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BlazeCloude3's avatar

Superb Essay. Privilege to read it; and the commentary based upon historical truth. A lot to chew on in this. Praying it will be shared far and wide among many diverse groups.

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

Excellent essay! Our family are traditional Catholics and, we too, are striving to continue our traditions as they have always been.

Each Advent, since the kids were little, and still today with the youngest being 18, we have read 2nd Maccabees, a little each night for a few nights, until it’s over. This is in addition to the Advent related scripture and commentary we read nightly around the lit Advent wreath. The boys (and even a couple of the girls) were always able to point out certain similarities between that story and the Advent story.

We treat Advent as a time of penance, though much lighter than that required during Lent. The Birth occurred very near the winter solstice so the days were already short and the dark night long.

In the midst of that darkness, the Light was born and the darkness could not overcome it.

My husband is an ethnic Jew and converted in 2009. It’s fascinating to see the parallels between the old and New Testaments.

Happy Hannakuh (I can never remember the spelling) and Merry Christmas to all!

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