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.

Jesse Tree Day 19 Samuel and Eli

Day 19 – December 3 (December 16 OC)

Ornament - Candle/ lamp

Materials - Already had a small string of twinkle lights that look like candles, also had some metal tree clips that hold real candles, so used one of those, also (figure the twinkle lights will stop working eventually).

Read 1 Kingdoms [1 Samuel] 3:1-20

(Troparion, Tone 2)

You were given as a precious gift to a barren womb, And offered as a fragrant sacrifice to your Lord.

You served Him in truth and righteousness; Wherefore we honor you, O Samuel prophet of God,

As an intercessor for our souls. 

(Troparion of the Prophet Samuel, Tone 4)

Thou didst blossom as a scion of righteousness from a barren mother, O great Prophet Samuel./ Thou

didst reveal beforehand the blessings we should receive;/ from childhood thou didst serve the Lord in

the priestly office./ As a prophet thou anointedst kings;/ ever remember those who acclaim thee.

(Kontakion of the Prophet Samuel, Tone 8)

Thou wast a precious gift to God before thy conception;/ thou didst serve Him from infancy like an

angel/ and wast granted to foretell future events, wherefore we cry to thee: / Rejoice, O Samuel, thou

Prophet of God and great high priest. 

See also Law of God, Sacred History Chapter 33, Saul, First King of the Israelites,

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

Jesse Tree Day 18 Birth of Samuel and the Prayer of Anna

Day 18 – December 2 (December 15 OC)

Ornament - Horn  
Materials - Oven-hardening clay, gold paint, toothpick and twine.

A note on why the symbol for Samuel is a horn (because I didn't quite understand it, myself, at first) - here's a passage from the Matthew Henry Commentary: "He (God) sends him (Samuel) to Bethlehem, to anoint one of the sons of Jesse, a person probably not unknown to Samuel. Fill thy horn with oil. Saul was anointed with a glass vial of oil, scanty and brittle, David with a horn of oil, which was more plentiful and durable; hence we read of a horn of salvation in the house of his servant David." Luke 1:69.

Read  1 Kingdoms [1 Samuel] 1:1-2:10

-St Romanos the Melodist - Vol. 2, On the Nativity of the Virgin
“O mystery brought about on earth!' After the birth Anna prayed To our God and Maker Who knows all
in advance `Thou hast heard me, O Lord, as Thou hast heard Hannah who was accused by Eli of being
drunk. She promised Samuel after his birth to the Lord To become a priest. Just as formerly, Thou hast
given me, too, a gift, The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God, And the nurse of our life.

(Orthodox Study Bible p. 321-22)
St. Cyprian sees the praying Hannah as a type of the Church pouring her heart out in prayer silently and
modestly. Hannah is a type of Mary, as Samuel is a type of Christ, because as St. Cyprian states,
“Samuel [was born] not according to the order of generation, but according to the mercy and promise
of God.” ...The word horn had become a symbol for strength, honor and power.

-St. Cyprian
We must boast in nothing, since nothing is our own.

From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, December 19
For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore also I
have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord (I Samuel 1:27-28).
Besought of God and dedicated to God, Samuel was a prophet and leader of the people of Israel. The
blessed Hannah, his childless mother, besought him from God with tears and sacrifices. And she gave
him, her one and only greatest blessing, to the service of the Lord from his infancy. A wise mother does
not consider her children as her own, but rather as God's. They are God's both when God gives them
and when He takes them, but they are mostly God's when a mother herself dedicates them to Him.
God's gift is returned to Him as a reciprocal gift, for we have nothing of our own to give to Him but
only that which we receive from Him. The young Samuel lived in the Temple among the iniquitous
sons of Eli the high priest, and he did not become corrupt. The Lord would not reveal Himself to the
sinful elders, but He appeared to this pure child: for Samuel did the will of God, and did let none of his
words fall to the ground (I Samuel 3:19). Samuel was a judge of the people of Israel from his youth to
old age and committed nothing wrong either before God or before the people. God gave him the power
to prophesy and work miracles. He defeated all of God's enemies and the enemies of the people, and he
anointed two kings, Saul and David. When he grew old, he called the people together and asked them if
he had ever committed any violence against anyone or accepted a bribe from anyone. And the people
replied with one voice: Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of
any man's hand (I Samuel 12:4). Behold, such a man was he, who was given by God and given to God
as a reciprocal gift, and who grew up with the blessing of God and the blessing of his mother. Let
mothers benefit from the example of the blessed Hannah; let judges and rulers of the people benefit
from the example of the righteous Samuel.

