Jesse Tree Day 26 Tobias

Day 26 – December 10 (December 23 OC)

Ornament - Fish

Materials - Already in possession of - gift from friend, Karen Morgan for Christmas ornament wedding shower.  

Read The Book of Tobit 

Journey to Rages

6 Now as they proceeded on their way they came at evening to the Tigris river and camped there. 2 Then the young man went down to wash himself. A fish leaped up from the river and would have swallowed the young man; 3 and the angel said to him, “Catch the fish.” So the young man seized the fish and threw it up on the land. 4 Then the angel said to him, “Cut open the fish and take the heart and liver and gall and put them away safely.” 5 So the young man did as the angel told him; and they roasted and ate the fish.

And they both continued on their way until they came near to Ecbat′ana. 6 Then the young man said to the angel, “Brother Azari′as, of what use is the liver and heart and gall of the fish?” 7 He replied, “As for the heart and the liver, if a demon or evil spirit gives trouble to any one, you make a smoke from these before the man or woman, and that person will never be troubled again. 8 And as for the gall, anoint with it a man who has white films in his eyes, and he will be cured.”

(Psalm 141:1-2 KJV)Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer

be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 

-Abba Evagrius the Monk(Texts on Active Life no. 49)Virtues do not stop demons attacking us, but keep us unscathed by them.

Jesse Tree Day 25 Jonah the Prophet

Day 25 – December 9 (December 22 OC)

Ornament - Whale

Materials - Purchased on sale from Land of Nod

Read  Jonah 1:1-4:11

(Paraklesis to the Most Holy Mother of God, Ode VI, Eighth Tone)

Entreaty do I pour forth unto the Lord, and to Him do I proclaim all my sorrows, for many woes fill my

soul to repletion, and lo, my life unto hades has now drawn nigh. Like Jonah do I pray to Thee. Raise

me up from corruption, O Lord, my God. 

From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, September 22

Jonah lived more than eight hundred years before Christ. It is said that he was that son of the widow of

Zarephath in Sidon whom the Prophet Elias had raised from the dead. By his three-day sojourn in the

belly of the whale, he prefigured the three days that Christ lay in the tomb; and, by his deliverance from

the belly of the whale, he prefigured the Lord's Resurrection from the dead. Everything else concerning

this wonderful prophet can be read in the Book of Jonah.

-St. Basil the Great, Homily on Thanksgiving

Whether they stand amid flames, as did the three Youths in Babylon, who were united with God

(Daniel 3:21), or are shut up with lions (Daniel 6:16-23), or swallowed by a whale (Jonah 2:1), we

should call them blessed, and they should pass their lives in joy, not being distressed over present

sufferings, but rejoicing in the hope of what is in store for us in the next life.

-A Homily by St. John Chrysostom

In this instance, Jonah was the precursor who trained our minds. For, just as the sea monster vomited

him forth after three days, not finding him to be suitable fare (for the nature of sin is the proper and

suitable sustenance of death—from sin is it born, from sin does it take root, by sin is it nourished); and

just, as in our case, when we swallow a stone without realizing it, and at first the action of the stomach

attempts to digest it, but, finding this sustenance to be alien to it, consults further with the digestive

faculty and does not decompose the stone, but destroys its strength (hence, it cannot hold down its

previous sustenance, but, in exhaustion, it vomits it up together with the stone in great pain); so, also, in

the case of death: it swallowed the Cornerstone and was unable to digest it, since all of its strength was

sapped; for this reason, together with this Stone it threw up the rest of the food that it had inside it,

when it vomited forth human nature, which, in the end, it could not hold down. This is why the barren

women [of the Old Testament] were precursors, that the birthgiving [of the Virgin] might be confirmed

—or, rather, not only that this birthgiving might be confirmed, but more; for, if we examine the matter

with precision, we shall find that barrenness is a figure of death itself.

See also Law of God, Sacred History Chapter 37, The Prophets,

http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/law_of_god_slobodskoy_1.htm#_Toc36163705

Jesse Tree Day 24 Elias the Prophet

Day 24 – December 8 (December 21 OC)

Ornament - Burning rock

Materials - Package of small, fall-colored, wooden leaves (which look conveniently like little flames), oven-hardening clay, silver and blue paint, drill, and twine

Read  3 Kingdoms [1 Kings] selections from chapters 18 & 19

(Kontakion of Prophet Elijah, Tone 2)

O great Prophet Elijah,/ seer of God's mighty works,/ who didst halt the torrential rain by thy word,/

pray for us to the Lover of Mankind. 

 (Troparion for the Eve of the Theophany Tone 4)

The river Jordan was once turned back by Elisha's mantle when Elijah was taken up,/ and the waters

were divided hither and thither./ The watery path became dry for him as a type of baptism/ whereby we cross the flowing stream of life./ Christ has appeared in the Jordan to sanctify the waters.

