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Good morning bus riders!
I hope everyone received the email with the link to the lectionary page and read all the readings for today. Because I discuss everything and ignore all the optional brackets the Episcopal Church offers … I imagine for church to let out as soon as possible … what seems to be five readings is really only four. The one called Canticle 15 is really the optional verses for the Gospel reading from Luke.
Remember … I am not a hired hand who works for the Episcopal Church. I have not been sent here by them in some ‘street missionary’ assignment. I hold no legal papers that say I have been approved to do weddings and funerals. I don’t even have any gum or Tic Tacs to share, much less any bread, water or wine deemed holy. So, with that disclaimer, let’s get started!
When we ended the Ordinary season after Pentecost, it was so long (half a year) that we reached the point that ended it as not numbering it, but calling it the “Last Sunday after Pentecost.” We called it “Christ the King Sunday,” but not the twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost … which it was.
Today we are at the ‘Last Sunday of Advent,’ which means our ‘due date’ … in what should be each of our pregnancies, carrying the Son of God in our souls. We see that birth as being on December 25th each year. So, the fourth Sunday of Advent is when the 25th of December is seven days away (or less).
In terms of real pregnancies, Jesus should be making our bellies just as big as can be. We should see his feet kicking, from inside out, ready to come into the world and take over each of our lives for us.
The services held at many churches on Christmas eve are filled with many of the favorite Christmas songs. Music has a way of vibrating our souls to a higher level of being, because music is waves of sound … unseen power that touches our souls as well as our flesh.
In that way, the fourth Sunday of Advent is like Christmas eve, because all of the readings are songs of praise.
The first reading, from Micah’s last chapter, is what prophesied where the Messiah would be born – in Bethlehem in Judah. This is like hearing the song every Christmas Eve that sings, “O little town of Bethlehem.”
That song wasn’t known when the Magi came to Jerusalem expecting to see a new baby born, one that would be the “King of the Jews.” They went to Jerusalem and asked Herod the Great where his new son was. He told them, “I have no new son.” So, they asked where the Messiah was prophesied to be born; and, Herod didn’t know. He called in the scribes; and, the scribes quoted this reading from Micah.
The scholars, however, question where the smaller town named Ephrathah was, because they can find no evidence it ever there was a ‘subdivision’ of Bethlehem by that name.
This past week I looked at the meanings of what appears to be the names of places and found that verse two can be read as saying: “but you house of bread [Bethlehem] fruitful [Ephrathah] , little you are among the thousands who let him be praised , out of you to me shall come forth , the one to become ruler in those who retain Yahweh as His elohim [Israel] , those going forth formerly days everlasting .”
When the confusing places are transformed to the meaning behind the names, a very eternal prophecy says the birth of the soul we know as “Jesus” – a name that means “Yah[weh] Will Save” – is planned for everyone who is a house of spiritual food [Bethlehem] that begets those who will be saints [Ephrathah ]. From itty bitty you and itty bitty me (as good fruit grown), there are countless true Christians who praise Yahweh by being His Son (males and females alike).
The name “Israel” is actually the name of Yahweh, which one takes on in marriage, when one’s soul submits to Him totally. One becomes a Yahweh elohim and is reborn as Jesus. The ways of the past are no more, as the future only holds the light of truth and salvation of the soul forevermore.
When we read the verse that sings, “then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel,” the word translated as “kindred” actually says “his brothers” and the word translated as “people” actually says “sons.” This is how all Christians are related to the Father (who is also a soul’s Husband), while saying Jesus resurrected in all His wife-souls makes them (males and females alike) “brothers,” because all are ”sons who retain Yahweh as His elohim” (“Israel”).
Seeing the divine meaning shine forth is amazing; but just like the scribes did not explain that to Herod the Great, seeing the truth of Scripture requires divine assistance; and, scholars always lack that, as well as those who write lyrics to Christmas carols.
After seeing how looking at the names Micah wrote in a new light, I did the same with David’s Psalm 80.
The scholars would question my saying that is a song of David, because verse one identifies it as being “of Asaph.” They then conject that Asaph was someone David let write songs, because he was someone David trusted to write songs.
That is not how I saw that word (because the capitalization as a name is conjecture – Hebrew has no capital letters). The word “asaph” means “gatherer.” That fits the theme of a “shepherd,” which David was when Samuel anointed him (as well as Yahweh). Therefore, I see David announcing he was the author of this song, as the Gatherer of souls for Yahweh, like a shepherd tends a flock.