Jesse Tree Day 17 Ruth

Day 17 – December 1 (December 14 OC)

Ornament - Heart with Shock of Wheat
Materials - Inexpensive wooden shape from Hobby Lobby (I think there may have been something printed on it), some red paint, hot glue, piece of wheat from dried flowers, electric drill to make hole, twine

 Read Ruth 1:1-11, 1:14-17, 1:22-2:3, 2:8-4:17

From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, December 18
Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God … naught but death shall part thee and me (Ruth 1:16,17).
These are wonderful words, whether they are spoken by a son to a father, a daughter to a mother, or a
wife to a husband. But they are three times more wonderful when a daughter-in-law says them to her
mother-in-law. Blessed Ruth spoke these words to Naomi, her sorrowful mother-in-law. When both of
Naomi's sons died in the land of Moab, where they lived as immigrants, the aged mother wanted to
return to Bethlehem, her native land, and there to lay her bones to rest. And Naomi, noble in her grief,
counseled her young daughters-in-law to remain in their own land and to remarry. Orpah remained, but
Ruth said: Naught but death shall part thee and me. Behold a most beautiful example of how a mother-in-law
can tenderly love her daughters-in-law, and again how a daughter-in-law can be wholeheartedly
devoted to her mother-in-law. But in Bethlehem someone had to feed these two souls. Who would feed
them? God and the diligent hands of Ruth. Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn (Ruth
2:2), said the daughter-in-law to the mother-in-law. And Naomi replied: Go, my daughter (Ruth 2:3). In
a strange field, with strange reapers, she had to glean the ears of grain. That was not only toil but also
shame. However, Ruth took upon herself both toil and shame out of love for her aged mother-in-law.
The All-seeing God saw these two sweet souls and rejoiced. Their Creator rejoiced and rewarded and
glorified them, as only He knows how to reward and glorify those who fear Him. And God, in His
providence, provided that Ruth should enter the field of the wealthy Boaz to gather the gleaned ears of grain, and Boaz saw Ruth and asked Naomi for her hand in marriage. Of this marriage was born Obed,
the father of Jesse and grandfather of David the King. So it was that Ruth had humbled herself to being
a beggar but God made her the ancestress of the great king (David), from whom came many kings and
finally the King of kings, our Lord Jesus Christ.

See also Law of God, Sacred History Chapter 32, The Story of Ruth,
http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/law_of_god_slobodskoy_1.htm#_Toc36163705
(excerpt below):
Naomi and Ruth, coming to the land of the Israelites, settled in the town of Bethlehem and lived on the
wheat which Ruth picked up from the harvested fields. This was enough for sustenance, since it is
written in the Law of God, "And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the
corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest; thou shalt leave them for the
poor and the stranger" (Lev. 19:9-10).
The Lord God rewarded Ruth for her attachment and respectfulness towards her mother-in-law. The
Israelites had a law: if one of them died, not leaving children, then the nearest relative had to marry the
widow of the person who died, and the children from this marriage were considered the dead man’s
children. This law was called the Levinite Law.
At this time in Bethlehem there lived a rich man, Boaz, a relative of Ruth’s dead husband. According to
Levinite Law, Boaz married the poor Moabite Ruth. When a son was born to them, Obed, women said
to Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, Who hath not left thee this day without a kinsmen, that his name may
be famous in Israel." Naomi rejoiced and was Obed’s nurse.
In fact Obed’s name was glorified in Israel, for he was the father of Jesse, the father of King David

Jesse Tree Day 16 The Giving of the Commandments

Day 16 – November 30 (December 13 OC)

Ornament - Stone Tablets

Materials - Oven-hardening clay, tooth pick, twine

 Read Exodus 24:12-18

The Royal Hours of the Nativity, Epistle of Paul to the Galatians (3:23-29)

Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be

revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified

by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children

of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on

Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female:

for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according

to the promise.

 (Vespers of 13th Sunday after Pentecost)

O Christ God, Who once on Mount Sinai didst inscribe the tablets, now in the flesh in the city of

Nazareth Thou hast Thyself received the book of the prophet to read of God, and, unrolling it, 

Thou didst teach the people so as to fulfill that which was written concerning Thee.

-St. Ephraim the Syrian

Great misery exists where life is not guided by lawful rules. 

-St. John of Kronstadt (My Life in Christ, Part 1; Holy Trinity Monastery; pgs. 33-34)

Begin to fulfill the commandments relating to small things, and you will come to fulfill the

commandments relating to great things: small commandments everywhere lead to great ones. 

-St. Maximus the Confessor, Century 1

He that loves Me, saith the Lord, will keep My commandments; and 'this is My commandment, that

you love one another.' He therefore who does not love his neighbor does not keep the commandment.

Nor is he that does not keep the commandment able to love the Lord. 

-St. Gregory of Nyssa, The Life of Moses

The true Lawgiver, of Whom Moses was a type, cut the tablets of human nature for Himself from our

earth. It was not marriage which produced for Him His 'God-receiving" flesh, but He became the

stonecutter of His own flesh, which was carved by the divine finger, for 'the Holy Spirit came upon the

Virgin and the power of the Most High overshadowed her.' When this took place, our nature regained

its unbroken character, becoming immortal through the letters written by His finger. The Holy Spirit is

called 'finger" in many places by Scripture. 

See also Law of God, Sacred History Chapter 27, God Gives the Law on Mt. Sinai,

Jesse Tree Day 15 Water in Wilderness

Day 15 – November 29 (December 12 OC)

Ornament - Moses' Staff

Materials - Stick, tiny eye screw, raffia

 Read Exodus 15:22-16:1

 (28th Sunday After Pentecost, Third Antiphon)

Moses, stretching out his arms on the mountain, prefigured the Cross and thus conquered Amalek.

Receiving it with faith as a mighty weapon against the demons, we all cry out: “Remember us also in

Thy kingdom!”

