Anti-Santy Ranty

Merry Christmas!

Nativity Paradoxes

“Maker of the sun, He is made under the sun. In the Father He remains, from His mother He goes forth. Creator of heaven and earth, He was born on earth under heaven. Unspeakably wise, He is wisely speechless. Filling the world, He lies in a manger. Ruler of the stars, He nurses at His mother’s bosom. He is both great in the nature of God, and small in the form of a servant.” (St. Augustine of Hippo)

Jill Phillips' "Labor of Love"

Putting the "X" in "Xmas"

"It’s been said that “Xmas” is a seasonal, subversive attempt by secularists to kick Christ out of Christmas. I don’t doubt that is the intent of some folks in our culture. In reality, the Greek spelling of the name Christ is Χριστός. In fact, the early Church often referred to Christ simply by his first Greek initial (X), or more commonly by overlapping his first two initials (XP). The simple cross (X) of course carried double meaning for the early Christians. So in that sense there’s not only a Christ in Xmas but also a Calvary. Far from a secularist attack, “Xmas” reminds us of Christ, his birth, and his cross, all at once. Merry Xmas!" (Tony Reinke)

We have what (who) they need...

The Grande Miracle

“The Christian story is precisely the story of one grand miracle, the Christian assertion being that what is beyond all space and time, what is uncreated, eternal, came into nature, into human nature, descended into His own uni­verse, and rose again, bringing nature up with Him. It is precisely one great miracle. If you take that away there is nothing specifically Christian left.” ―C.S. Lewis, “The Grand Miracle”

The Wexford Carol is one of the oldest Christmas carols in the European tradition. Do yourself a holiday favor and listen to Alison Krause and Yo-Yo Ma's versions of it here. Hauntingly beautiful. Enjoy.