loving, holy family whose goal was to work together with the Godhead for the salvation of the human family.
Although it isn’t always the case, we generally understand that monastics—monks and nuns from a variety of Christian traditions, have elected to live celibate lives of prayer in order to more completely love and serve our Lord. Toiling in community together, they learn through discipline to lay aside their own preferences and self-serving ambitions in order to minister to their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ as they pray for the world. The goal of monastics is to reflect the beauty of Jesus in both their inner and outer lives. A dear friend who spent many years as a public health nurse sarcastically quipped, “Believe me when I say I’ve seen absolutely everything. Somehow they’ve got it backwards. The ones who should be raising our children are those celibates who’ve dedicated themselves to becoming holy.”
Statistics indicate that dysfunctionality is a characteristic of many families in America. John Bradshaw, a family-systems therapy advocate found in his research that 96 percent of all families are to some degree dysfunctional. “That is, the system by which the family interacts is distorted by the addictions and compulsions of one or more members and, so, ignores the needs of each individual . . . It is the 'don't trust, don't feel' rules in such families that lead the children into their own self-destructive patterns [as adults].”
Back to Lamott and her statement, “Families; hard, hard, hard, hard.” We understand from observation, as well as personal experience, that being a Christian is not a cure-all for complex, difficult, and sometimes seemingly impossible interpersonal relationships. That’s why we need exposure to the sort of love modeled by the Holy Family. The music for today proclaims, “Lo He comes, and loves, and saves, and frees us.” Christ is love and His Gospel teaches that this love is the panacea for all of life’s problems. As scripture indicates, Christ’s “love covers a multitude of sins." It is patient and tireless. It is vulnerable and trusting. It is not selfish or touchy. It is not proud or demanding. It penetrates our defenses and challenges our complacency. Love entails sacrificial giving. It seeks forgiveness again and again. And love never gives up; it is faithful to the end.
This evening as we commemorate the Nativity of Christ and meditate on the Holy Family’s impact on the world down through the centuries, let us raise our voices together with the holy ones as they sing, “More love, more power, more of You in our lives.”
Prayer
Great Lover of Mankind,
We bring our addictions, compulsions and dysfunctions to You this Christmas Eve. “Blot out our sins and enter in—be born [anew] in us today. We hear the Christmas angels, their great glad tidings tell. O come to us, abide with us, [transforming us by your penetrating love], Oh Lord, Emmanuel!”
Amen.
Barry Krammes
Professor Emeritus, Art Department
Biola University
For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, we have provided resources under the “About” tab located next to the “Devotional” tab.
About the Artwork:
Joseph's Dream or The Apparition of the Angel to St. Joseph
Georges La Tour
c.1650
Oil on canvas
93 cm x 82 cm
Musee des Beaux
Nantes, France
As the sun goes down, a night of anguished introspection descends over Joseph who has discovered his betrothed is pregnant. Knowing he was not the father, he resolves not to defame Mary, but rather divorce her privately. Artist Georges de la Tour takes this dramatic scene to the next level by focusing on the intimate inner nature of Joseph’s dilemma. Devoid of cluttering details the setting highlights the essentials; two protagonists and the play of Divine light. Deep silence permeates the room while a single candle illuminates an angelic messenger from God. This is a personal, private encounter with Joseph, who now joins with Mary in God’s plan of salvation for the world.
https://aleteia.org/2017/12/21/a-closer-look-at-saint-josephs-dream-by-georges-de-la-tour/
About the Artist:
Georges de La Tour (1593–1652) was a French Baroque painter who spent most of his working life in the Duchy of Lorraine, France. La Tour is best known for the nocturnal light effects that he developed. In his later years his style is characterized by the use of chiaroscuro, careful geometrical compositions, and simplified forms. They are marked by a precise geometric simplification of the human form and by the depiction of interior scenes lit only by the glare of candles or torches. His religious paintings, done in this manner, have a monumental stillness that expresses both contemplative quiet and wonder. La Tour’s work also exhibits a high degree of originality in colour and composition; the characteristic simplification of forms gives many of his pictures a deceptively modern appearance. La Tour's educational background remains somewhat unclear, but it is assumed that he traveled to Italy or the Netherlands early in his career. La Tour became a master painter and eventually settled in Lunéville. King Louis XIII, Henry II of Lorraine, and the Duke de La Ferté were among the collectors of his work. Although the chronology of La Tour’s output is uncertain, it is clear that he initially painted in a realistic manner and was influenced by the dramatic chiaroscuro of Caravaggio or his followers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_de_La_Tour
About the Music:
“Seven Joys of Christmas, Op. 25: No. III, The Joy of Mary: Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine” from the album Gaudeamus
Lyrics:
Joseph dearest, Joseph mine,
Help me cradle the Child divine;
God rewarded thee and all that's thine
In Paradise,
So prays the Mother Mary.