(Third Antiphon, 15th Sunday after Pentecost)

Of old Moses prefigured in himself an image of Christ’s most pure sufferings, standing between the

priests; for, forming a cross with his outstretched arms, he raised up victory, vanquishing the might of

the destroyer Amalek. Wherefore, let us hymn Christ our God, for He hath been glorified! 

 (Vespers of 5th Sunday after Pentecost)

With a pillar of fire, O father, God manifestly guided thee to salvation, to the calm harbor, to the

mountain of dispassion; and by thy prayer thou didst make water gush forth, didst cause the blind to see

and the lame to walk aright.

Stichera from Vespers for the Feast of the Life-Giving Spring, The Pentecostarion 

Marvellous and most strange things the sovereign Master of Heaven from the first accomplished in

thee, O thou all-blameless one; for perceptibly He came down from on high like rain in thy pure womb,

and He thus proved thee, O Bride of God, a fountain gushing forth every kind of blessing and all good

things; as well as a flood flowing with lavish benefactions of remedies unto all that ask thee for

strengthening of soul and for the health of body, which thou dost grant to them through the water of

God's grace. 

-St. Gregory of Sinai

If Moses had not received from God the rod of power, he would not have become god to pharaoh and

would not have punished both him and Egypt. In the same way the mind, if it does not wield in its hand

the power of prayer, will be unable to conquer sin and the powers of the enemy.

-St. John of Damascus, Exposition of the Orthodox Faith

For since death was by a tree, it was fitting that life and resurrection should be bestowed by a tree.

Jacob, when He worshipped the top of Joseph's staff, was the first to image the Cross, and when he

blessed his sons with crossed hands he made most clearly the sign of the cross. Likewise also did

Moses' rod, when it smote the sea in the figure of the cross and saved Israel, while it overwhelmed

Pharaoh in the depths; likewise also the hands stretched out crosswise and routing Amalek; and the

bitter water made sweet by a tree, and the rock rent and pouring forth streams of water, and the rod that

meant for Aaron the dignity of the high priesthood: and the serpent lifted in triumph on a tree as though

it were dead, the tree bringing salvation to those who in faith saw their enemy dead, just as Christ was

nailed to the tree in the flesh of sin which yet knew no sin. The mighty Moses cried, You will see your

life hanging on the tree before your eyes, and Isaiah likewise, I have spread out my hands all the day

unto a faithless and rebellious people. But may we who worship this obtain a part in Christ the

crucified.

See also Law of God, Sacred History Chapter 26, The Hebrews Pass Through the Red Sea and Other

Miracles 

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

(excerpt below):

At the time of the Hebrews’ journey out of Egypt into the Promised Land, the Lord worked many other

miracles as well. Once the Hebrews came to a place where the water was bitter. They could not drink it

and complained against Moses. The Lord showed Moses a tree. As soon as they had placed the tree in

the water, the water became sweet.

This tree which took the bitterness from the water was a foreshadowing of the tree of the Cross of

Christ, which took away the bitterness of life — sin.

When the Hebrews had used up all the bread they had taken from Egypt, the Lord sent them bread from

Heaven — manna. It looked like little white crumbs or pieces of hail and had the taste of bread with

honey. This bread was called manna, because when the Hebrews saw it for the first time, they asked

each other, "man-na" or "What is this?" Moses answered, "This is the bread which the Lord has given

you for food." Manna covered the earth in the morning around the camp of the Hebrews, for the entire

time of their journeying, on every day except the Sabbath.

When the Hebrews came to the place in the desert called Rephidim, where there was no water at all,

they again began to complain against Moses. At God’s command Moses struck a stone cliff with his

staff and water flowed from it.

Manna in the desert and water from the stone cliff, which saved the Israelites from death, foreshadowed

the true food and drink for us, which is the Body and Blood of Christ, which the Lord gives to us in

Holy Communion, saving us from eternal death.

In Rephidim, desert dwellers, the Amalekites, attacked them. Moses sent out Joshua, the son of Nun,

with an army. Moses then went up to the nearest mountain with his brother Aaron and with Hur and

began to pray, lifting both arms to Heaven, forming a cross.

Aaron noticed that when Moses held his hands up, the Hebrews prevailed over their enemies, but when

he let them fall out of weariness, the Amalekites overcame the Hebrews. To ensure victory Aaron and

Hur placed Moses on a stone and held his arms stretched out. Thus the Hebrews conquered the

Amalekites.

Moses, when he was praying with his hands stretched forth, foreshadowed the victorious Cross of

Christ, by whose power faithful Christians now conquer visible and invisible enemies.

  

Jesse Tree Day 14 Israel Passes through the Red Sea

Day 14 – November 28 (December 11 OC)

Ornament - Parted Sea

Materials - Paper/ wave printed card stock from Hobby Lobby, a square of sand paper, hot glue, twine

 Read Exodus 13:20-22, 14:1-31,15:1-19

 (Vespers of 22nd Sunday after Pentecost)

Once the image of the Bride who knoweth not wedlock was inscribed in the Red Sea. There it was

Moses who parted the waters; and here Gabriel is the minister of a miracle. There Israel traversed the

deep dry-shod; and now the Virgin giveth birth unto Christ without seed. The sea remained impassable

after Israel had crossed; and the immaculate one remaineth incorrupt after the birth of Emmanuel. O

God Who hast appeared as a man, Who existeth and hast existed from the beginning: Have mercy

upon us!

