December 19

O ROOT OF JESSE, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: COME, to deliver us, and tarry not. Amen. "O Radix Jesse..."

December 20

O KEY OF DAVID, and Sceptre of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: COME, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen. "O Clavis David..."December 21

O DAWN OF THE EAST, brightness of light eternal, and Sun of Justice: COME, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen. "O Oriens..."



I love this time of year. These little verses at the beginning of the Magnificat really need no commentary. Yet I feel myself wanting to give one anyway. So many holidays right now, each of them making us feel and think things we usually don't. I'm having conversations I don't always have. I just want to say: I am not sure what faith is, but as I define it, faith is about relationship. Faith is not certainty. It is not being sure that you are right, that your religion is right. Faith is agnostic because relationship is agnostic. That's right. The longer you abide with someone the more you realize that there is so much more of them to know and that you never knew them half as well as you did. But this is where love comes in. Love trust the little that you do know and walks on. Love stands in place of the roadmap. Love is all we have. Love is all that lies in manger. Well, hay also lies in the manger, but... love is in the hay as well.