As we count down the days of Christmas to Epiphany on Wednesday, 6 January 2021, St. John Chrysostom’s “Homily on Christmas Morning” warrants quoting at length: BEHOLD a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd’s song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn. The Angels sing. The Archangels […]
Monthly Archives: December 2020
Syncretism and Idolatry
“The essence of idolatry,” exclaimed A. W. Tozer, “is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.” Samuel Rutherford declared, “Verily, we know not what an evil it is to indulge ourselves, and to make an idol of our will.” The Apostle Paul avowed of the ills of idolatry: “For although they […]
Christmas brings the Miracle of Christ’s Incarnation to Center Stage
“For He was made man that we might be made God; and He manifested Himself by a body that we might receive the idea of the unseen Father; and He endured the insolence of men that we might inherit immortality.” —St. Athanasius, On the Incarnation “Have this mind among yourselves,” avowed Saint Paul, “which is yours […]
The Nativity of our Lord; the Christmas Liturgy of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer
The Nativity of our Lord, or the Birth-day of Christ commonly called Christmas Day, December 25. The Collect Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin: Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by […]