Stations of the Nativity: Meditations on the Incarnation of Christ
96
Stations of the Nativity: Meditations on the Incarnation of Christ
96eBook
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Overview
Illustrated devotions to enrich your understanding of the Nativity narratives.
This devotional guide for the days from Advent to Candlemas builds on the popularity of the ancient Christian tradition of walking the Stations of the Cross. Readings and prayers will help individuals and groups walk the Stations of the Nativity, from the vision of Zecharias in the temple to the return of the Holy family to Galilee. Along the way readers can pray and meditate on the Annunciation, the Visitation, the birth of John the Baptist, Joseph’s dream, the Nativity, the appearance of the angels, the shepherds and Magi at the manger, the Presentation, the flight into Egypt, and the massacre of the innocents. Each station includes an opening sentence and a response, a Bible reading, a reflection, prayers, a longer meditation, and a short closing prayer. Striking engravings or woodcuts provide a visual meditation on each station.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780819225153 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Morehouse Publishing |
| Publication date: | 10/01/1999 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 96 |
| File size: | 3 MB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Stations of the Nativity
Meditations on the Incarnation of Christ
By Raymond Chapman, Dame Winefride Pruden
Church Publishing Incorporated
Copyright © 1999Raymond ChapmanAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8192-1804-9
Excerpt
CHAPTER 1Zechariah
V We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee.
R Because by thy wonderful Nativity thou hast given us new birth.
In the days of King Herod of Judaea, there was a priest named Zechariah. Once when he was serving as priest before God, there appeared to him an angel of the Lord. The angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and you will name him John. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.' Zechariah said to the angel, 'How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.' The angel replied, 'Because you did not believe my words, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the days these things occur.'
(Luke 1: part of verses 3–20)
Zechariah was serving the worship in the Temple as it had been done for centuries past. In those years many prophets had declared God's purpose for his people and told of the Messiah who was to come. Now the time was near, and Zechariah would have a son who would be the last prophet of the Old Covenant and the forerunner of the New. It was too much for the old man to believe. He was deprived of speech and sent to meditate in silence until the promise was fulfilled.
We give thanks to God for his patience, the constancy of his love, the assurance of his promises. We give thanks for the teaching of his prophets, for all his words of preparation which were fulfilled in the gospel. We give thanks for his gifts which continually exceed our expectations.
We too are slow to believe, because the good news seems impossible in human terms. We lose hope too readily, grow weary of waiting and turn aside from the way that we should follow. Teach us always to know that your ways are not our ways and that nothing will prevent the fulfilment of your living purpose.
V God sent his Son into the world.
R To bring us to eternal life.
V Let us bless the Lord.
R Thanks be to God.
* * *
The time of waiting is time wasted as we count
time in this world.
We fret as we wait for the bus, for the
examination result, for the surgery bell,
and resent the time we could, as we think, use
more to our advantage.
God's time of waiting is different; it is patient,
creative, purposeful.
It is the love of a father who knows when it is
time to give and when to withhold.
It is the compassion that reveals itself when we
are ready and open to receive it.
Centuries of our time passed until time and place
were ready together.
Time passed in Jerusalem, the holy city, the
chosen place,
where the sacrifices were offered and the
covenant kept,
where the prophets were stoned and the
covenant broken.
But always the patience of love, waiting itself to
follow the way of suffering.
Waiting with God is not time lost but time of
being truly alive.
Speech is silent as the wonder is revealed.
* * *
Patient God, turn my anxiety and anger into
patience.
Unchanging God, turn my restlessness into quiet
and constancy.
Faithful God, turn my doubts and fears into
assurance.
Please, show me when to speak and when to listen.
Annunciation
V We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee.
R Because by thy wonderful Nativity thou hast given us new birth.
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High.' Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' The angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.' Then Mary said, 'Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.'
(Luke 2: part of verses 26–37)
In the Old Testament narratives angels are sent to make known a great work that God is about to perform. The births of Isaac and of Samson are announced in this way. Now the angel Gabriel comes to a young woman in a small town to tell her of the most wonderful birth in all history. After her first alarm and incredulity, she calmly believes and accepts the will of God.
We give thanks for the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our pattern of purity, humility and absolute trust. As she knew by the message of an angel that she would be the mother of the Incarnate Son of God, give us grace to hear your word and follow your call, whether it be to little or great work in your service.
We do not trust in what the power of God can do with our weakness. We think that we can find our own way, instead of seeking to follow where you are leading. Forgive our slowness of mind and hardness of heart, and make us your servants according to your word in our own time and place.
V God sent his Son into the world.
R To bring us to eternal life.
V Let us bless the Lord.
R Thanks be to God.
* * *
On an ordinary spring day, she did not expect
anything to happen because she was one of
the quiet people who ask for little.
Lords of a higher creation did not pass that way
until an angel, shafted in new season sunlight,
spoke to her with the heavenly salutation of her
Maker,
Father of all sending the uncreated, the only-
begotten,
to be the newly-begotten, the weak and vulnerable.
The power of the Spirit, unseen, overshadowing,
the still small voice more powerful than thunder,
breathed life into the womb of innocence,
Son of the Highest, son of a virgin.
She bowed beneath the Word's weight told
and graciously accepted uncovenanted grace.
When we are too busy to notice them,
ange
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Stations of the Nativity by Raymond Chapman, Dame Winefride Pruden. Copyright © 1999 by Raymond Chapman. Excerpted by permission of Church Publishing Incorporated.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
What People are Saying About This
"Attractive in its thoughtful simplicity, Stations of the Nativity is suitable for private or congregational use, but it would make a fine devotional companion for families, too."
—Dallas Morning News
"...excellent for private meditation and for corporate worship."
—Concordia Pulpit Resources