The Twelve Days of Christmas: Day 7
Sorry for the delay in posting - due to illness.
December 31
Reflections for the Twelve Days of Christmas
Day 7: ‘Seven Swans A-Swimming’
Dear Faithful in Christ,
Grace and Peace to you. Follow me on this seventh day of Christmastide reflections. My apologies for the delay due to illness, but I am catching back up for our daily reflections.
Day SEVEN: When I consider swans swimming in a lake, I appreciate the fluidity of their movement impacted by both the water and wind which may not be acting in the same direction. I also consider how in Genesis, we garner an appreciation of the Spirit of God: “a wind from God swept over the face of the waters” [Gen 1:2b]. Now, I am considering how that fluidity of Spirit flows in and through us. We may very well connect the ‘seven swans a-swimming’ to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
“The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”
Traditions have viewed this Scripture as putting forth these seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Wisdom as comprehending from God’s perspective.
Understanding as garnering deeper meaning of our faith.
Counsel as making choices for the glory of God.
Fortitude as being courageous to do what is just and right in God’s eyes.
Knowledge as knowing both God and God’s will.
Piety as revering God deeply and devoting one’s self to God.
Fear of the Lord as a disposition of awe and wonder which evokes respect, not terror.
As we continue to ponder in our hearts the depth, beauty, and mystery of the Incarnation, may we find ourselves cherishing each of these gifts more and more. May we allow God’s grace to inspire in us these gifts as we also allow God to gently and fluidly push and pull us as the currents do the swans.
Faithfully in the Spirit,
Fr. Michael
The Collect from
the First Sunday after Christmas
The Book of Common Prayer, 161
Almighty God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word: Grant that the same light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