From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, December 21

As Moses, by living faith and prayer, worked awesome miracles in Egypt and in the wilderness, as

Joshua the son of Nun held back the course of the sun, so also God's prophet Elias shut and opened the

heavens, brought down fire from heaven, and worked other mighty and awesome miracles all through

faith and prayer. God gave Elias the power to work such miracles, for Elias was zealous for the glory of

God and not for his own glory: I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts (I Kings 19:14). This

man of God sought nothing for himself but sought everything for God. God was everything to him: all

glory, all strength, all good. Therefore, God crowned him with immortal glory, awesome might, and

treasure which does not decay and which moths do not corrupt. God did not permit Elias to die but took

him to heaven as he did Enoch. St. Elias had a soul as pure as the morning dew, a body as chaste as a

child's, and a heart and mind as blameless as that of an angel of God. Therefore, he was and remains a

vessel of God's power. He worked wonders then and works them today.

-Archbishop Averky of Jordanville from Saint Elias Publications “Faith and Life”

A striking and extremely clear example of such fiery zeal for God's glory comes to us from the depths

of antiquity of the Old Testament in a great Prophet of God, the flaming Elias, who grieved in soul

when he saw the apostasy from God of his people, led by the impious King Ahab, who introduced into

Israel the pagan worship of Baal in place of the true God.

I have been very jealous for the Lord God Almighty—thus did he exclaim many times, expressing his

grief—because the children of Israel have forsaken Thee: they have dug down Thine altars, and have

slain Thy prophets with the sword, and I only am left, and they seek my life to take it (3 Kings 19: 10) .

And behold, this holy zeal aroused him, by the power of the grace of God which reposed on him, as a

chastisement of Israel which had apostatized from God, to "close heaven" (3 Kings 17:1; 18:42-45.

James 5:17-18), so that there was neither rain nor dew for three years and six months.

This same zeal later aroused Elias to slay the false prophets and priests of Baal, after the miraculous

descent of the fire from heaven on Mt. Carmel, so that these deceivers might no longer turn the sons of

Israel away from the true worship of God (3 Kings 18 :40).

By the power of the same Divine zeal, St. Elias brought down fire from heaven, which burned the

captains and their fifties which had been sent by the king to seize him (4 Kings 1:9-14).

That all this was in reality holy zeal which was pleasing to God is testified to by the fact that the Holy

Prophet Elias did not die the usual death of all men, but was miraculously raised up to heaven in a

chariot of fire, as if signifying his authentically fiery zeal for God (4 kings 2:10-12).

See also Law of God, Sacred History Chapter 37, The Prophets,

http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/law_of_god_slobodskoy_1.htm#_Toc36163705

Jesse Tree Day 23 Solomon

Day 23 – December 7 (December 20 OC)

Ornament - Crown

Materials - Lace ribbon, gold paint, mod podge, gold ribbon

Read  3 Kingdoms [1 King] 1:32-35,38-40;2:1-4,10,12;3:5-14

-St. Innocent of Alaska, The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven

The most striking example of unquenchable thirst for happiness was Solomon, the famous King of

Israel, who lived around 1000 B.C. He was so rich that all the household utensils in his palaces were

made of pure gold. He was so wise that kings and famous people from far away lands came to hear

him. He was so famous that his foes trembled at the mere mention of his name. He could easily satisfy

any of his wishes, and it seemed that there was no pleasure that he did not possess or could not obtain.

But with all of this, Solomon could not find total happiness to the end of his life. He described his

many years of searching for happiness and his continual disappointments in the book of Ecclesiastes,

which he began with the following phrase: Vanity of vanities, all is vanity (Ecc. 1:2).

 (The Orthodox Study Bible, p. 484)

When Solomon was first made king, he prefigured Christ's entrance into Jerusalem. Now, upon the

throne, he foreshadows the second and glorious coming of Christ.

-St. Maximos the Confessor(First Century)

A wise man, whether teaching or learning, only wishes to learn or teach those things which are useful.

See also Law of God, Sacred History Chapter 35, King Solomon,

http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/law_of_god_slobodskoy_1.htm#_Toc36163705

Jesse Tree Day 22 David Psalmist

Day 22 – December 6 (December 19 OC)

Ornament - Harp

Materials - Steam-bent Popsicle stick, small drill, gold string

Read Psalm 109

The Royal Hours of the Nativity, Epistle to the Hebrews (1:10-2:3)

In the beginning, Thou, Lord, hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of

Thine hands: they shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and

as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years

shall not fail. But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine

enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be

heirs of salvation? Therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have

heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and

every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we

neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us

by them that heard Him?

(Entry of the Most Holy Lady Theotokos into the Temple)

David, preceding the chorus, doth leap and dance with us, and doth declare thee, O all-pure one, the

queen adorned, who doth stand in the Temple before our King and God, O most-pure one.

From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, December 20

And David said to Nathan: I have sinned against the Lord (II Samuel 12:13).

My tears have been my food day and night (Psalm 42:3).

