December 4
The blessed prophets have spoken in various ways concerning Christ; for they foretold He was the Light that was to come; some proclaimed He was endowed with royal dignity and excellence. And a certain one among them has said: Blessed is he that hath seed in Sion, and friends in Jerusalem. Behold a king shall reign, and princes have preceded him with judgment. And he shall be a man that hides his words, and he shall hide himself as from water rushing down (Isaiah 31:9, 32:1-2). That the words of the Savior were for the most part hidden is plain to us. It is so that the psalmist also brings Him speaking before us: I will open my mouth in parables (Psalm 77:2)…
Accordingly, it was not given to them, to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; but to us who are ready to believe, it has been given. For he has given us to understand a parable, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings (Proverbs 1:6)… For when the divine word falls upon a soul purified of the things that afflicted it, then it takes deep root, and comes forth as an ear of corn, and yields fruit abundantly.
- St. Cyril
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
marymajor's Advent Calendar: December 3
[Background: Jesse was King David’s father, he had 8 sons, lived at Bethlehem, took refuge at one point in Moab when David and the family fled Saul, and is listed in the genealogy of Jesus through Joseph (Matthew 1:6), Jesus being descended from Jesse through both Joseph and Mary.]
December 3
A Rod shall rise out of Jesse. Up to the beginning of the vision, which Isaias [Isaiah] the son of Amos saw, and which was of the burden of Babylon, all this prophecy relates to Christ…The Jews interpret the Shoot and the Flower of Jesse as the Lord Himself; namely, that by the Rod is signified His Royal Power, and by the Flower His Beauty.
We however believe that the Holy Virgin Mary is the Rod from the Root of Jesse, to which no enriching plant hath cleaved, and of whom we earlier read: Behold a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a son. And the Flower is the Lord Our Savior, Who says in the Canticle of Canticles: I am the Flower of the field, and the lily of the valleys.
Upon this Flower then which of a sudden will rise up from the stock and the root of Jesse, through the Virgin Mary, the Spirit of the Lord will rest: because in Him it hath pleased all the fullness of the Godhead to dwell corporeally: and not in part, as in others who were sanctified; but as the Nazarenes read in their Gospel, written in the Hebrew tongue: The whole fountain of the Holy Spirit shall come down upon Him. Now the Lord is a spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty.
-St. Jerome
December 3
A Rod shall rise out of Jesse. Up to the beginning of the vision, which Isaias [Isaiah] the son of Amos saw, and which was of the burden of Babylon, all this prophecy relates to Christ…The Jews interpret the Shoot and the Flower of Jesse as the Lord Himself; namely, that by the Rod is signified His Royal Power, and by the Flower His Beauty.
We however believe that the Holy Virgin Mary is the Rod from the Root of Jesse, to which no enriching plant hath cleaved, and of whom we earlier read: Behold a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a son. And the Flower is the Lord Our Savior, Who says in the Canticle of Canticles: I am the Flower of the field, and the lily of the valleys.
Upon this Flower then which of a sudden will rise up from the stock and the root of Jesse, through the Virgin Mary, the Spirit of the Lord will rest: because in Him it hath pleased all the fullness of the Godhead to dwell corporeally: and not in part, as in others who were sanctified; but as the Nazarenes read in their Gospel, written in the Hebrew tongue: The whole fountain of the Holy Spirit shall come down upon Him. Now the Lord is a spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty.
-St. Jerome
Monday, December 1, 2008
7 gifts of the Holy Spirit: (4a) Bible citations
Here are selected Bible passages related to the gift of “Fortitude,” through the symbolism of fortress, tower and other indications of protection.
Jeremiah 6:27
I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.
1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 37:24
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
Psalm 31:3
The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying Yeah, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee. Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built.
Jeremiah 6:27
I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.
1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 37:24
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
Psalm 31:3
The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying Yeah, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee. Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built.
marymajor's Advent Calendar: December 2
December 2
But the human eye does not suffice to penetrate the mystery of this incarnation. For in no way may we search out how the Word became embodied; how the Supreme Life-Giving Spirit, was quickened within the womb of a mother; how That Which has no beginning was both conceived and came into existence.
