Fraternity-Testvériség, 1978 (56. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1978-10-01 / 4. szám

RT. REV. DR. STEPHEN SZABÓ:

“MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!” FOR THE CHRISTMAS OF 1978

One of the not too well-known Hungarian poets, Menyhért Kiss, wrote an epic poem with the deepest meaning for Christmastide for humankind of our Planet of Earth. God on the Eve of Christmas sends down from heaven to this our Planet of Earth a little angel with golden hair and lovely face to see if men on Earth in their sinful and evil ways can or do surcease on that Holy Night on which His Son was born?! The timid little angel noticing some fire under, thinking where fire there men, descended to Earth. Setting foot he suddenly faced men of arms surrounding him with bayonettes demanding a military password from him. “Glory to God in Heaven, peace and good-will to men on earth!” announced the little angel visibly scared. But no use. Thinking he was a spy they bound this little herald of God in chains. But the angel with his heavenly power escaped from the chains and ascended to Heaven. Some bullets pierced his wings in flight, his ruby-red blood dropped on the white snow below. Then the angel laments his sad experience to God, saying:

“On earth it is hell that rules, Mighty Lord, my King!

They fettered me in chains! Wounded my gentle wing!

Machine-guns repeating, huge field guns do roar,

No place for angel’s song, that Bethlehem stands for!”

FRATERNITY

Official Organ of The Hungarian Reformed Fed. of America Edited by Officers of the Federation

Published quarterly — four times a year.

Subscription for non-members in U.S.A. and Canada $2, elsewhere $3 a year.

Office of Publication: Bethlen Press, Inc., Ligonier, Pa. 15658 POSTMASTER:—Send Form 3579 to Editorial Office:

P. O. Box 34917, Washington, D. C. 20034.

Telephone: (301) 770-1144.

Editorial Committee:

Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor—

Rt. Rev. Arpad George, President Associate Editors—

László L. Eszenyi, Executive Vice-President,

Elmer E. Vargo, Secretary, Joseph S. Molnár, Treasurer.

Second Class Postage Paid at the Post Office in Ligonier, Pa. 15658.

Is this not really the true picture of Earth even on this Christmastide of 1978? —- Are we not celebrating Christmas repeatedly and still with weapons around us and toys of war even for our children under the Christmas tree? The old, traditional toy weapons of war are now replaced by new modern missiles and characters of space wars, but still weapons of war. Missiles under the mistletoe, Star War and Battlestar Galactica figures under the Christmas tree and all we hear from the lips of our children the re-echoing sounds of Space-Wars: “May the Force be with you!”

But which Force, we ask at Christmas time? Still the Force of Wars, which never end on Earth? Now even carried over from Earth to the beautiful blue skies of the Space? No! Thousand time No!!

May the Force of Christmastide be with you! With us! The Force of Peace, the Force of Love! And not only on Christmas day, but for all the times to come on Earth, in the Space, and in all parts of the Universe. And let us all hear but one sound echoing through the air:

“For God so loved the World (the Earth and all Planets of the Space) that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Let on this Christmas of 1978 Apostle Paul’s words from his Hymn of Love come to us through the phrasing of the immortal poet, Friedrich von Schiller:

There are three lessons I would write,

Three words as with a burning pen,

In tracings of eternal light Upon the hearts of men.

Have FAITH. Wher’er thy bark is driven —

The calm’s disport. The Tempest’s mirth — Know this: God rules the hosts of heaven,

The inhabitants of earth! (and of all planets of Space)

Have HOPE. Though clouds encircle round,

And gladness hides her face in scorn:

Put off the shadow from thy brow;

No night but hath its morn!

Have LOVE. Not love alone for one,

But man, as man, thy brother call:

And scatter like a circling sun,

Thy charities on all!

May the Force of Christmas, LOVE, be with you at all times and places! Know that it is Christmas time

because of the faith that dares to live! because of the LOVE that dares to give!

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