From that, the names sung that follow are: Joseph, Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. When the meaning behind the names is allowed to shine forth, David sang: “you will lead like a flock increaser [Joseph] , you will sit cherubim to shine forth . the face doubly fruitful [Ephraim] and sons of the right hand [Benjamin] and forgetting [Manasseh] , awaken as your strength ; and come save us .”
That says the purpose of being a “shepherd” or “gatherer” is to grow the flock. One does that by being a “cherubim” of Yahweh – a Yahweh elohim. A “doubly fruitful face” is having your physical face, while the true “face” projected – shining forth – is that of Jesus. It makes one be a “son” of Yahweh, while also allowing one’s soul-flesh to become the “right hand” of God extended to the earthly plane. By being possessed by Yahweh’s Spirit and His Son’s soul, all past sins are “forgotten.” One rises from the death the flesh poses – mortal sleep – and “awakens” to the eternal life promised to one’s soul. That becomes one’s “salvation.”
This is where one remembers the name of “Jesus” means Yahweh will “come save us.”
In Psalm 80, David twice wrote “elohim of hosts." The “hosts” refers back to the “thousands” Micah sang about. The meaning of “elohim” has to be seen as the “angels” created by Yahweh. When David sang of “Yahweh elohim,” that is what one becomes when His Son Jesus is born again in one’s own soul.
That is when one “shows the face of Yahweh,” so one’s soul is known to be “saved.”
That is the purpose of true Christmas; so, that is what we are all called to become. However, David – the Gatherer – saw not everyone is so easily led to marry Yahweh and bear His most holy child.
David sang of the “tears” that will be the food and drink of lost souls. They will offer “prayers” that will “anger” God.
The way I see that is prayers are based on what one has been taught. When taught the wrong meanings of Scripture, one begins to pray for things … not forgiveness. One begins to beg selfishly, not thank Yahweh wholeheartedly.
When one is a lost sheep, oneself has become one’s own “enemy.” We do nothing for our “neighbors,” so our neighbors do nothing for us. With each new failure that we bring upon our own souls in the flesh, our “neighbors” laugh. They laugh because they know what failures feel like. “Join the club!” they sing.
David was singing the way to eliminate all that is to be the Son of God, as one soul gathered, thus saved.
In the Hebrews selection set aside for reading today, they have falsely shown it to begin by saying, “When Christ came into the world.”
There is no word written by Paul that says “Christos.” He did not name Jesus either … not until verse ten’s last words. This means the translator is making us think that was written; and, they use “Christ” as if it is the ‘last name’ of Jesus – as “Jesus Christ” – one name synonymous with the other.
The actual first word written by Paul is “Dio,”which means “Therefore.” A capitalized “Therefore” has to be read as a divinely elevated word with meaning connected to Yahweh.
Looking up that word and pondering how it could be divinely elevated, I read that “dio” is a conjunction of “dià” and “hos,” which combines “across to the other side” with “which.” The result is “because, therefore.” HELPS Word-studies then added this: “Two "directions" are expressed by 1352 (dió) – looking backward ("because") to properly look forward ("therefore").”
That says the divine elevation to this “Therefore” is this: the presence of Yahweh and the birth of His Son is the bridge that crosses a soul over, from the past of sins that led to the time when one finally marries one’s soul to Yahweh [“because”], which then leads to a future [“Therefore”] that is one’s own “coming into the world” as a new person.
That person is relative to being reborn as Jesus; and that requires one’s own “Sacrifice” of one’s own “Flesh,” which is done at the altar of divine marriage.
One has to remember that Paul never met Jesus physically. The soul of Jesus appeared to Saul (his old name) and left Saul blind for three days. Paul only knew Jesus after his self-soul's submission to Yahweh, himself becoming a Christ and himself being reborn as Jesus.
David knew Yahweh in the same way, even though David did not call his inner self “Jesus.” Paul then quoted David’s Psalm 40, when he spoke as Jesus within him.
David sang about Yahweh not wanting burned animals. David knew Yahweh wanted the souls of His wives, which meant they must become the sacrificial animals whose flesh was offered to Yahweh.
When David sang of the “scroll of the book that is written for me,” that first person singular possessive pronoun – “me” – is always the reader - you and me. David sang and Paul remembered his words, as the “scroll of the book” is where one’s own name is written, when one’s name has become “Israel” or “Jesus.”
As a reading on the eve of Christmas, Paul then said that the coming of a resurrected Jesus within one’s soul will “abolish the old” you and “establish the second” you. The numbering of “second” means two souls in one body of flesh. That says you submit your self-ego unto Yahweh’s Will, so He sends His Son to replace your “self-will” with that of Yahweh, administered through His Son Jesus.
