As winter began We have enjoyed the first week Christmastide. Although, normally it is known as the slow week between Christmas and New Year, on the Church calendar its a mini-season in which we feast and celebrate for the King has come!!
Three years ago I waded deep into the anticipation of advent and my soul though weary rejoiced in the Hope of Christ. Since then I have found my soul feeling it’s worth through advent causing me to linger in His light on Christmastide.
A week ago, we collectively celebrated the embodiment of God as a babe and our hearts sang with joy. What amazing gift to receive God himself in our midst and in our hearts!
Today, I am choosing to linger, to look to the church calendar and fill that room prepared for Him, with his word, his hope, and prayer.
The 12 Days of Christmas surprised me with symbolism that encourages us as we linger in the gift of Christ embodied. I am intrigued by the history behind this song and by the meaning behind each of the gifts and how they point back to Jesus and his word.
The Church since it’s conception has experienced persecution and the enemy’s goal has been to shut it down. But the Church of God stands and the gates of hell will not prevail against it,” Jesus said as is recorded in Matthew 16.
This song, The 12 days of Christmas, turns out to be a creative way of passing on the core teachings of the Bible. Although, it began as a veiled teaching by Catholic believers to their children in England it can also be a reminder to us of the core teachings of Christianity.
1. On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . a partridge in a pear tree
This first one is about our True Love, Jesus Christ, who like a mother partridge was not afraid to give up his life so that we could be saved. The Partridge mother bird is known to fain injury and attract the predator to her so she can save her children.
The pear tree symbolizing the cross that our Lord would endure on our behalf and save us from our sins. So grateful for this picture and even more grateful for this kind of love.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13 ESV
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . two turtledoves
The Bible, The word of God, is a gift that sometimes we take for granted. A truly exuberant gift from the Lord as well as His provision to make it now more accessible than ever to us. He also continues to provide for the work being done to bring it to those who do not have access to it yet.
The two turtle doves in the song represent the New and Old Testament. In it we find the complete story of the Judeo-Christian faith and God’s plan of redemption of all mankind.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . three french hens
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:12-13
On the third day the gift represent faith, hope, and love. I needed this reminder today. I needed to remember that the giver of good gifts continues to bestow upon us these three gifts.
I included verse 12 above because I also needed to remember that although this year I can only know in part, I am still fully known, fully known by Him. I can trust in faith that He directs my steps, that even though so much uncertainty surrounds me I can believe his faithfulness. I can live with hope for the future because his love has come to make a way for me to live with him forever, truly then these three remain faith, hope and love.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . four calling birds
The four calling birds represent the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The four gospels truly herald not just the life of Jesus but his love for us. One of my favorite chapters is John 17 where Jesus prayed for us, those who would believe in him. He prayed for us and he continues to intercede for us at the right hand of the father.
What good news we find in these gospels! This is my favorite verse from John.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 ESV
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . five gold rings
This day continues the biblical theme and the five gold ring represent the first five books of the Old Testament.
The first five books of the Bible are know as the Law of Moses, the Pentateuch, or the Torah. In these books we find not just the fall of man but also the promise that a Savior would come to be the way back to God.
These books may feel hard to read at times but they contain such riches if the Lord’s love for us and his desire to be God with us.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . six geese a-laying
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.’
Genesis 1:1-2
These six geese a-laying represent the 6 days in which the earth was made. The eggs are known as symbols of new life and creation and so they were used here to remind us of the Lord coming to create the world out of nothing through the power of His Word.
I pray these reflections on this carol encourages you. I leave you with a breath prayer as we begin this month and this new year.
Breath in : He is with me in this new year
Breath out: I can rest in his gift of love
Grace and peace,
Daisy