Week of December 27-January 2
 

In the popular song The 12 Days of Christmas, we are taught that on the 3^rd day my true love gave to me 3 French Horns, 2 Turtle doves, and 1 Partridge in a Pear Tree. Whether or not it is urban legend, the symbolism implied by these gifts during the Christmas Season still has some bouyancy for us today. The partridge refers to Jesus Christ. The 2 Turtle Doves refer to the New and Old Testaments. The 3 French Horns refer to Faith, Hope, and Love.

 

What a gift this Christmas! Faith, the ability to believe in something despite our current situation. Hope, our desire for the better. Love, our capacity to share our lives with one another.

 

This week there are two celebrations imbedded into this Christmas Season. Today, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family and on Wednesday, the Episcopal Church celebrates the Feast Day of Frances Gaudet. We have much to learn from these two Feasts.

 

As we remember Mary, Joseph, and their son, Jesus, we relate what we know to our lives. We imagine their life of care and trust for one another, and we try to emulate that in our families. We pray for all those still struggling to be known and to know their families. We ask for the grace to be able to be faith-filled people inspired by hope and working out of love.

 

In particular, in the State of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans, we have great cause to celebrate the life of Frances Gaudet. Born in 1861 an African-American with Native heritage, Frances widowed early dedicated her life to social work and worked with the Prison Reform. Association assisting prisoners unjustly accused. She bought property in Gentilly, the area later to develop as the first African-American suburb, and founded a boarding school. Today, the Episcopal Church continues her legacy with both the St. Luke’s Community Center in the 7^th Ward and the Frances Gaudet scholarships for the purpose of advancing the education of African American students through need-based partial scholarships to attend primary and secondary schools that offer rigorous curricula in preparation for entry to and completion of college.

 

Both these Feasts help to underscore our understanding of Christmas and the depths from which this Season holds us accountable to… we are called to be light in a very dark world despite of ourselves. And by simply saying yes, as Mary had done, we unlock a exciting mystery of God’s love into this broken world. 

Let St. Paul continue to encourage us in our efforts.  As he told the people of Corinth many generations ago:

 

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

 

Let us accept the Christmas gifts of Faith, Hope, and Love and try to be better for ourselves, for our neighbors, for God today.