The lachets of His shoe are therefore the seals of a mystery. John [the Baptist] was not worthy to loose his shoe, because he was unable to search into the mystery of His Incarnation. What then does he mean when he says, the lachet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose, except openly and humbly to confess his ignorance?
It is as though he were to say: what wonder that He is preferred before me, Whom I know to be born after me, but the Mystery of Whose Birth I am unable to comprehend. Behold John, filled with the Spirit of prophecy, shining with knowledge, yet he plainly declares that as to this mystery he knows nothing.
- St. Gregory
But the human eye does not suffice to penetrate the mystery of this incarnation. For in no way may we search out how the Word became embodied; how the Supreme Life-Giving Spirit, was quickened within the womb of a mother; how That Which has no beginning was both conceived and came into existence.
The lachets of His shoe are therefore the seals of a mystery. John [the Baptist] was not worthy to loose his shoe, because he was unable to search into the mystery of His Incarnation. What then does he mean when he says, the lachet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose, except openly and humbly to confess his ignorance?
It is as though he were to say: what wonder that He is preferred before me, Whom I know to be born after me, but the Mystery of Whose Birth I am unable to comprehend. Behold John, filled with the Spirit of prophecy, shining with knowledge, yet he plainly declares that as to this mystery he knows nothing.
- St. Gregory
marymajor's Advent Calendar: December 1
[As a child I eagerly looked forward to receiving and using my Advent Calendar, and to this day, I enjoy them, and have one set up on one of my tables. An Advent Calendar is a paper calendar that covers the days December 1 through December 24, as a count down day by day to Christmas Day, the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. The calendar is usually a picture of a religious or festive scene, and there is a window numbered for each day. On that day (or the night before as I like to do) one opens the window and sees the special picture for that day. They are a strong German tradition and give great delight.
I got the idea, therefore, to have a daily Advent window open here on the blog. Each “window” will be a passage that I copy from Ignatius Press’ “The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers.” I will select ones that I think are in the spirit of the anticipation of the most joyous Nativity of Jesus Christ, even if the sermons are not specifically about the day’s liturgical readings or the subject of the Nativity. ] Here is the first one.
December 1.
And with what joy shall we be filled, if we are directed to the right hand of the King? What must we be like when the Just embrace us there? When, I repeat, they shall embrace thee there, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Noah, Job, Daniel, the Holy Prophets, the Apostles, the Martyrs, who all were pleasing to God in the days of the flesh?
And whomsoever you have heard of, and whose life you admired, and whom you now wish to look upon, they will come to thee, and embrace thee, rejoicing in thy salvation.
What manner of men must we then be? Of what kind shall be that unspeakable delight which we are to receive, when the king shall with joyfulness say to those who will be on His right hand: Come ye blessed of my father, possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 13:35).
- St. Ephraem, Confessor and Doctor
I got the idea, therefore, to have a daily Advent window open here on the blog. Each “window” will be a passage that I copy from Ignatius Press’ “The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers.” I will select ones that I think are in the spirit of the anticipation of the most joyous Nativity of Jesus Christ, even if the sermons are not specifically about the day’s liturgical readings or the subject of the Nativity. ] Here is the first one.
December 1.
And with what joy shall we be filled, if we are directed to the right hand of the King? What must we be like when the Just embrace us there? When, I repeat, they shall embrace thee there, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Noah, Job, Daniel, the Holy Prophets, the Apostles, the Martyrs, who all were pleasing to God in the days of the flesh?
And whomsoever you have heard of, and whose life you admired, and whom you now wish to look upon, they will come to thee, and embrace thee, rejoicing in thy salvation.
What manner of men must we then be? Of what kind shall be that unspeakable delight which we are to receive, when the king shall with joyfulness say to those who will be on His right hand: Come ye blessed of my father, possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 13:35).
