Calvin Synod Herald, 1993 (93. évfolyam, 2-6. szám)
1993-11-01 / 6. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- 2 -REFOMATÜSOK LAPJA Merry Christmas and Happy Hew Year to the readers of The Calvin Synod Herald Reformátusok Lapjai ^ May you and those you love be blessed by the power of Faith throughout the New Year! "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." How we need the things impossible in this suddenly changing world in the remaining years of this last decade of this century before we enter the twenty-first! — May the Spirit of Christmas and the Peace of the Christ Child bring you joy and much happiness now and in the New Year Frontispiece Picture: Annunciation by Masolino Da Panicale (1383-1447) The Italian artist Masolino achieves a subtle poise in his richly patterned Annunciation. The placing of the column and arches in the painting seems both to separate and to unite the angel CALVIN SYNOD fr Reformatusok Lapja Official Organ Of The Calvin Synod - United Church of Christ Founded in 1900 (ISSN 0161-6900) Editor-In-Chief: RT. REV. DR. FRANCIS VITÉZ Editor and Publisher: RT. REV. DR. STEPHEN SZARÓ 415 Steven Blvd., Richmond Hts., OH 44143 Telephone: (216) 481-3648 Published bi-monthly Individual Subscription - $7.00 yearly Group Subscription • $5.00 yearly Postmaster Send Form #3579 for change of address to: 415 Steven Blvd., Richmond Hts., OH 44143 Second Class Postage Paid - Cleveland, OH Newsletters Prepared & Printed by Liberty Media, Inc. - (216) 729-7200 and the Virgin. The Annunciation was painted by him in 1423, and is considered to be a most remarkable pre- Renaissance Age production. The Annunciation is similar to Fra Angelico’s in 1450. Shortly after Gabriel visited Zacharias, he appeared to a young woman in Nazareth. Her name was Mary, espoused to Joseph. To Mary would go the singular blessing and honor of being mother of the Messiah. This Gabriel informs her in stirring words: "Hail, thou art highly favoured," he says, "the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women..." (Luke 1:28). Puzzled and alarmed, Mary cannot speak. The angel continues: "Fear not, Mary," he says, "...thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:30-33). To prove the miraculous nature of this child, the angel further reveals that Mary shall conceive her baby without a husband; that hers shall be a virgin birth, impossible save forGod's own intervention. As we see, in his revelation to Mary, Gabriel first utters the name Jesus. In Hebrew, this name is Joshua, or Ye-ho-shu-ah. Jesus is a Greek interpretation. In either case, it means "God (Yahweh) saves." Gabriel also says that God shall give Jesus the "throne of his father David, And he shall reign over the house of Jacob. IfJlie Mepi Midi fy&Uow- the, £tcvi We think at this time of the three wise men from the East, who were conducted to Bethlehem manger by a star. Wise men of all nations - nearly two thousand years after - still follow the star. By that star alone, men be lead to light, love, liberty and undisturbed peace. Jesus of Nazareth illumines life: and the life was the light of men. The star of Bethlehem became the traditional symbol of our Church. Ever since the times of the great Reformation, our forefathers placed the star on the towers of our churches. "It was the star that blessed the night, That led the Wise Men to the light: So when the way seems steep or far, Re-chart your coruse by guiding star." And the way never seemed as steep or as far as it does at this present season of Christmas. The extremely tragic events of history the most heroic and bloody struggle of small nations against the enslaving forces of oppression and darkness cast a dark and gloomy vision of despair over the peaceful cradle of Bethlehem especially at Christmas time. It is high time for mankind to "re-chart its course by the guiding star," the star that alone can lead us to light, freedom and lasting peace. The Holy Christmas Season is at hand. Come and follow the star of Bethlehem, come to adore Christ the Lord, bringing Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