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

Traversing the water as on dry land, and thereby escaping from the toils of Egypt's land, the Israelites

cried aloud. Proclaiming unto our God and Redeemer, let us now sing. O Most Holy Theotokos, save

us. 

See also Law of God, Sacred History Chapter 26, The Hebrews Pass Through the Red Sea and Other

Miracles 

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

(excerpt below):

The Hebrews’ passing through the Red Sea, whose waters separated and delivered the Hebrews from

iniquity and bondage in Egypt, foreshadowed Baptism by which we are freed from the power of the

Devil and slavery to sin.

Jesse Tree Day 13 Plagues of Egypt

Day 13 – November 27 (December 10 OC)

Ornament - Frog
Materials - Plastic sun catcher from Hobby Lobby painted by my son with paints I had on hand.

 Read Exodus 6:29-7:6-;7:14-22;7:24-8:15;11:1;12:1-13,28-32

-St John Climacus, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent”
Run from places of sin as from the plague. For when fruit is not present, we have no frequent desire to
eat it.

(The Orthodox Study Bible, p. 74)

Egypt's gods were lords of Egypt, but the Lord is the Lord of all the earth. Therefore, the gods of

Egypt were not lords in any sense, but Pharaoh was too arrogant to acknowledge the true Lord. After
the Lord became incarnate, His parents took Him to Egypt, where as a baby He destroyed the idols of
Egypt and brought the nation to Himself.

See also Law of God, Sacred History Chapter 25, Pascha (Passover) and the Exodus of the Hebrew
People From Egypt (excerpt below):
http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/law_of_god_slobodskoy_1.htm#_Toc36163705
Six hundred thousand men left with Moses, not counting women and children. Moses took with
him the bones of Joseph, as Joseph himself had instructed in his last will. As soon as the Hebrews left
Egypt, a pillar appeared before them in the form of a cloud in the daytime and fire at night. It guided
them in their journey.
The day of the Hebrews’ deliverance from bondage in Egypt forever remained in their memory.
On this day the Lord established the main feast of the Old Testament, which He called Pascha. The
word Pascha means "passing by," "passover," or "deliverance from misfortune" — the angel of death
passed over the Hebrew dwellings. Every year on the evening of this day the Hebrews slaughtered and
prepared the Paschal lamb and ate it with unleavened bread. This feast lasted for seven days.
The Paschal lamb, by whose blood the first born of the Hebrews were delivered from death,
foreshadowed the Saviour Himself, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, Who took upon Himself the sins of
the world, Whose blood delivers all the faithful from eternal death.
The Old Testament Hebrew The Old Testament Hebrew Pascha prefigured our New Testament Christian Pascha.
In the Old
Testament Pascha, death passed over the dwellings of the Hebrews. They were liberated from bondage
in Egypt and given the Promised Land. Thus also in the Christian Pascha, the Resurrection of Christ,
eternal death has passed over us. The Risen Christ, having freed us from the slavery of the Devil, has
given us eternal life.
Christ died on the Cross on the day when the Paschal lambs were slain, and He rose
immediately after the Hebrew Pascha. This is why the Church always celebrates the Resurrection of Christ after the Jewish Passover and calls the feast Pascha.

Jesse Tree Day 12 Moses and the Burning Bush

Day 12 – November 26 (December 9 OC)

Ornament - Burning Bush

Materials - Scrap booking stickers from Hobby Lobby - a tree (removed the trunk) and a camp fire (removed the logs)

Read Exodus 3:1-20

(Vespers for 11th Sunday after Pentecost)

The shadow of the law passed away when grace arrived; for, as the bush wrapped in flame did not burn,

so did the Virgin give birth and yet remain a virgin. In place of the pillar of fire, the Sun of

righteousness hath shone forth. Instead of Moses, Christ is come, the salvation of our souls.

-St Romanos the Melodist - On the Annunciation

I see I am not able to understand, for it passes human understanding. How is the bush that endures fire

not consumed? How does the lamb endure the lion, or the swallow the eagle, and the servant his

Master? In mortal womb, in a manner uncircumscribed, Mary bears my Savior as He wills it, So that

every man may proclaim "A virgin gives birth, and after the birth remains a virgin." 

-portion of Prayer of Preparation for Holy Communion by St. Symeon the New Theologian)

And rejoicing and trembling at once, 

I who am straw partake of fire, 

And, strange wonder! 

I am ineffably bedewed, 

Like the bush of old 

Which burnt without being consumed. 

- St Nilus of Mt Sinai

If Moses was forbidden to approach the earthly burning bush until he had loosed his sandals from off

his feet (Exodus 3:5), how can you not cast away from yourself every passionate thought when you

wish to see Him, Who is above all feeling and thought, and to converse with Him?

From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, December 3

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1).