- St. Ephraem, Confessor and Doctor
7 gifts of the Holy Spirit: (4) Fortitude
When one has, even in small amounts, the firm foundation of the gifts of "Fear of the Lord," "Piety" and "Knowledge," one, essentially, receives unasked for the gift of "Fortitude." You can think of it as a recipe that requires only three ingredients to produce a complete loaf of bread, where the three ingredients combine to make something larger than the sum of the total appears to be. "Fortitude" is like a loaf of bread that comes into being when one combines flour, leavening and oil. So what is "Fortitude" and how is it explained in the Bible?
"Fortitude" refers to the ability to endure, not just hardship, but the sense of being secure and of one's actions being long lasting, and not momentary, trivial or short lasting. If one has "Fortitude," one is not necessarily the strongest person, and that is why competitive qualities such as "strength" or "toughness" or "energy" or "zeal" are not gifts of the Holy Spirit, while "Fortitude" is. To fully understand one must think of the nature of life in Biblical times, and also the relationship that humans have with God, and express that relationship in the lingo of those times.
In order to be safe during those very dangerous and lawless times, humans gathered themselves together under the protection of a fort. The defensive protective building structure-a fort-is where the concept and the word "Fortitude" comes from. Forts took one of two forms. Either the city itself was a fort because it had a protective wall with strong gates for entry and towers for observation and defense, or a fort was nearby, dedicated to being a refuge in siege and the place where military men served to observe and protect not only the nearby city but also key roads and routes of travel. This is why the tone of the gift of "Fortitude" is one of unflappability, constancy and reliability. The fort is always there and is watchful, since being alert and on guard is as important as one's skill in actual defensive battle. One can think of the fort as being like what we call today "homeland security." A person who has the gift of "Fortitude" is like a person who serves as either their own and their family's self-contained "fort of refuge" or a person who is secure in knowing that a fort of refuge is nearby.
Thus if one reads the Bible one does not see reference to the attribute of "Fortitude," but instead one sees the praise of God who is the fortress of the faithful. This is why one discerns from studying the Bible that a gift of God through the Holy Spirit is "Fortitude," both one's own, having developed from the foundation of the gifts of "Fear of the Lord," "Piety," and "Knowledge," and that of God, knowing that God is there, God is nearby, and God is one's fortress.
2 Samuel 22:1-2, 40
David sang the words of this song to the Lord when the Lord had rescued him from the grasp of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. This is what he sang:
"O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my rock of refuge...the foreigners fawned and cringed before me; they staggered forth from their fortresses..."
King David starts with the image of God as his fortress in the very first line of his song of thanks and praise. Forty lines later he returns to that specific image, where the invaders were defeated out of their own fortresses through God's aid to the might of King David's defending soldiers (in fact the names of his most outstanding commanders are preserved, along with their deeds, in 2 Samuel 23:8-39. I mention this to constantly, gently demonstrate to you that the Bible is a work of historical accuracy in addition to being a book of faith, and you can see that by the great detail that is recorded of the names of those who do not have an ongoing part in some "mythology," but are instead, people who said and did actual true life things). Because this is so important and here is a great example, let me make an aside to cite just one warrior so you can witness how this is a battle list of actual people, and not just part of some mythological writing.
2 Samuel 23:20-23
Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a stalwart from Kabzeel, was a man of great achievements. It was he who slew the two lions in Moab. He also went down and killed the lion in the cistern at the time of the snow. It as he, too, who slew an Egyptian of large stature. Although the Egyptian was armed with a spear, he went against him with a club and wrested the spear from the Egyptian's hand, then killed him with his own spear. Such were the deeds performed by Benaiah, son of Jehoiada. He was listed among the Thirty warriors and commanded greater respect than the Thirty. However, he did not attain to the Three. David put him in command of his bodyguard.
