I LOVE READING THIS EVERY YEAR:
Symbolism
On the 1st day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
A Partridge in a
Pear Tree
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the
Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of
Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge
that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling
the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem!
Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does
her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . ." (Luke 13:34)
On the 2nd day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Two Turtle Doves
The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness
to God's self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the
Story of God to the world.
On the 3rd day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Three French Hens
The Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and
3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)
On the 4th day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Four Calling
Birds
The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4)
John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to
Himself in Jesus Christ.
On the 5th day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Five Gold Rings
The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the
Torah or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and
5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity's sinful failure and God's
response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.
On the 6th day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Six Geese
A-laying
The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator
and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).
On the 7th day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Seven Swans
A-swimming
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2)
ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion
(Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)
On the 8th day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eight Maids
A-milking
The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in
spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8)
those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)
On the 9th day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Nine Ladies
Dancing
The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3)
peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness,
6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9)
self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
On the 10th day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Ten Lords
A-leaping
The ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods
before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4)
Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7)
Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do
not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)
On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eleven Pipers
Piping
The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2)
Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9)
James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16).
The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed
Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.
On the 12th day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Twelve Drummers
Drumming
The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed:
1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I
believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the
power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell
[the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is
seated at the right hand of power. 6) He will come again to judge the living
and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the Church, 9) the communion
of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and
life everlasting.
BLESSINGS AND PEACE TO ALL...
MERRY CHRISTMAS