Brethren, whatever God desires to reveal to men is revealed, and whatever He does not desire to reveal

remains concealed. Moses, the one who beheld God, could say nothing more about heaven than that in

the beginning God created it. Having said that, he continued to describe in detail the creation of the

earth. Why does Moses not speak in detail about the creation of heaven? Because God did not want to

reveal any more to him, since the men of his time were neither mature enough nor capable of

understanding heavenly matters beyond their senses. Only when many centuries had passed and God's

New Testament had come to men, did God reveal much more of the heavenly world to His faithful and

chosen ones. Only Christians began to see the heavens opened. St. John the Theologian bears witness

to this: After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven (Revelation 4:1). St. Stephen the

Protomartyr witnesses: Behold, I see the heavens opened (Acts 7:56). The Apostle Paul, who was

caught up to the third heaven … and heard unspeakable words (II Corinthians 12:2, 4), speaks of the

angelic choirs, about the thrones, dominions, principalities and powers, and says: All things were

created by Him, and for Him (Colossians 1:16). His disciple, St. Dionysius, describes the celestial

hierarchy in as great a detail as Moses describes the earthly world at its creation. This is how the

unfathomable wisdom of God wanted it; that which God did not wish to reveal to Moses, He revealed

to the apostles and their followers. What could not be told to children is told to mature men. The

revelation of mysteries came through spiritual maturity.

Here is a beautiful lesson for us all. Let us be diligent in seeking the truth, still more diligent in

purifying our hearts, patient in waiting, and unwavering in faith that God will give us everything in due

time, in the way and to the measure necessary for our salvation. 

Jesse Tree Day 11 The Infant Moses

Day 11 – November 25 (December 8 OC)

Ornament - Baby in Basket

Materials - Doll house basket, rafia, felt, wooden bead, hot glue, twine, brown pen

 Read Exodus 1:8-14,22;2:1-10

-Elder Cleopa of Romania, Truth of Our Faith: A Discourse from Holy Scripture on the

Teachings of True Christianity

From the time of Adam until that of Abraham, according to the old chronologies, 3,678 years passed,

and if we add 430 years when the Israelites remained in Egypt, we have 4,108 years. Throughout this

period of time Holy Scripture neither existed nor was the Sabbath considered as a feast among the

people. During this period of many thousands of years the faithful and chosen people were guided to

the path of salvation only by Holy Tradition, namely, from the teachings about God which they

received from a living voice. Only for the duration of 1400 years - from the time of Moses until the

advent of Christ - were they guided by the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament.

-St. Gregory of Nyssa, From Glory to Glory

Moses sought to see God, and this is the instruction he receives on how he is to see Him: seeing God

means following Him wherever He might lead. Anyone who does not know the way cannot travel

safely without following a guide. The guide shows him the way by walking ahead of him, And the one

following will not get off the right path if he keeps constantly watching the back of his guide. On the

other hand, if he moves off to one side, or tries to bring himself face to face with his guide, he will be

setting out on a different path from the one which his guide is showing him. Thus the Lord says to

those who are being guided: You shall not see My face, or, in other words: Do not face your guide. For

then you will be going in a completely opposite direction. 

From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, December 16

Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3).

A chosen man, a great wonderworker, a type of the Lord Jesus Christ in his miracles, a victor in Egypt,

a victor in the wilderness, the leader of a people-how could he not be proud? But if he had become

proud, Moses would not have been all that he was. They become proud who think that they do their

own works and not God's in this world, and who think that they work by their own power and not by

God's power. But the great Moses knew that he was the doer of God's works, and that the power with

which He did them was God's power and not his. That is why he did not become proud because of the

awesome miracles he performed, or the great victories he obtained, or the wise laws that he gave to the

people. The Lord is my strength and my song (Exodus 15:2), said Moses. Of the entire assembly of the

Israelites in the wilderness, no one felt his own particular weakness as much as he, the greatest one of

that assembly. In every task, in every place and in every moment, he expected help only from God.

``What shall I do?'' he cried to God, and he ceaselessly listened for God's reply and sought God's

power. ``Meek above all men on earth.'' For all the others considered themselves as being something,

trusted themselves as being something, but he-nothing. He was completely absorbed in God,

completely humbled before God. If the people needed to be fed and given drink, he turned to God; if it

was necessary to do battle with his enemies, he raised his hands to heaven; if it was necessary to calm

an uprising among the people, he cried to God. The meek, the all-meek Moses! And God rewarded his

faithful servant with great glory and made him worthy to appear on Mount Tabor with Elias alongside

the Lord Savior.

Jesse Tree Day 10 Israel's blessing and prophecy on Judah

Day 10 – November 24 (December 7 OC)

Ornament - Lion

Materials - Bought with coupon at Dillard's

Read Genesis 49:1-2,8-12

Psalm 91

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee in their

hands, that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder: the young lion

and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I

deliver him; I will set him up, because he hath known my Name.

Jesse Tree Day 9 Joseph's Elevation

Day 9 – November 23 (December 6 OC)

Ornament - Cow

Materials - Bought on sale at Hobby Lobby.

 Read Genesis 41:1-16, 25-34,36-37,39-44,56-57;42:1-8,13-

15,21-26;43:1-5,11-17,26-31;45:1-16 

-St Seraphim of Sarov

For an offense, whatever kind may have been given, one must not only not avenge oneself, but on the

contrary must all the more forgive from the heart, even though it may resist this, and must incline the

heart by conviction of the word of God: "If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father

forgive your trespasses" (Matt. 6:15). 

Jesse Tree Day 8 Israel's 12 Sons

Day 8 – November 22 (December 5 OC)

Ornament - Joseph's Coat of Many Colors
Materials - Felt, colorful ribbon, pipe cleaner and hot glue

Read Genesis 37:3-36

-Abba Anthony the Great
My children, desire to purify your hearts from envy and from anger with each other, lest death should
overcome you, and you will be counted among the murderers. For whosoever hates his brother, kills a
soul.