We are not going too far astray from the topic of "Fortitude" in looking at the historic example of Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, because if you read it carefully it gives you crucial insight into the hardship of the times, and also the idea of the defensive fort. Benaiah clearly had reknown as having done a famous deed of slaying two lions in Moab. Now, animal lovers, don't get excited. Lions were numerous and a threat to humans, often preying on women and children as they had to gather food or go to the well (cistern) for water. When the Bible uses the word "slay," this implies a conflict, rather than use the word "kill," which may or may not be a justifiable death. So one can deduce with confidence that Benaiah was already famous for having slaying two predatory lions in Moab, and also going down into the cistern, where a lion was hiding during the snow, and slaying it, thus protecting the populace. Then it is recorded specifics of his defeat of a large and better armed Egyptian, and the specifics of his grouping in the elite unit of Thirty. There is even commentary that he was better than most of the Thirty, but did not make it into the separate better group of the Three! Yet David selected him to be his bodyguard, and I'll bet it's because of the lions too! One of the points I am trying to make is that Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, became David's bodyguard because of his protectiveness in addition to his prowess.
"Fortitude" refers to the ability to endure, not just hardship, but the sense of being secure and of one's actions being long lasting, and not momentary, trivial or short lasting. If one has "Fortitude," one is not necessarily the strongest person, and that is why competitive qualities such as "strength" or "toughness" or "energy" or "zeal" are not gifts of the Holy Spirit, while "Fortitude" is. To fully understand one must think of the nature of life in Biblical times, and also the relationship that humans have with God, and express that relationship in the lingo of those times.
In order to be safe during those very dangerous and lawless times, humans gathered themselves together under the protection of a fort. The defensive protective building structure-a fort-is where the concept and the word "Fortitude" comes from. Forts took one of two forms. Either the city itself was a fort because it had a protective wall with strong gates for entry and towers for observation and defense, or a fort was nearby, dedicated to being a refuge in siege and the place where military men served to observe and protect not only the nearby city but also key roads and routes of travel. This is why the tone of the gift of "Fortitude" is one of unflappability, constancy and reliability. The fort is always there and is watchful, since being alert and on guard is as important as one's skill in actual defensive battle. One can think of the fort as being like what we call today "homeland security." A person who has the gift of "Fortitude" is like a person who serves as either their own and their family's self-contained "fort of refuge" or a person who is secure in knowing that a fort of refuge is nearby.
Thus if one reads the Bible one does not see reference to the attribute of "Fortitude," but instead one sees the praise of God who is the fortress of the faithful. This is why one discerns from studying the Bible that a gift of God through the Holy Spirit is "Fortitude," both one's own, having developed from the foundation of the gifts of "Fear of the Lord," "Piety," and "Knowledge," and that of God, knowing that God is there, God is nearby, and God is one's fortress.
2 Samuel 22:1-2, 40
David sang the words of this song to the Lord when the Lord had rescued him from the grasp of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. This is what he sang:
"O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my rock of refuge...the foreigners fawned and cringed before me; they staggered forth from their fortresses..."
King David starts with the image of God as his fortress in the very first line of his song of thanks and praise. Forty lines later he returns to that specific image, where the invaders were defeated out of their own fortresses through God's aid to the might of King David's defending soldiers (in fact the names of his most outstanding commanders are preserved, along with their deeds, in 2 Samuel 23:8-39. I mention this to constantly, gently demonstrate to you that the Bible is a work of historical accuracy in addition to being a book of faith, and you can see that by the great detail that is recorded of the names of those who do not have an ongoing part in some "mythology," but are instead, people who said and did actual true life things). Because this is so important and here is a great example, let me make an aside to cite just one warrior so you can witness how this is a battle list of actual people, and not just part of some mythological writing.
2 Samuel 23:20-23
Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a stalwart from Kabzeel, was a man of great achievements. It was he who slew the two lions in Moab. He also went down and killed the lion in the cistern at the time of the snow. It as he, too, who slew an Egyptian of large stature. Although the Egyptian was armed with a spear, he went against him with a club and wrested the spear from the Egyptian's hand, then killed him with his own spear. Such were the deeds performed by Benaiah, son of Jehoiada. He was listed among the Thirty warriors and commanded greater respect than the Thirty. However, he did not attain to the Three. David put him in command of his bodyguard.
