Chosen

As we move closer and closer to Christmas, I have been contemplating the concept of being God's chosen. To be chosen of God...Yes, God chooses, designates people to be His messengers of truth throughout the world, we all can come to a consensus on this. But, what exactly does that entail? How does being chosen affect us in our daily lives? What are the physical and tangible outworkings of such a concept? One of the best examples of being chosen by God is the Hebrew people. However, they faltered, as man will in a sinful, fallen world, and turned away from the laws of the Lord. As a result, as Christmas has drawn near, the most prominent example has emerged, quietly, yet forcefully; humbly, yet persuasively. The Theotokus, the Virgin Mary is the consummate example of one who is chosen, one who is set aside, set apart for the will and purposes for the Lord. She humbly and willingly accepted one of the greatest responsibilities in the course of entire human history. She accepts with praise and joy...

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.

The Virgin Mary, the ultimate chosen, the ultimate example to us all of answering the Lord's call. Though earthly ridicule, shame, or abuse may be at hand, we are but here for a fleeting moment. Our temporary home, prior to an eternal glory.


Heed His call.

Theotokus, Virgin Mother,
Sacred Choice of Heaven's will.
Sweet submission to God's purpose,
Eternal admonition to fulfill.
Blessed God-bearer, Theotokus,
Within your virgin womb you sheltered,
God's sacred Pearl and Love's Great Treasure,
Come to earth Man's sin to rid.
God's Holy Spirit overshadowing,
Eternal seed breathes life within.
Tiny Sovereign sent from Heaven
Revealing God's Kingdom to Hearts of Men.
At your breast the Christ-child nursing,
Peace asleep upon your chest.
Jewish maiden, cradles the Savior,
In tender arms He sweetly rests.
-Brianna Bleymaier, 2002

Hope and the world hopes with you...

Well, the blogging world has flown by me, while I have been amiss in keeping up to speed. The past few months have been marked by quite a few distractions that have kept me from staying on top of this; however, beginning with this blog, I will renew my regular updating. Anyway, on that note, one overlying theme, looking at hte past four months, is one of hope. As a result, here are some others thoughts on the subject...quotes that have sparked my thoughts the past few weeks...Enjoy!

Hope has two beautiful daughters.
Their names are anger and courage;
anger at the way things are,
and courage to see that they do not remain that way.
- St. Augustine of Hippo


Be careful not to be frightened. Don't be surprised when cannonballs start falling, but stand valiantly as a soldier of Christ, as a practised combatant, as a brave warrior. For this present life here is a battlefield.
Repose will be in that life there.
Here is exile; there is our true homeland.

-Joseph the Hesychast


Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without words,
And never stops at all.
-Emily Dickinson


All human wisdom is summed up in two words: wait and hope.
-Alexandre Dumas


True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings.
-Shakespeare


Dum spiro, spero.
While I breathe, I hope.
-Latin Proverb