In the translation of verse ten, where it says, “of Jesus Christ once for all,” the reality is it says “of Jesus of Christ all at once.” Both “Jesus” and “Christ” are two capitalized words, so each must be read as divinely elevated separately. They are written in the genitive case, which means the possession “of Jesus” and “of Christ.” One says “I have become reborn of Jesus’ soul.” The other says, “I have been Anointed by Yahweh the Father.” Both are different, but both take place on Christmas Day “all at once.”
When we then get to the Luke reading, the element of December 25th that its words contain flies well over all out heads … but it is there.
The reading presented on the lectionary page begins by stating “In those days.” That is a common statement by other translators; but the truth is the first word of verse thirty-nine is capitalized, saying “Having risen up.” That is tossed away as if it only says, “Mary woke up in the morning after having had a dream.” By ignoring the divine elevation of that statement, which says, “May’s soul had become raised by Yahweh’s Spirit,” the ones hearing this or reading this in English are not told very important information.
That realization says there was an immediacy that filled Mary’s soul that has nothing to do with “in those days.” The aspect of “days” has to be seen through the lens of “Having been raised,” so “days” reflects on the light of truth that filled her being.
The plural number applied to “these” (written twice, two ways) is Mary and Elizabeth. The light of truth filled both of “these” women. Thus, it was with that immediate dawning upon Mary – that her barren aunt was six months pregnant – that was what led her to burst out the door in haste, to go see her relative.
In the verses before these verses read today, one has to know that the angel Gabriel appeared before Mary, whether in a dream at night or in broad daylight we do not know. Gabriel told Mary two basic things: She was pregnant with the Son of God; and, her relative Elizabeth was also pregnant (had been for six months).
We are told in the verses that tell of that divine appearance, telling of two divine pregnancies, that Gabriel appeared to Mary in the sixth month; and, he told Mary that Elizabeth had been pregnant for six months. The "sixth month" is then screaming at the reader to take notice.
The sixth month in the Hebrew calendar is Elul, which is the equivalent to our calendar today as generally being between what we know as August and September.
For Elizabeth to then be six months pregnant, she was divinely made pregnant in the first month, which is Nisan. That month equates to the time we recognize as March and April.
Go figure.
<Look for surprised faces.>
Well, a normal pregnancy is nine months. So, Mary became pregnant in what we recognize as the astrological time of Virgo – Latin for “Virgin” – so nine months later would be sometime between May and June.
Jesus would have been born in the astrological sign of Gemini.
With Elizabeth becoming pregnant early in Nisan – the first month – she would give birth to John after nine months, early into the tenth month, called Tevet. The tenth month in the old Roman calendar was December. The ninth Hebrew month was between November and December, like the astrological sign Sagittarius. Tevet is relative to Capricorn, between the last week of December to mid-January. So, December 25th would be a time to recognize the birthday of John the Baptist. Not Jesus.
In verse fifty-six (not read today, but immediately after the Song of Mary), we are told Mary stayed with Elizabeth for “about three months,” which means she stayed there with her to help her deliver her baby. She stayed until Christmas!
Then Mary went back to Nazareth, three months pregnant … so beginning to show.
Now, in what we do read, it says Mary entered the house of Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband; and, Mary called out to Elizabeth.
In the verses read prior to the angel coming to Mary, Gabriel appeared before Zechariah and told him his ‘barren old lady’ would bear a son. Zechariah laughed at that idea; so, Gabriel made Zechariah mute.
Two Sundays back – the second Sunday of Advent – one of the optional readings (we read them all here) was Canticle 16, which is the “Song of Zechariah,” found in Luke 1. I mentioned then how, after Zechariah wrote down the name “John” on paper at the bris, he suddenly was again able to talk, bursting out into a song brought about by divine ecstasy.
When Mary arrived, if she said, “Hello uncle Zechariah. Where’s Aunt Elizabeth?” she would have then found that Zechariah was still mute, so all he could do at that juncture would be point or shrug. That forced Mary to call out … but then the Spirit got involved.
Knowing also that Zechariah would have had to pass notes to Elizabeth to tell her, “Oh by the way, while in the temple today a funny thing happened …." That would have been the only way for Elizabeth to know she was divinely pregnant, because nothing is written about Gabriel appearing to her [in a dream or otherwise]. After time went by, Elizabeth would have figured it out, especially then going into her sixth month.
When the baby did a flip in Elizabeth’s womb, we have to read that as baby John hearing the voice of Yahweh-Jesus-Mary, which then immediately made Elizabeth become divinely possessed and caused her to speak.