We are not going too far astray from the topic of "Fortitude" in looking at the historic example of Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, because if you read it carefully it gives you crucial insight into the hardship of the times, and also the idea of the defensive fort. Benaiah clearly had reknown as having done a famous deed of slaying two lions in Moab. Now, animal lovers, don't get excited. Lions were numerous and a threat to humans, often preying on women and children as they had to gather food or go to the well (cistern) for water. When the Bible uses the word "slay," this implies a conflict, rather than use the word "kill," which may or may not be a justifiable death. So one can deduce with confidence that Benaiah was already famous for having slaying two predatory lions in Moab, and also going down into the cistern, where a lion was hiding during the snow, and slaying it, thus protecting the populace. Then it is recorded specifics of his defeat of a large and better armed Egyptian, and the specifics of his grouping in the elite unit of Thirty. There is even commentary that he was better than most of the Thirty, but did not make it into the separate better group of the Three! Yet David selected him to be his bodyguard, and I'll bet it's because of the lions too! One of the points I am trying to make is that Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, became David's bodyguard because of his protectiveness in addition to his prowess.
The gift of "Fortitude" must therefore be understood as being not only self contained and secure, but also protective of others. One with "Fortitude" is responsible and endures not just for one's self, but on behalf of others. It is not like the popular phrase of today "I am being strong for their behalf," when someone, let's say a grieving family member is "holding it together" so that others don't see him or her cry. That is being "strong," that is not having the gift of "Fortitude." "Fortitude" is when one does not have to mask or pretend because, instead, that person is genuinely serene in the face of even the greatest burden, so great is their faith in God and thus their own capabilities and capacity. This person also consistently maintains their perspective and context about life, what the big issues are and the little ones, and deals with them accordingly and, importantly, they never forget the comparative context of both human life and eternal life.
The Lord God has a question for humans
The Lord God has a question for humans
I am honored to transmit to you humans a question from God.
God, being all knowing, of course noticed that today you celebrate, or should I say, commemorate “World’s AIDS Day.” God wonders why you do not now go ahead and celebrate, or commemorate, a different disease every day of the year.
God suggests that you go in alphabetical order, so as not to provide too great a strain on astrologers, numerologists, and other special interest groups regarding the selection of particular months and dates for each particular disease.
Thus you could have, and this is just me, the blogger, who is not all knowing, coming up with names off of the top of my head, the following in just the “A’s” alone.
World Allergy Day, World Attention Deficit Disorder Day, World Asperger’s Day, World ALS Day, World Arthritis Day, World Asthma Day, World Autism Day, World Anxiety Day…
Would that not be fun and educational for your children? Just like World’s AIDS Day. Thus not a day would go by that there is not sorrow and special school based activities. (After all, we know that children around the world are all caught up in their basic studies and have ample time to spare worrying about adult worries and woes).
And there would be no scheduling problem, since most secular governments have stopped celebrating such events as the birth days of your great men and women, holy days, or days commemorating saints, or even the birthdays of your current leaders. {Even Great Britain, retaining the custom of the Queen’s Birthday, does not celebrate it on her actual birthday). And look at the United States, who no longer celebrates the actual birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The 4th of July is safe because it is a big summer beer and barbecue weekend. And we of course know what is happening to the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, who cannot even be mentioned in schools anymore.
So the Lord God suggests that you have every day be assigned a patron disease, disorder, mental illness or, to be traditional, a “plague day.” Children could learn the symptoms (with high technology graphic pictures, of course), learning to produce and self diagnose themselves (handy when there is no medical care). I guess “World Hypochondriac Day” would have to be an important day as a result. But after all, children do not have enough to worry about. Fortunately you would not have “World Abortion Day” since, well, every day is an abortion day, and further it is a “right” or a “choice” and not a medical condition, so it does not match the criterion for commemoration.
