Today is the 11th Day of Christmas
Daily Office Readings for January 4, Year 1
Morning, Psalms 85 and 87; Evening, Psalm 89:1 to 29:
Exodus 3:1 to 12; Hebrews 11:23 to 31; John 14:6 to 14:
“Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.” (Exodus 3: 1 and 2)
This burning bush, or flaming tree, could perhaps be the prototype Christmas tree. And for those of us who top our Christmas trees with an angel, it is even more fitting. This burning bush was Trinitarian in that it was fire, remained as a continuous living bush, and it had a voice, the burning bush “spoke” to Moses.
For me, the burning bush story in Exodus is one of the greatest examples of life-changing moments of life. When we experience something extraordinary, something curiously strange, we should take a moment to investigate, to ponder about what is happening. Moses did exactly that. “Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up” (Exodus 3:3). In that experience an angel of the Lord was made manifest as the burning bush. When we follow our curiosity about what God is doing, God will engage us, and all we should say is, “Here I am,” and await further instructions.
Angels still top our experiences today: Merry Christmas: Day 11
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: (The Collect for Saturdays BCP p. 99)
Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 