Christmas Eve--Faith is a Verb

 En El Principio era El Verbo, y El Verbo era con Dios, y El Verbo era Dios. 

                                                    --San Juan 1:1

Faith is a verb. As is God, as is eternity.

Short story: When I taught writing at UCO, I'd use John 1:1 to emphasize the critical importance of verbs.

At a state university, I could usually count on a few students to quote John 1:1, in English. Then I'd explain, assuring the class that they didn't have to believe, but I wanted them to understand the theology behind it, that the "Word" was the agent of Creation ("Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life...."),  the pre-existent Christ.

Then I'd ask for the Spanish word of "word," and a few could answer "palabra." Then I'd put the  Spanish version up on the board, which is closer to the original Latin, and thus Greek: "En El Principio, era El Verbo...!"

Lesson: if you want to  "create" writing, sentences, pay attention to the verbs!

As I painted today's Christmas Eve card, I thought of people around the world gathering in churches, and homes, especially the poor, the paisanos and pueblo people of northern New Mexico. They  gather, walking through snow, to their adobe churches, expressing faith in their actions, seeking peace and sustenance in their humble lives.  Their faith is not something fancy or elaborate or have, but who they are and do.

Those were my thoughts last night as I was considering how to write this today. But then...

My mornings start with a reading from the journals of Thomas Merton. Today's selection, from Dec. 15, 1962,  had to be more than coincidence.

Consider these excerpts (italics are his):

• " The interior surrender of faith... (is)...an act of obedience, ie., self-commitment... (submitting) to God's truth in its power to give life, and to command one to live.
• "...Faith is not simply an act of choice, and option for a certain solution to the problem of existence, etc....To believe is to consent  to a creative command that raises us from the dead."

Tonight many of the faithful (those full of faith, a verb) gather to celebrate  the Verb who became flesh, "Y el Verbo se hizo carne...." San Juan 1:14 

No wonder faith  is a verb!

(P.S. I know, two sermons in one post today. Also consider that faith is different than belief. )

  

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Christmas Eve--pilgrims

"Christmas Eve," 5 x 7 watercolor greeting card

                 
We are all pilgrims. 

For those who believe and attempt to follow the teachings of Jesus, this religion-ordained eve of his birth prompts a pilgrimage of sorts to church services throughout the world, perhaps reminding us that we, like Jesus and his Jewish parents on the night of his birth, were also pilgrims. 

We are not alone. "Next year in Jerusalem," is the closing wish and song of Jews the world over as they remember their pilgrimages at Passover in the Seder meal. As children of pilgrim Abraham, of exodus from Egypt, of exile and return, and of 4,000 years of existence, they too know they are pilgrims.

The other children of Abraham,  Muslims know they are pilgrims. Every year millions travel to worship in Mecca, the birthplace of Mohammed. One of the five pillars of Islam is this pilgrimage, the Haji, once in  life.

Many others make pilgrimages, whether for religious or personal reasons on this week or at other times of the year. Christmas is a time for family pilgrimages for reunions. "I'll be home for Christmas." My pilgrimages are to my mother's grave, once a year or to New Mexico. Many others who return to home country for family and other special occasions.

 Consider the English term "pilgrim" originally comes from the Latin word peregrinus (per, through + ager, field, country, land), which means a foreigner, a stranger, someone on a journey, or a temporary resident. We even have a falcon from that name, though given the migration of birds and animals....

What should that remind us of, especially in these uncertain times--that there are always uncertain times, that we are on a journey?

Are we are not all children of Abraham, pilgrims?

Christmas Eve pilgrims

"We are all pilgrims," 8 x 10 watercolor, 140 lb. Canson cold press

Christmas Eve  should remind us that we're all pilgrims, just as the magi in the New Testament following the fabled star.

The word "pilgrim" originated in Middle English about 1200, describing a person traveling to a holy place, as penance or discharging a vow or seeking spiritual guidance. 

It also came to mean a traveler, a wayfarer, from the Old French  pelerin, peregrin "pilgrim, crusader; foreigner, stranger"  from Late Latin pelegrinus, "foreigner, stranger," probably from the proto Indo-European  "per" beyond, and "agro," "field," or "land."

More than you want to know, but I had to look that up to add meaning and perspective to my inspiration and art today. 

Sometimes images come in the middle of the night, and I though of those pilgrims making journeys today to holy sites around the world, or anytime of the year, any religion. 

One of the famous ones is at the Santuario de Chimayo in New Mexico in Holy Week--Good Friday to Easter--when thousands of the faithful walk, up to 90 miles, to worship.

"Christmas Eve," 5 x 7 card

Today's larger watercolor is therefore fictional, visualizing  that as happening during Christmas, but I hope it captures the spirit, the essence of being a pilgrim. 

