2nd Day of Christmas: "Do not be afraid!"
On angels, archetypes, Hildegard of Bingen and love abundant.
Dear fellow traveler,
How are you doing on this second day of Christmas? Are you getting settled in just yet? Or have you just arrived?
Our 12 Days of Christmas Contemplations are a slow walk. We do not rush. You can start any time. If you have only 5 minutes, stop in for a brief breather, look at a photo, breathe, look again. Scroll down to the blessing or practice, and find a little surprise on the way. Leave a heart or a comment, so we know you have been here.
Today I invite you to ponder with me the words of the Christmas angel(s), as Hildegard of Bingen translates them so radically into our own reality. I also offer you some of her ethereal music of the “angel choirs” and, as always, a blessing at the end, today written by my husband and fellow traveler Chuck.
Not sure about you, but I always arrive at these last days of the year somewhat shriveled, with some regret in my pockets.
Really, are we already there yet? Is this year already over?
There are so many projects I wanted to get done! So many things not finished!
And then, there are the angels from the Christmas story:
Fear not,
they sing into my worries,
Fürchte Dich nicht!
Denn Dir ist heute ein Heiland geboren. A Savior is born for you,
a healer
is given …
O dear friend, isn’t healing what we all long for? I often wish it would come once and for all.
And then, the 12 Days of Christmas remind us that we must journey in order to find healing, that Divine wisdom does not come like a life insurance one can purchase but knocks tenderly at our door, always again, in search of a dwelling place.
Here, right here in the unrest of my heart, somewhat worn down by family worries, retreating into the quiet space of our snowed-in home, right here in the chamber of my innermost being, here the Divine wants to dwell.
Right here, in your fresh grief, right here in your joys and sorrows, right here in your uncertainty and your longing.
And right here in this aching world.
Here, in your family vacation, here in your retreat place, and yes…, even there where your doubts just lead you.
As I write, the angels sing in many voices, using the languages I speak and the words I need.
What do they sing to you, dear fellow pilgrim?
Going deeper:
Hildegard of Bingen’s take on the Christmas angel
Do you know about our “Weihnachtsengel” (Christmas Angel), that I bought some years ago in a local thrift store? This inspired bit of carved and constructed art has become a central aspect of our Christmas story since then. We open the doors in the robes of the angel every Christmas Eve, which holds the nativity scene.
Last year, I introduced Hildegard’s allegorical reading of the nativity. About Mary, the “faithful soul” and Joseph, the Wisdom at her side. But what did she say about the angels?
Today Chuck took Hannah on a spin so I could read and find out. I first took Hildegard’s book of homilies from my shelf.1
Hildegard is not exactly an easy read. So for this contemplation I will just share a nugget. In her homilies Hildegard does like a good theologian would do. She starts with the word from the Bible and then translates it into the context of her listeners or readers. As we will see, Hildegard’s context is very much the human soul.
So here is how she does it:
She first quotes scripture:
And the angel said to them: “Do not fear, for behold, I announce to you good news of great joy that will be for all people, for today, in the city of David is born to you a savior.”
And then she translates it into her own words:
God’s grace pointed out: “Do not doubt. Great virtue is in the breath of life, because it is common to all human kind. In you, the Divine Presence2 has been born…”
Did you see? Did you see how she translates “angel?”
“God’s grace,” she writes. And that makes a lot of sense. Angel comes from the greek angelos and means messenger. This messenger has often been understood as an appearance from beyond.
But here, Hildegard tells us, that she understands that guide from beyond to be, namely, God’s grace.
God’s grace is the messenger from beyond, the angel, who speaks into our fears:
“Do not doubt,” the angel says, do not doubt, Divine grace tells us, do not doubt the breath of life still breathing in us.
The good news here is that with each breath “Divine presence” wants to be born in us. Hildegard uses the latin “rationalitas” here, which she does not understand as today’s rationality, but as God’s all encompassing and all knowing creative love, present in the breath of life, breathing in us and through us.
In you, says the angel, Divine Presence is born.
Wow!
What an amazing translation of the events of Jesus’ holy birth. And it goes well with current understandings of the Cosmic Christ. Jesus birth heralds, and consummates, the birth of Divine presence in us. With every breath of life we take, we are participating in the Divine birth, dear friends. The Divine presence in your breath reawakens what lies dormant in you and draws you into participating in life eternal.
Viriditas is what Hildegard calls this all encompassing life force. And it seeks, it longs, to dwell in us.
A Listening Practice: Love abundant
Above is an illumination of the angel choirs, inspired by Hildegard of Bingen’s vision in her Scivias. Play it now while you read the rest of this. Then play it again. The image and accompanying text would be worth a whole day retreat.
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