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An Ornament to the Doctrine of God

December 23, 2025

1 Samuel 2:1b-10|Psalm 66, 67|Titus 2:1-10|Luke 1:26-38

Today’s readings strike a tone of praise and awe.  I find that pretty easy to do when I’m hiking in the woods.  With new fallen snow on pine branches and powder on untouched trails, how could I not be in awe?  How could I not want to call out God’s name in praise? Isn’t giving praise in fact the joy of this season?  Carols and trumpets, all voices of praise.  We are in awe of Jesus’ birth, the simplicity of it and the beauty of that one bright light, and of the creative decorations we display, and of how bringing a tree into our homes can strike joy in the faces of every age.  I definitely feel my conscience purified by the visitation of God through these delights of December.

And then, we have the reading in Titus 2:1-10.  Women and slaves – !!!! – being told to be submissive, act in loyalty to their masters.  Ugh.  How does this fit into the message of praise and awe?  Father John, help here? Humans are definitely complicated. It’s a whole lot easier to walk among the trees.  I read this (after setting aside a bit of outrage) as a voice from an era past, admonishing humans to personify behavior that praises God so that we may all serve as “an ornament to the doctrine of God.” Today’s behavior may look a little more equal and classless than the behavior of this writing’s era.  The message, for me, is to live my best Godly self, warts and all, among the people and not just while walking amongst trees. 

My grandmother was a family matriarch.  She went camping and climbed every Adirondack mountain and went to graduate school in the Depression.  She was not the most pious woman but she lived a Godly life in her own way.  Florence was a devoted wife, hard-working school principal, loving mother and grandmother, helping neighbor, and leader in her community.  She was an ornament to the doctrine of God, I am sure of it.

Laura Bottaro

The picture is Grandma Florence and baby Laura