Teachers have a difficult time teaching reading, mathematics, history (secular or faith based) and science, but I notice they have no problem with discussing “gross” subjects with their students. So I imagine that teachers would really shine in the daily “Disease Day” celebratory presentations. Hollywood (and Bollywood) can provide any support for the gory scenes, such as what open sores look like. The American policy of “No Child Left Behind” can really come true, as every child will have access to the nightmare of worry about symptoms of their inadequate and deteriorating health. They can also worry about mommy and daddy, brother or sister (and their dog or cat) coming down with each disease they learn about each day (that’s assuming the child has an intact family, of course). After all, children do not have enough glorious things to honor, or bad things to worry about. Why not go “all the way?”
So, um, I hope that everyone has had a, I guess you’d say, “Meaningful” “World AIDS Day,” and just think about all the good that you have done. Much better to “raise awareness” of a disease on a “special day” than a founding father or mother, honored past leader, honored present leader, saint, holy person, or self sacrificing avocation, such as maybe having “World Alms Day” to raise awareness of charitable alms giving.
Don’t bother writing God a reply! (He already knows what you will say or think since he is, after all, the all knowing).
I am honored to transmit to you humans a question from God.
God, being all knowing, of course noticed that today you celebrate, or should I say, commemorate “World’s AIDS Day.” God wonders why you do not now go ahead and celebrate, or commemorate, a different disease every day of the year.
God suggests that you go in alphabetical order, so as not to provide too great a strain on astrologers, numerologists, and other special interest groups regarding the selection of particular months and dates for each particular disease.
Thus you could have, and this is just me, the blogger, who is not all knowing, coming up with names off of the top of my head, the following in just the “A’s” alone.
World Allergy Day, World Attention Deficit Disorder Day, World Asperger’s Day, World ALS Day, World Arthritis Day, World Asthma Day, World Autism Day, World Anxiety Day…
Would that not be fun and educational for your children? Just like World’s AIDS Day. Thus not a day would go by that there is not sorrow and special school based activities. (After all, we know that children around the world are all caught up in their basic studies and have ample time to spare worrying about adult worries and woes).
And there would be no scheduling problem, since most secular governments have stopped celebrating such events as the birth days of your great men and women, holy days, or days commemorating saints, or even the birthdays of your current leaders. {Even Great Britain, retaining the custom of the Queen’s Birthday, does not celebrate it on her actual birthday). And look at the United States, who no longer celebrates the actual birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The 4th of July is safe because it is a big summer beer and barbecue weekend. And we of course know what is happening to the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, who cannot even be mentioned in schools anymore.
So the Lord God suggests that you have every day be assigned a patron disease, disorder, mental illness or, to be traditional, a “plague day.” Children could learn the symptoms (with high technology graphic pictures, of course), learning to produce and self diagnose themselves (handy when there is no medical care). I guess “World Hypochondriac Day” would have to be an important day as a result. But after all, children do not have enough to worry about. Fortunately you would not have “World Abortion Day” since, well, every day is an abortion day, and further it is a “right” or a “choice” and not a medical condition, so it does not match the criterion for commemoration.
Teachers have a difficult time teaching reading, mathematics, history (secular or faith based) and science, but I notice they have no problem with discussing “gross” subjects with their students. So I imagine that teachers would really shine in the daily “Disease Day” celebratory presentations. Hollywood (and Bollywood) can provide any support for the gory scenes, such as what open sores look like. The American policy of “No Child Left Behind” can really come true, as every child will have access to the nightmare of worry about symptoms of their inadequate and deteriorating health. They can also worry about mommy and daddy, brother or sister (and their dog or cat) coming down with each disease they learn about each day (that’s assuming the child has an intact family, of course). After all, children do not have enough glorious things to honor, or bad things to worry about. Why not go “all the way?”
So, um, I hope that everyone has had a, I guess you’d say, “Meaningful” “World AIDS Day,” and just think about all the good that you have done. Much better to “raise awareness” of a disease on a “special day” than a founding father or mother, honored past leader, honored present leader, saint, holy person, or self sacrificing avocation, such as maybe having “World Alms Day” to raise awareness of charitable alms giving.
Don’t bother writing God a reply! (He already knows what you will say or think since he is, after all, the all knowing).
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