He came on Christmas day in Bethlehem
Christus natus hodie in Bethlehem;
Lo, He comes to love and save and free us!
Mary dearest, Mary mild,
I shall gladly help rock thy Child;
God will surely reward us then
In Paradise.
So prays the Mother Mary.
He came on Christmas day in Bethlehem
Christus natus hodie in Bethlehem;
Lo, He comes to love and save and free us!
Now is born Emmanuel,
Prophesied by Ezekiel,
Promised Mary by Gabriel,
Rejoise and sing
Alleluia, Maria.
He came on Christmas day in Bethlehem
Christus natus hodie in Bethlehem;
Lo, He comes to love and save and free us!
About the Composer:
Traditional German Carol arranged by Kirke Mechem
Kirke Mechem (b. 1925) is a prolific composer with a catalogue of over 250 titles. Born and raised in Kansas and educated at Stanford and Harvard Universities, he has conducted and taught at Stanford University and served as Composer-in-Residence for several years at the University of San Francisco. Mechem's compositions cover almost every genre, but vocal music is the core of his work. His three-act opera, Tartuffe, has been performed over 400 times in six countries. His extensive choral works have garnered him the title of "Dean of American Choral Composers." He has been honored and recognized for his contributions from the United Nations, the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Choral Directors Association, the Music Educators National Conference, and was presented with a lifetime achievement award from the National Opera Association.
https://www.kirkemechem.com/
About the Performers:
The Choral Scholars is a chamber ensemble located in West Michigan. With a repertoire spanning a variety of sacred and secular genres, the group has performed in concert series and festivals throughout the region. To date, the group has released two full-length recordings: Gaudeamus (2007) and Sing Joyfully (2014), as well as two recordings with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship: Global Songs for Worship (2010) and Cry Out to God! (2012). Since their debut in 2005, the ensemble has performed as part of several local concert series, collaborated with the Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Chorus, given full concerts of their own around West Michigan, and sung as the featured guests at a variety of other events around the region.
http://www.thechoralscholars.com/
About the Poet:
Henry Vaughan (1621–1695) was a Welsh metaphysical poet, author, translator, and physician, who wrote in English. He is chiefly known for the religious poetry contained in Silex Scintillans, published in 1650. It was thought that Vaughan suffered a prolonged painful illness that led him to a religious conversion borne out of his reading of Welsh-born poet and priest of the Church of England, George Herbert. Greatly indebted to Herbert, who provided a model for Vaughan's newly founded spiritual life and literary career, Vaughan dedicated himself to sacred verse. The prose Mount of Olives or Solitary Devotions (1652) shows the depth of his religious convictions and the authenticity of his poetic genius. He also translated short moral and religious works and two medical works in prose. At some time in the 1650s he began to practice medicine and continued to do so through his life. It was during this period of Vaughan's life, around 1650, that he adopted the saying "Moriendo, Revixi" – "By dying, I gain new life.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Vaughan
About the Devotion Writer:
Barry Krammes
Professor Emeritus, Art Department
Biola University
Artist and educator Barry Krammes (b. 1951) received his BFA in printmaking and drawing from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and his MFA in two-dimensional studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. For thirty-five years, he was employed at Biola University in La Mirada, California, where he was the Art Chair for 15 years. Krammes is an assemblage artist whose work has been featured in both solo and group exhibitions, regionally and nationally. His work can be found in various private collections throughout the United States and Canada. He has taught assemblage seminars at Image Journal’s annual Glen Summer Workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Krammes has served as the Visual Arts Coordinator for the C.S. Lewis Summer Institute in Cambridge, England, and has been the Program Coordinator for both Biola University’s annual arts symposium and the Center for Christianity Culture and the Arts for several years. He has also been the editor of CIVA: Seen Journal for Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA), a national arts organization