Still, many make pilgrimages to their churches on days and nights like this. Many will travel and gather this year with technology, digitally or on TV. While it's not quite the same socially, it is still a pilgrimage of the spirit. 

I had painted a traditional Christmas card for this day, but this took over my brushes this morning...in a year when we're all more aware than ever that we're pilgrims, of how precarious and precious life is. Here they both are.

Christ-Mass Eve, Holy Ground

"Holy Ground, Holy Night,"--Santa Fe, Christmas Eve,  5 x 7 watercolor card

Christ-Mass Eve, there are holy places and times in the universe, and in Northern New Mexico the Franciscan churches draw the faithful to  of mass Christmas eve, in the cold brisk mountain and desert air.
Inside there is warmth and ceremony and tradition, symbolized by an icon in La Villa Real de Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asis--El Catedral Basilica de San Francisco de Asis. (The Spanish version of the name is more appropriate for me in this city founded in 1610.)
Built in the 1800s by Archbishop Lamy, whose statue stands in front, and the subject of Willa Cather's Death Comes for the Archbishop, the church draws visitors year around, from around the world.

Jerry and I, and his painting, 2015

But especially this season, and Holy Week before Easter, is when it shines as the testament to the residents' faith, with all the liturgy of an ancient mass. 
And it is an icon, a landmark just east of the historic Plaza,  to anyone who loves New Mexico, even non-Catholics.
I've written about it before, and tried painting it several times, including a large one commissioned by my brother Jerry for his home in Lubbock.
This year's card is a rough rendition, sent to faithful Catholic friends in Santa Fe.
You can read an earlier post from 2012 and painting attempt on this link: "Exploring Creativity."

December Stars--Christmas Eve

"Christmas Eve," 8" by 10" watercolor, 140 lb. d'Arches cold pressed paper

Christmas eve--in the remote villages of the Southwest, Catholic mass at the adobe churches brings physical and spiritual warmth in a cold world.
December means light and hope for those of faith, peace that passes understanding in spite of poverty, and crime and war in a world devoid of peace.

(Day 24 of 31 December paintings)

Blue palette--Ultamarine, Cobalt, Phalo.

Christmas eve thoughts--far away

Far away thoughts, Christmas eve -  5 by 7 watercolor

On Christmas eve,  my children are scattered far away and happy.
I'm fortunate to have today's technology to bridge the distances.
Today's watercolor brings warmth and comfort to all who are far away.

Merry Christmas.

Christmas eve--night of hope

Night of hope--5 by 7 watercolor

Christmas eve.
Even the words hold magic.
Magic of memories, 
of loves and losses, 
of hopes and fears, 
of living and dying, 
of years and miles
of past and future.
A night of hope
for more
than the morrow.

Christmas eve--beckoning

Beckoning--Christmas eve, 5 by 7 watercolor, card

When it's time...parents anticipate, knowing the time of birth is near. All thoughts and prayers focus on an event that may happen at any time. 
You've worried, wondered, wanted for months. Some have wandered. It is a time of uncertainty, hope, excitement, fear, expectation. You are helpless, dependent. Every parent can remember.
Christmas eve church services beckon across the world, bringing pilgrims and the faithful and no-so-faithful to sanctuaries, to celebrate, to anticipate one birth. There will be carols and candles, messages and masses, all seeking blessings and peace in a world that always needs them.
Take time to remember the emotions and experiences of young parents far away, long ago, alone except for each other and their God. All parents have made that journey, know that beckoning.

Thinking of Mary, Christmas eve

Christmas eve, expectation, watercolor card

Christmas eve, when the faithful gather in worship, or families and loved ones gather for merriment and gifts perhaps, in expectation of the morrow.
I can't help but wonder how Mary felt the night before Jesus' birth...what travail did she go through with labor, with pain, with uncertainty. And with her husband close by, in a barn for shelter, the odor of livestock and hay, and lack of any midwife or medical facilities, or cleanliness. What were their thoughts--alone, fearful, far from home, anticipating their first child? 
Every parent can identify and remember those worries, fears, and expectations. The birth of our first born is vivid in my memory. You are so helpless, so dependent. Every birth is a miracle, and brings a peace that passes understanding, on earth.

All aboard--Christmas eve express

4 by 6 watercolor

Christmas Eve journey--one day to Christmas

Christmas eve journey...4 by 6 watercolor

Where I grew up in New Mexico, pilgrimages to sacred sites and shrines and churches are common at Christmas. There is something pure and crisp and ancient about religion in cold mountain air with the smell of pinon and the sound of bells ringing. Adobe is richer when snow is the garland and real candles flicker shadows on the earthen walls.
Feliz Navidad indeed.