Keep in mind that Mary is only sixteen years old. Mary is betrothed to be married, but there is a waiting period that must pass beforehand, which is stated in the Gospel of Matthew. Mary immediately went to see Elizabeth and stayed with her three month before going back to Nazareth, when she was beginning her fourth month – showing – and forced to tell Joseph that news. That led to Gabriel making another appearance, so Joseph would not get cold feet.
This means Elizabeth – living in the hill country of Judah – might have known her niece Mary was engaged, but she would have had zero expectations that Mary would be pregnant before getting married. Mary, at that point in time, could not have been more than a couple of hours pregnant, having left Nazareth in haste to run to see Elizabeth and tell her what an angel just told her. Mary was excited more for Elizabeth being pregnant than for the news of her own pregnancy.
So, what Elizabeth said about Mary being blessed among women, carrying a divine fetus – that could have been in her womb no more than a few hours at that time – Elizabeth spoke divinely.
What Elizabeth said was Yahweh speaking through her lips.
When we then read, “blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord,” that was how Mary received the words of Elizabeth as confirming the words of Gabriel. By writing “Kyriou,” which actually translates as “of Lord, (in the genitive case), it says Yahweh was the possessor of everyone’s soul in that house. As such, Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary were all speaking as three Jesuses, all being reborn by the Spirit of the Father.
That says Mary believed because Jesus within her womb was speaking to her through others.
That realization then made Mary break out in divinely inspired song, which is called Canticle 15 or “Mary Magnificat.”
The first thing she admitted in song was “my soul has been Magnified by the presence of Jesus within me, as my Lord.”
Mary was possessed by Yahweh, through His Son within.
Mary then said her “spirit rejoices,” where she had received the Spirit of Yahweh into the spirit that was her own soul (also a “spirit”).
A soul is the gift of life given by “God;” but a soul alone must find its way back to “God,” which can only come from divine marriage to Yahweh and giving birth to His Son within one’s soul.
In verse 47 a capitalized “Savior” is written, giving that word divine elevation, so “Savior” means “Jesus,” because the name “Jesus” means “Yahweh Saves.”
In verse 48, Mary sang praises for Elizabeth, as her “humiliation” had been her inability to bring Zechariah a son. Now, she was six month pregnant with a blessing of Yahweh. Mary too was so blessed, as she spoke of the “generations” that would benefit from both childbirths.
This says all humanity is barren, thereby we are all virgins as far as marriage to Yahweh is concerned, having never received His Spirit, becoming His Anointed ones – His Christs.
The miracle of Elizabeth and Mary becomes a prophecy of what we too can become – because we are of those future “generations.”
Her prophecy said we all must become humble and realize that only good deeds gain redemption; and, doing good is only possible by being reborn as the “mighty one” who will rule one’s soul – Jesus.
Mary sang that the descendants of Abraham were not of a physical bloodline, but all who would become like the Patriarchs and submit their souls unto Yahweh, becoming His elohim.
Mary sang about the truth of Christmas, which is when John the Baptist is born within our souls, paving the way for our souls to be reborn as Jesus.
If you think about that for a moment, we must all lose our heads before Jesus fully enters ministry in our bodies of flesh.
It is always the big brain that enslaves a soul, making it seek to please the flesh. The head wears the face of self-righteousness, seeing a puny soul as a god. When the world says that puny head is so smart, "I want it served to me on a platter," then … "Off with the head!"
To even consider having Jesus in the womb of our souls, waiting to make us born anew, we have to be John the Baptist reborn first. We have to know the salvation that comes from a sinner soul having been saved; knowing eternal salvation is a far greater reward than desiring to keep one's brain intact.
I know the bus is due in any moment now; so, I will end with that thought.
The reason for the season is not the birth of baby Jesus in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago. The reason for the season is the resurrection of Jesus within each of our souls. That is when we each become truly Christian, having been Anointed by Yahweh, giving rebirth to His Son.
The only gift of merit is a lost soul being gathered and returned to Yahweh’s fold. It is about the gift of eternal life, by receiving the Spirit of Yahweh, submitting ourselves to His service.
Anything bought and paid for that amounts to things given and things received, they will all be left behind or broken and made useless in time. Eternal life is the gift that always keeps on giving; but it is never ours to give.
It is only for us to receive, by giving up ourselves … our souls … in service to Yahweh.
Next Saturday is December 25th. Keep these words in mind as you go to that date. I look forward to meeting with you all again the day after. May the peace of the same Lord that Mary felt become yours.
Amen
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