The Twelve Days of Christmas: Day 3
“Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.”
Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
December 27
Reflections for the Twelve Days of Christmas
Day 3: ‘Three French Hens’
Dear Faithful in Christ,
Grace and Peace to you this feast of Saint John the Apostle. Follow me on this third day of Christmastide reflections.
Day THREE: In the sixteenth century, French hens were a luxury and very expensive. They represent a valuable trio of gifts in The Twelve Days of Christmas. Many theological aspects of our faith correlate to the number three.
As Episcopalians, we uphold Trinitarian theology, believing and trusting in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our Creed identifies each and their connection. The Nicene Creed provides solid footing from which to understand each Person of the Trinity and their unity in Substance. We contemplate our own unity with one another and with God as we consider the perichoresis, the eternal dance, of the Trinity.
In this season, we appreciate the coming of the wise men to visit the Christ child on the Epiphany on January 6th. During this time, we cherish that even wealthy foreigners undertook the painstaking journey to present themselves and offerings of their treasure to the holy infant. The wise men represented a unity of recognition that surpassed national and cultural borders. May we also take journeys to value others beyond our cultural circles.
In praying the Rosary, the first three “Hail Mary’s” are prayed for an increase of three virtues associated with the Blessed Mother – faith, hope, and charity. Saint Paul articulates overlapping virtues of faith, hope, and love in his first letter to the Corinthians. As the French hens, we find a value and treasure these virtues just as Mary treasured all the heavenly visitors surrounding Jesus’ birth in her heart. [Luke 2:19]
May we cherish this day, the love that came down from heaven in the form of a delicate infant who would be our Holy Savior. May we treasure in our hearts the greatest gift has given to us - that of God’s very Being, Incarnate in Jesus. May we, like the wise men, be ready to give of the treasures we hold dear to honor our Lord, starting with our own hearts.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
All To the Greater Glory of God!
Sharing in the Gift of God’s Love in Jesus,
Fr. Michael
“On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
A Collect for Saint Stephen
The Book of Common Prayer, 186
We give the thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to thy Son Jesus Christ, who standeth at thy right hand; where he liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
