Saint Andrew, Advent and the Christmas Season

In a discussion on education of our children, a friend told me “more was caught than taught.” The next few weeks are wonderful teaching moments not so much from a textbook but rather through example and practice, such as the season of Advent. I hope you cherish this often misunderstood season in the church calendar. While others are having parties and decorating Christmas trees, we can be in preparation for the arrival of something extremely important, our Lord and Saviors Birth.

The Church celebrates the feast of Saint Andrew on November 30, an important date in the annual liturgical calendar, because it determines the date of the First Sunday of Advent, which is the Sunday nearest this Feast. Saint Andrew, called the "Protoclet" (or "first called") by the Greeks, was crucified at Achaia by order of Roman Governor Aegeas during the reign of Nero. He was bound, not nailed, to the X-shaped cross in order to prolong his sufferings. According to tradition, he preached from the cross for two days, and died on the third day. Some of us might remember Advent called St. Andrew’s Lent as the time prior to Christmas was similar to Lent as a time of waiting, preparing, and looking forward to Christ among us. I know St Andrew inspires me to bound myself to the cross, to die to my silly wants, focus on the Advent Season and enjoy the fullness of the Christmas Season.

Thanksgiving

This blog is focused on homeschooling, but we all know as homeschooling parents that the education we are trying to give our children is so much more than reading, writing, and addition. This came to my mind as I was visiting a much older relative this week and our conversation led to this topic. She is in her late eighties and was in a reflective mood. She was telling me how thankful she was for her parents, how they raised her and the values they taught her, what a happy life it gave her. I was thinking about our visit early this morning. I never was a early riser, but have come to love the morning and often have hot tea outside and watch the sunrise. My favorite spot is under an wisteria bush arbor with some antique roses near by. The buds are a fresh pink and as the rose opens to it full beauty, it is the purest white. I could look at them all day, they are so beautiful. In my mind all this ties together with us as parents. We have been blessed with the gift of live, the lives of our children. Beautiful little rosebuds, we tend, feed, water and (sometimes prune off the rough spots) watch them develop into the purest of white roses.
I pray you have a happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the "roses".

Half Year Enrollment Offer from Seton

If you are having trouble with your plans for the 2009 school year or what you thought would be the perfect fit for your child is not working so well....Seton Home Study is making a special offer. Families will receive all books, lesson plans, etc of full-year enrollment at a discounted cost. So if this might be just the support you need, please call 1-866-280-1930 or email admissions at admissions(at)setonhome(dot)org

Spelling, Math and being Christ like...

I was flipping thru one of the childrens’ 7th grade books, Our Moral Life in Christ-The Didache Series. The first chapter focuses on living a moral life as Jesus lived in word and action. The first question asked for the reader to reflect on is “What does it mean to be Christ like?” This is an ideology that I am reviewing, working on, and pounding into my kids heads these days as bad tempers seem to be flying free and patience and understanding is running a little thin in the Arnold house. This lesson offers me comfort in the model of walking closer to Christ. The lesson continues explaining identification with Christ is new life in the Holy Spirit. Please allow me to paraphrase. We begin following Christ in Baptism; St Paul uses the phrase “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” Rom 13:14 This expression is mentioned 13 times in the sense of putting on Christ interiorly, not exteriorly. Also the expression “to be formed in Christ” which is used regularly in the epistles. St Paul explains by means of Hellenistic Art: the hollow space in the mold shapes the molten metal in to the statue. Similarly, Jesus is the mold into which the baptized are placed. The result is the reception of the form of the Son. Consequently, the Christian moral life is by definition the imitation of Christ, to the degree of identifying with him. St Paul gives the following ideal as a motto for the Christian life: “Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus…” Phil 2:5 St Paul gives the end of identifying with Christ in his letter to the Galatians, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” Gal 2:20 Peace be with you and yours…back to spelling and math!