-St. John of Kronstadt
Remember that the Lord is in every Christian. When your neighbor comes to you, always have
great respect for him, because the Lord is in him, and often expresses His will through him. ' It is God
which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure' (Phil. 2:13).
Therefore, do not grudge anything to your brother, but do unto him as unto the Lord; especially
as you do not know in whom the Lord will come and visit you; be impartial to all, be kind to all,
sincere and hospitable. Remember that sometimes God speaks even through unbelievers, or disposes
their hearts towards us, as it happened in Egypt when the Lord gave Joseph favor in the sight of the
keeper of the prison. (Gen. 39:21).

From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, December 15
And Joseph left his garment in her hand, and fled outdoors (Genesis 39:12).

The innocent and chaste Joseph endured two great and difficult temptations and overcame them: the
temptation of wicked envy on the part of his blood brothers, and the temptation of adulterous passion
from the Egyptian temptress. Jealousy sold him as a slave, and the passion of adultery drove the
innocent one to prison. In both cases he returned good for evil: he gave food to his hungry brothers and
preserved the life, throne and people of frightened Pharaoh. His brothers thought to slay him, but God
saved him; the adulterous woman thought to destroy him, but God saved him. Out of slavery and
imprisonment, God crowned him with glory and unlimited authority. And him whom his evil brothers
could have killed with one stroke and whom Potiphar's powerful wife could have crushed in an instant,
God made the unlimited master over the lives of millions of people and the only nourisher of his
starving brothers. Such is the wondrous mercy of God toward the righteous. Thus does the Lord know
how to save and glorify the innocent and the chaste. In the greatness of the destiny of Joseph, we see
the greatness of God's mercy. There is one eye that never sleeps, my brethren. Let us cling to God and
not fear anyone. Let us be innocent and chaste and not fear evil, or slander, or prison, or ridicule, or
misfortune. On the contrary, let us rejoice when all of this befalls us because of our innocence and
chastity; let us rejoice and await with faith the revelation of God's wonders toward us. Let us, in every
storm, await the thunder of God's justice-and afterward the calm.

Jesse Tree Day 7 Jacob's Ladder

Day 7 – November 21 (December 4 OC)

Ornament - Ladder
Materials - Sticks, hot glue, raffia and twine

Read Genesis 28:10-17

28th Sunday After Pentecost, Third Antiphon
Rejoice, O portal of God, through which the incarnate Creator passed without breaking thy seal!
Rejoice, thou light cloud that bore Christ, the divine Rain! Rejoice, ladder and throne of heaven!
Rejoice, honored mountain of God, fruitful and unquarried!

The Royal Hours of the Nativity, Prophet Jeremiah (Baruch 3:35-4:4)
This is our God, and there shall none other be accounted of in comparison of Him He hath found out
all the way of knowledge, and hath given it unto Jacob His servant, and to Israel His beloved.
Afterward did He show himself upon earth, and conversed with men. This is the book of the
commandments of God, and the law that endureth forever: all they that keep it shall come to life; but
such as leave it shall die. Turn thee, O Jacob, and take hold of it: walk in the presence of the light
thereof, that thou mayest be illuminated. Give not thine honor to another, nor the things that are
profitable unto thee to a strange nation. O Israel, happy are we: for things that are pleasing to God are
made known unto us.

(From the website of The Orthodox Church in America, www.oca.org)
At the Vespers [of the Nativity of the Theotokos], the three Old Testamental readings are
"mariological" in their New Testamental interpretation. Thus, Jacob's Ladder which unites heaven and
earth and the place which is named "the house of God" and the "gate of heaven" (Genesis 28:10-17) are
taken, to indicate the union of God with men which is realized most fully and perfectly-both spiritually
and physically-in Mary the Theotokos, Bearer of God. So also the vision of the temple with the "door
'to the East" perpetually closed and filled with the "glory of the Lord" symbolizes Mary, called in the
hymns of the feast "the living temple of God filled with the divine Glory." (Ezekiel 43:27-44:4) Mary is
also identified with the "house" which the Divine Wisdom has built for himself according to the
reading from Proverbs 9:1-11.

(Psalm 83/84 The Psalter Ninth Hour)
Blessed is the man whose help is from Thee; he hath made ascents in his heart, in the vale of weeping,
in the place which he hath appointed. Yea, for the lawgiver will give blessings; they shall go from
strength to strength, the God of gods shall be seen in Sion. O Lord of hosts, hearken unto my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob.

From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, December 14
For I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved (Genesis 32:30).

The God of Abraham and Isaac is also the God of Jacob the faithful, the obedient, the merciful and the
meek. The meek beholder of God, Jacob, can be called the "one who saw God.'' For in truth he was
meek, and he saw God and spoke with God, and he saw the angels of God and the ladder from earth to
heaven. By his meekness he defeated Laban his father-in-law, and Esau his brother; by his meekness he
made peace between his wives, Leah and Rachel; for his meekness he was even dear to pharaoh.
Jacob's meekness is a prefiguration of the meekness of Christ. Blessed are the meek, said the Lord, for
they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). These words were also realized in Jacob. He inherited the
land of his fathers; his descendants were delivered from Egypt and inherited the Promised Land;
through Christ the Lord, his descendant according to the flesh, he inherited the whole earth, that is, the
Church of God which spread over the entire world. I have seen God face to face. Jacob saw God in the
form of man but not as true man. And even this vision was only a prefiguring of the true Incarnation of
God as man. And my life is preserved. His soul was preserved from fear and from every
unrighteousness. If Jacob was preserved by only seeing a vision of God, how much easier is it for us to
be preserved who know God as true man and as the God-man.