King David sinned against God and repented, and God forgave him. The king's sin was great, but

greater still was his repentance. He was guilty before God of two grave sins: adultery and murder. But

when Nathan the prophet of God denounced him, he cried out in anguish: I have sinned against the

Lord! Thus he confessed his sin and repented bitterly, most bitterly. Grief-stricken, he prayed to God,

weeping, fasting, lying on the ground, and enduring meekly the terrible blows that God sent upon him,

his house and his people because of his sins. In his penitential Psalms he says: I am a worm and not a

man (Psalm 22:6); Because of the sound of my groaning, my bones cling to my flesh (Psalm 102:5); I

lie awake … for I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with weeping (Psalm 102:7, 9); My

knees are grown weak through fasting (Psalm 109:24). Here is true repentance; here is a true penitent!

He did not become hardened in sin nor did he fall into despair, but, hoping in the mercy of God, he

repented unceasingly. And God, Who loves the penitent, showed mercy upon this model of penitence.

God forgave him and glorified him above all the kings of Israel; He gave him the great grace to

compose the most beautiful penitential prayers and to prophesy the coming into the world of the Holy

Savior, Who would be of his seed. Brethren, do you see how wonderful is God's mercy toward

penitents? So much mercy did God have on this repentant David that He was not ashamed to take upon

Himself flesh from David's seed. Blessed are they who do not become hardened in sin and who do not

fall into despair because of sin. Repentance saves both the one and the other from evil.

See also Law of God, Sacred History Chapter 34, King David,

http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/law_of_god_slobodskoy_1.htm#_Toc36163705

(excerpt below):

David wrote many sacred songs, or psalms, which he sang in prayer to God, playing on the harp

or other musical instruments. In these hymns, David appealed to God, repented for his sins before God, celebrated the greatness of God, and foretold the coming of Christ and the suffering which Christ

would undergo for us. Therefore, the holy Church calls Kind David a psalmist and prophet.

The Psalms of David are often read and sung in church at Divine Services. The sacred book in

which all these psalms or songs are found is called the Psalter. The Psalter is the most frequently used

book of the Old Testament. Many Christian prayers are composed with words from the psalms in this

book.

David reigned for forty years and died a very old man. While still alive he appointed his son

Solomon as his heir. The high priest Zadok and the Prophet Nathan anointed him King. Before his

death David bequeathed to Solomon his wish that the Temple of God be built without fail.

Jesse Tree Day 21 David and Goliath

Day 21 – December 5 (December 18 OC)

Ornament - Slingshot 

Materials - 'Y' shaped stick, embroidery floss, rubber band and tinfoil.

Read  1 Kingdoms [1 Samuel] 17:1-11,32-40,42-49,51-54

(Vespers of 8th Sunday after Pentecost)

Fulfilling the prophecy of David, Christ revealed His majesty to be ever-laudable and glorious, with the

Father and the Spirit, and to be the One Who, as the Word, was incorporeal in the beginning, was later

incarnate for our sake, was slain as a man, and arose with power as He Who loveth mankind.

See also Law of God, Sacred History Chapter 33, David's Victory Over Goliath,

http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/law_of_god_slobodskoy_1.htm#_Toc36163705

Jesse Tree Day 20 David anointed King

Day 20 – December 4 (December 17 OC)

Ornament - Sheep with Shepherd's hook

Materials - Inexpensive sheep ornament from Hobby Lobby - black pipe cleaner shaped like a shepherd's staff, hot glue

Read 1 Kingdoms [1 Samuel] 16:1-13

(Vespers of the 21st Sunday after Pentecost)

The prophet David, the forefather of God, for thy sake gave voice beforehand in psalmody concerning

thee, unto Him Who in thee accomplished mighty works: the Queen stood at Thy right hand. For God

Whose good pleasure it was to become incarnate of thee without father showed thee, His Mother, to be

the mediatress of life, that He might renew His image which had become corrupt through the passions;

and having found the sheep which had strayed among the mountains and become lost, He taketh it upon

His shoulders and bringeth it to His Father; and Christ, Who is possessed of great and rich mercy, in

accordance with His will, uniteth it with the hosts of heaven, and saveth the world, O Theotokos.

See also Law of God, Sacred History Chapter 34, King David,

http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/law_of_god_slobodskoy_1.htm#_Toc36163705

(excerpt below):

For the great faith, meekness, and obedience of King David, the Lord blessed his reign and

helped him in everything. He successfully waged wars with neighboring peoples.

David captured the city of Jerusalem and made it the capital of the Israelite kingdom. Instead of

the dilapidated tabernacle of Moses, he placed in Jerusalem a new tabernacle and brought the Ark of

the Covenant to it with solemnity. David wanted to build a permanent temple but the Lord said, "Thou

shalt not build a house to my name because thou hast carried on great wars and hast shed blood

abundantly. Thy son will build a house to My name, who will be king after thee" (I Chron. 22:6).

But at that time the Lord announced to David, "Thy kingdom will stand forever" (I Chron.

28:7). This meant that from his descendants would come the Saviour of the world, Christ, Who would

reign forever. We know that Jesus Christ was often called the Son of David.