This morning I found myself viewing a lot of ads on the net about the new movies that are out for the holiday season. And there are some good ones!!! When I saw NASA's picture of the day, this morning, I associated it with floodlights that you might see at a "grand opening" of some sort. These "pillars" are natural occurrences (although somewhat rare) that happen when flat ice-crystals are close to the ground and the weather is cold enough to prevent them from melting. If you would like a more exact explanation, feel free to go to the following link and see how a professional astronomer describes this... http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html. Anyway, these "pillars" remind me of searchlights that are used at the beginning of some movies. Given the date on the calendar, my thoughts turned to the Gospel of Luke...
Luke, Chapter 2
8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
on earth peace, good will toward men.”
15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said one to another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
on earth peace, good will toward men.”
15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said one to another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
Many people feel that Jesus was born on December 25; personally I believe Jesus was on Rosh Hashana four years before the year "zero". This was traditionally the time that great kings were said to be born. Whenever Jesus was born, it was a time of great celebration for the world and one of great hope as well. Were there great signs in the skies? Probably, based on the passage from Luke's Gospel. This much is certain: God did send his son, and his child was faithful even unto death, AND BECAUSE OF THIS WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE-- (IF WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS). For those of you who do celebrate the 25th of December as Christmas, I wish you the very best of the season and a very merry "Christmas". For those who still haven't obeyed the Gospel- There is still time. Why do you wait? As the apostle Paul said:
16 Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 22:16
FYI... More information on Rosh Hashana can be found at...
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday2.htm