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Current article from " The Gospel at St. David's"
Newsletter
Saints and Seasons 
The
creches stayed out longest, as usual, waiting for the arrival of the magi. Not that Mary and Joseph themselves awaited the
sages from the east - they had no way of knowing that they were even on their way, and had been this long time, bringing their
strange treasures. They were busy just getting by, trying to get used to having a child, struggling to keep him warm and dry
and fed. The magi themselves knew not where their journey would end; the child was 2 by the time they arrived.
We have managed to take that sacred moment when God
took flesh, and have frozen it in time. I wonder if Mary and Joseph don't look down at our creches and chuckle a little.
I can hear Mary laugh and say "' The Little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes!' Remember how he cried, Joe? Sometimes
I wondered what I'd gotten myself into! Look at me kneeling there- you'd think we had nothing to do but be lost in
adoration! Oh, we did have our moments of wonder, but they were usually after Jesus had finally fallen asleep and we lay exhausted
among the animals."
But now the
mystery of that Incarnation is packed away 'til next year, along with it's amazing implications. Already, in mid-January,
Valentine's Day is being hawked in the stores; love for sale. Packed away also is the fact that, at least from the outside,
the story doesn't have a happy ending.
But before we leave the mystery
of Christmas behind altogether, the Church asks that we pause and consider it once again as we celebrate the Feast of the
Presentation of Christ in the temple on February 2. (Luke 2:22-38) Much as we do at Baptism, Mary and Joseph bring the offering
of their son to the temple. Two faithful people who have watched and waited for the Hope of Israel see and recognize Jesus
that day: the prophet Anna, aged 84, who had been married a scant seven years and since then has lived as a widow in the temple
until that day; and so did the aged prophet Simeon, who takes Jesus in his arms and proclaims that now he can die in peace,
having seen the arrival of the "light to enlighten the nations and the glory of your people Israel." (BCP Pg 120)
But even in the midst of fulfillment, of recognition
and celebration, the shadow of the cross hangs over them here as Simeon turns from her Son to Mary and says "and a sword
will pierce your own soul too." And ours as well.
Louise Buck February 2012
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This month
features books that have been waiting for some time to be processed into our library. 
Celtic spirituality, long an interest
in our library, is the richer for two books newly added: Philip Sheldrake's "Living
Between Worlds, place and journey in Celtic Spirituality" is a slim book that touches on the importance
of sensitivity to the natural world, to journey, to pilgrimage in Celtic Christianity. "Glendalough,
a Celtic Pilgrimage" by Michael Rodgers and Marcus Losack describes in detail such a place of pilgrimage
in Ireland, and by reading this guide one can experience some measure of the journey, and learn of the ancient artifacts along
S. Kevin's road to Glendalough, said to be a "thin place" between this world and the next.  A variety of books on the topic of social justice are available in our library. Sister Helen Prejean's
"The Death of Innocents" is a moving account of
the death penalty gone wrong. (Our copy is inscribed by the author, and it's interesting to note the pressure and intensity
of her signature.) For
years we have had books on the subject of homosexuality in our collection, and one more has been added: John J. McNeill's
"Taking a Chance on God", subtitled "Liberating
theology for gays, lesbians, and their lovers, families, and friends." The author, a Jesuit priest, was expelled from
the church for his views on the sexuality of gays and lesbians. The theme of his book is to reconcile those condemned by the
church, any church, for their sexuality, and to convey the
love of God; to go past anger, fear, shame and judgment and experience faith and community.
"Queen
by Right" by the British author Anne Easter Smith has been added to our fiction shelves, a gift of Marge
Weston. The author has researched in great detail the life of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York and wife of Richard Plantagenet,
Duke of York. The mid-fourteen hundreds in Britain saw brutal power struggles and colorful royal characters, and Cecily was
in the midst of it, mother of two kings, Richard the III was one of them. Don't skip the family trees at the front, or
the glossary at the back, for it all makes a rich get-a-way to a vivid period of history.
Jean Kockinos, Librarian
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