Jesse Tree Day 6 Sacrifice of Isaac

Day 6 – November 20 (December 3 OC)

Ornament - Ram

Materials - Black card-stock, white pipe cleaner, white yarn, twine for hanging

 Read Genesis 22:1-18

-St Romanos the Melodist - Vol. II: On the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
Did not the faithful Sarah, long ago, before her son Isaac was born, desire to give birth, even though
she was sterile? She received the Lord in human form, along with two archangels; And His word to her
on this occasion was: "You, Sarah, will have a child," Now, rejoicing, she Cries to the world: The
barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God And the nurse of our life.

-St. Ephrem the Syrian
In two things then was Abraham victorious: that he killed his son although he did not kill him and that
he believed that after Isaac died he would be raised up again and would go back down with him. For
Abraham was firmly convinced that He Who said to him, 'through Isaac shall your descendants be
named,' was not lying.

-A Homily by St. John Chrysostom
Now pay attention, for this is a subtle point. We are going to say how Sarah's barren womb leads us by
the hand, as it were, to faith in the Resurrection. How, then, does it lead us? Just as her womb, being
dead, was resurrected by the Grace of God and brought forth the living body of Isaac, so also Christ,
having died, was resurrected by His own power. And listen to Paul testifying that our exegesis is not
forced: [the Prophet Abraham] considered not...the deadness of Sarahs womb...but was strong in faith,
giving glory to God and being fully persuaded that what He had promised He was able also to perform
(Romans 4:19-21). That is, God was able to bring it about that a living son be born from dead bodies.
Then, leading us from that belief to this one, he adds: It was not written for his sake alone, that it was
imputed to him, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus
our Lord from the dead (Romans 4:23-24). What he is saying is this: God raised up Isaac from dead
bodies; so also did He raise up His Son, Who had become dead. Do you want to learn what else
barrenness symbolizes? The Church was to give birth to the multitude of the Faithful. Therefore, in
order that you might not disbelieve that She who was infertile, unfruitful, and barren gave birth, one
who was barren by nature preceded Her, preparing the way for Her who was voluntarily barren, and
Sarah thus became a type of the Church. For, just as she, being barren, gave birth in old age, so also the
Church, being barren, gave birth in the last times. Hear how Paul testifies that this is true: We are
children of the free woman (Galatians 4:31). For, since Sarah, the free woman, is a type of the Church,
for this reason he adds that we are children of the free woman.

From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, December 13
And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear
not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee (Genesis 26:24).
Brethren, from time immemorial, the path upon which the righteous walk has always been difficult.
From time immemorial, they have been hard pressed either by those who do not believe in God or by
those who maintain an incorrect belief. Abel was hard pressed by his brother Cain; Noah and Lot, by a
completely corrupt generation; and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, by the pagans. However, God does not
forsake the righteous to walk the difficult path alone. This we also see with Isaac: I am the God of
Abraham thy father; fear not. Isaac understood these very meaningful words. By these words, God
encouraged and reminded him. He was saying: ``Because of Abraham, I will bless thee also; and, as I
protected Abraham among the pagans, so in a like manner will I protect thee.'' And further: ``Be faithful
to Me as was Abraham thy father.'' Isaac followed the example of his father and did not turn away from
God at any time in his life. Isaac was a farmer and a cattle-breeder as was his father; he was righteous
and meek, avoiding strife with men and doing good for people. We saw certainly that the Lord was
with thee (Genesis 26:28), as his haters and persecutors finally had to admit. And Isaac was made
worthy that God be called His God: just as God was called the God of Abraham, so later He was called
the God of Isaac.

Jesse Tree Day 5 Abraham

Day 5 – November 19 (December 2 OC)

Ornament - Constellation of Stars
Materials - Gold foil star garland

He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the start - if indeed you can count them." Then He said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
Genesis 15:5

Read Genesis 12:1-7;15:1-6;17:1-9

-Saint Kosmas Aitolos +1779
God 'tested Abraham' (Gn 22:1-14), that is, God afflicted him for his own benefit, not in order to
learn what kind of man Abraham was- for He knew him, since He knows all things before they come
into existence- but in order to provide him with opportunities for showing perfect faith.

-St. Gregory Nazianzen
Abraham, great Patriarch though he was, was justified by faith, and offered a strange victim (Gen
28:2), the type of the Great Sacrifice. Yet he saw not God as God, but gave Him food as a man (Gen.
18:2). He was approved because he worshiped as far as he comprehended.

