2005 is here!
Categories: friends, feast-days
Date: 01 January 2005 00:39:17
Happy New Year!
I had a very nice celebration with five good friends: a wonderful bbq dinner, some very nice wine, good discussion, and a very intense board game, similar to Monopoly, but where you need to buy and drill for minerals. I started off badly, but -- after the generosity of someone loaning me $5 million -- clawed my way back up to 3rd. Not too bad. And it was nice to read today that there has been plenty of giving to the Asia Quake appeals. Thanks be to God.
I awoke today with a bit of a cold and the sniffles. Start the violins now. ;-) I'm back off to bed [it's 11:40am here currently] now.
As we start the new year, as well as our prayers for those affected in SE Asia, and indeed all those in our own cities, states, countries and world who are suffering / in need at the moment, we celebrate the Circumcision and Naming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: where the Lord fulfilled the Law, and where He was given the name Jesus -- as an indicator of what He is (Saviour).
We also remember St Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, a wonderful theologian to whom we owe much in terms of our right belief about the Trinity and Incarnation -- among many other things including aiding those affected by drought and famine, preaching fearlessly and continuously, and denouncing evil wherever he found it.
The Lord of all accepts to be circumcised.
Thus in His mercy He circumcises the sins of mortal men.
Today He grants the world salvation,
While Basil, high priest of God our Creator,
Rejoices in Heaven as the radiant star of Christ.Kontakion of the Feast of the Circumcision our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