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On Lion's Wings
January 4, 2009
Christmas 12
“In the Great Cloud”
by Fr. Timothy Perkins, SSC
The celebration of the Christmas
season is marked for the faithful by an awareness of the
witness of the Saints. Three great Feast Days, St.
Stephen, St. John, and Holy Innocents immediately follow
Christmas Day, and are followed by the celebration of
the powerful Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket on
December 29. Readings from Holy Scripture constantly
remind us of our Blessed Lady and of her most faithful
spouse, St. Joseph. We are, as we read from the twelfth
chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews and as we pray on
All Saints’ Day and many other feasts of the Church
Calendar, “surrounded with a great cloud of witnesses” (BCP
250 and 380).
These great witnesses can be a
wonderful encouragement for our devotion. This is so,
because the saints exemplify fulfillment of that which
the passage from Hebrews enjoins us to do. Like them,
we are to “run with perseverance” always “looking to
Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” As we
reflect on the faith we share with “the communion of
saints,” let us join with them in looking with devotion
and wonder to our Blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
whose coming among us calls us to rejoice. Thus will we
be encouraged to persevere in our love and service to
him and to the world he came to save.
Previous Articles:
December 28
December 21
December 14
December 7
November
30
November
23
November 16
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