1 Peter 3:1-11

From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, December 10
I … am but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27).
These are the words that the righteous Abraham spoke of himself. Brethren, ridiculous are those
people who pride themselves on their association with worldly princes and noblemen and begin to
think highly of themselves. Abraham was found worthy to converse with the Eternal and Almighty
King. Nevertheless, he remained unwavering in his humility, calling himself dust and ashes. Who was
this Abraham, that he was found worthy of so much of God's favor in his lifetime and praise after his
death, from the Apostle (Galatians 3, Hebrews 11), and even from the Lord Christ Himself (Luke
16:22, John 8:39)? He was a peasant who possessed all the virtues, living always according to the Law
of God, a man with a firm faith in God, a lover of justice, hospitable, compassionate, courageous,
obedient, pure and humble. However, Abraham is especially glorified for his faith, a powerful faith.
Abraham was one hundred years old when God told him that his wife, barren until then, would bear a
son, and he believed. And even before Sarah had given birth to Isaac, God said to Abraham: I will make
thy seed as the dust of the earth (Genesis 13:16). Abraham believed and doubted not. And when an only
son was born to Abraham, God commanded him, as a test, to offer his only son as a sacrifice. Abraham
was prepared to do this, had God not turned him from it at the last moment. How complete was this
wonderful man's faith and obedience to God! Therefore God blessed him and made him glorious on
earth and in heaven. Brethren, blessed are they who, without hesitation, believe in God and fulfill His
holy commandments. The blessing of God will accompany them in both worlds.

Jesse Tree Day 4 Noah

Day 4 – November 18 (December 1 OC)

Ornament - Rainbow
Materials - Beads from Noah's Ark Rosary (Already had)

Read Genesis 6:9-7:6,7:11-24,8:1-24

—Elder Nectarius of Optina
“For a hundred years Noah called people to him, but only the dumb animals came."

-From John of Damascus, Exposition of the Orthodox Faith
For from the beginning the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, and anew the Scripture
witnesseth that water has the power of purification. In the time of Noah, God washed away the sin of
the world by water. By water every impure person is purified, according to the law, even the very
garments being washed with water.

-St. Gregory the Great
It took Noah a hundred years to build his ark; log upon log he dragged to the construction. Do as he
did; drag log upon log to your construction, patiently, in silence, day after day, and do not inquire about
your surroundings.

The Way of the Ascetics, by Tito Colliander
Remember that Noah was the only one in the whole world who 'walked with God'
(Gen. 6:9), that is, in prayer. Imagine the crowding, the darkness, the stench, that he had to live in until
he could step out into the pure air and build an altar to the Lord. The air and the altar you will find
within you, explains St. John Chrysostom, but only after you have willingly gone through the same
narrow gate as Noah.
It should not frighten you that in the Church the bad are many and the good few. For the Ark, which in
the midst of the Flood was a figure of this Church, was wide below and narrow above, and at the
summit measured but one cubit (Gen. 6:16). And we are to believe that below were the four-footed
animals and serpents, above the birds and men. It was wide where the beasts were, narrow where men
lived; for the Holy Church is indeed wide in the number of those who are carnal minded, narrow in
those who are spiritual. For where she suffers the morals and beastly ways of men, there she enlarges
her bosom. But where she has the care of those whose lives are founded on spiritual things, these she
leads to the highest place; but since they are few, this part is narrow .... And so the more the wicked
abound so much the more must we suffer them in patience; for on the threshing floor few are the grains
carried into the barns, but high the piles of chaff that are burned with fire.

-Patriarch Jeremiah II, 16 century
Therefore, since it is undoubtedly and completely sure that we must believe without doubt, only this remains, that which it is necessary to seek with all one's might and is to be found by every means. What in reality is this?
 It is this: that we may attain salvation with all that we do. For idle faith and works without faith are both rejected in the sight of God. Let us consider what has been said in the light of the following:
for God, who has shown himself to us as being of three hypostases, has also shown this most
evident way to us. And, indeed, know also that faith, hope, and love [cf. I Cor 13:13], the golden
threefold rainbow, when kept by us, effects salvation for us.

From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, December 9
Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God (Genesis 6:9).
To be righteous among the righteous is a great and praiseworthy deed, but how far greater and more
praiseworthy a deed it is to be righteous among the unrighteous. Noah lived among men who were
filled with unrighteousness and evil; he lived among them for five hundred years and remained
righteous before God: Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8). The Most-high Judge,
who looks at all the works of mankind and evaluates them without prejudice and without error, valued
the labors of Noah because, in the midst of a corrupt and perverse generation, he remained in the
righteousness of God; and God rewarded him with His grace. Assuredly, Noah endured much misery
and bitterness from his evil neighbors. Assuredly, he was unable to have a friend among them. The
greatest satisfaction for a sinner is to drag a righteous man down into his own mire and to share his sin
with him. But Noah did not allow himself to be dragged down or misled. Noah favored God's
friendship over that of unrighteous men. It was dearer to him to walk with God without men, than to
walk with men without God. Fear of God, the Creator and Judge, preserved him from the worldwide
corruption; and he was not only righteous but also perfect in his generations. That is, he did not allow
himself, even in the least, to be contaminated by the common evil, but rather he cleaved to God's
righteousness. The allurement of sin and the ridicule of the sinners: everything merely served to
separate him all the more from them. When the universal flood befell the human race, God did not
abandon his faithful Noah to perish with the others. Instead, He saved him and glorified him, making
him the progenitor of a new generation of men. Brethren, this shining example of Noah teaches that
each one of us can please God even in the midst of sinners, if only we want to.