...And on earth peace to those who are of good will
byMieke Mosmuller
24-12-2014
7 comments
‘And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.’
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO, ET IN TERRA PAX HOMINIBUS BONAE VOLUNTATIS
This part from the Gospel of St. Luke is the source of inspiration for Christmas. Not Santa Claus, the Christmastree or the fine dinner bring us in the true mood, it is this old image from the Bible, that ‘gives us the right’ to celebrate Christmas.
I remember the time in The Hague, where we used to live for eighteen years. during the Advent the streets seemed to become more silent every day, despite of the city traffic. Especially when the twilight fell, one could feel the advent of the divine child.
Those times seem to have passed . We are webbed in more and more in the world wide web, in the electromagnetism, in the way of thinking that belongs to these developments, makes us so level-headed that we lose our faculty to perceive these fine changes, that are ‘in the air’. Therefore we need strong measures, an inner discipline, to keep in touch with the world that is not immediately perceivable.
On Christmas eve the thirteen holy nights begin. As soon as twilight falls, the light of these holy nights begin to shine. Heaven is open for nearly two weeks, until the day of Epiphanias on the 6th of January. It is well known that these thirteen nights are of great importance to the next year, of great importance to our conscious bond with the divine world. What we practice in our inner life sends its lightful rays into the next year.
But we need to work hard, to keep in touch with the open heaven. Heaven waits for us, but it will not come over us. Let us find time to seek the holy nights, to feel them, to experience them. When they will be over, we will feel what we miss in the 352 other nights of the year – and we will long for a regaining of heaven on earth…
For onto us a child is born, from The Messiah, G.F.W. Handel. Directed by Charles Mackerras
Paolo di Giovanni Fei (1369–1411)
The adoration by the shepherds, around 1395–1400...And on earth peace to those who are of good will by Mieke Mosmuller
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory of God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those that are of good will.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.’
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO, ET IN TERRA PAX HOMINIBUS BONAE VOLUNTATIS
This part from the Gospel of St. Luke is the source of inspiration for Christmas. Not Santa Claus, the Christmastree or the fine dinner bring us in the true mood, it is this old image from the Bible, that ‘gives us the right’ to celebrate Christmas.
I remember the time in The Hague, where we used to live for eighteen years. during the Advent the streets seemed to become more silent every day, despite of the city traffic. Especially when the twilight fell, one could feel the advent of the divine child.
Those times seem to have passed . We are webbed in more and more in the world wide web, in the electromagnetism, in the way of thinking that belongs to these developments, makes us so level-headed that we lose our faculty to perceive these fine changes, that are ‘in the air’. Therefore we need strong measures, an inner discipline, to keep in touch with the world that is not immediately perceivable.
On Christmas eve the thirteen holy nights begin. As soon as twilight falls, the light of these holy nights begin to shine. Heaven is open for nearly two weeks, until the day of Epiphanias on the 6th of January. It is well known that these thirteen nights are of great importance to the next year, of great importance to our conscious bond with the divine world. What we practice in our inner life sends its lightful rays into the next year.
But we need to work hard, to keep in touch with the open heaven. Heaven waits for us, but it will not come over us. Let us find time to seek the holy nights, to feel them, to experience them. When they will be over, we will feel what we miss in the 352 other nights of the year – and we will long for a regaining of heaven on earth…
For onto us a child is born, from The Messiah, G.F.W. Handel. Directed by Charles Mackerras
Paolo di Giovanni Fei (1369–1411)
The adoration by the shepherds, around 1395–1400...And on earth peace to those who are of good will by Mieke Mosmuller
Comments
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From Kees Weurman @Ja heel mooi, zo is het!
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From Eefke van der Haar-Warffemius @Wat een prachtige kerstgedachte! Dankjewel hiervoor, Mieke Mosmuller. Tevens dank voor alle filosofische gedachten van de afgelopen tijd, ze vormen een wekelijkse inspiratiebron. Zalig Kerstfeest en een vredige start van 2015.
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From Emma Bergen @Dank je wel, Mieke, voor deze dragende woorden. Ik wens jou en je gezin Gezegende Kerstdagen toe, dat ze het Nieuwe Jaar mogen verlichten.
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From Margareta Bannmann @Liebe Mieke, lieber Jos! Bevor ich jetzt gleich meinen elektronischen Butler in die Weihnachts-Ruhe entlasse, möchte ich für diesen Weihnachts-Blog noch von Herzen danken. Den Hinweis auf die zentrale Inspiration inmitten aller Fülle und die für mich optimale Einspielung des Händel-Chores. Da paaren sich Leichtigkeit und Kraft durch das stimmige Tempo und die Dynamik zu einem echten Händel-Erlebnis für mich. Herzlichen Dank und eine gesegnete Zeit!
Margareta -
From Patricia A Scott @Many thanks for your thought provoking contributions, much enjoyed.
Herbert (Scottie) Scott and Tricia Scott -
From Mieke Mosmuller @Dank voor al deze bemoedigende opmerkingen!
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From Mieke Mosmuller @Danke für die anregenden Bemerkungen, sie geben Mut zum Weiterschreiben von Blogtexten...
Thanks for the positive reactions.