Chaplain UpdateNews

VDF Chaplain Update – Fall 2024

We are now headed into what is sometimes called the Season of Light. The three major celebrations of Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa all have light as one of their central motifs. The theme of light comes at the time of year when days are shortest and night descends upon us early each day. As we huddle into the warmth of our homes, let us contemplate how light amidst the darkness is manifest in three great religious and cultural traditions. 

First, Chaplain Daniel Ripley will explain the meaning of Christmas and how it relates to the Virginia motto: Sic Semper Tyrannis. Chaplain Mitch Schranz will explain more about Chanukah, its history, meaning and connection to America’s promise. Chaplain James Thompson will enlighten us about Kwanzaa, how and why it is celebrated.

The VDF Chaplain and Religious Affairs Support Team wishes you and your loved ones Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and a Blessed Kwanzaa!

CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS

Andy Williams sure got it right in 1963 when he released his hit song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” In my faith tradition, the Christmas Season serves as a reminder of God’s Love for us and points to the greatest demonstration of love, service and grace ever known, the birth of the Christ Child. On Christmas Day, Christians around the world celebrate the wonderfully good news that God loved and cared for us so much that He Himself took on flesh and dwelt among us, to rescue and redeem us from spiritual death to eternal life through faith in Jesus as lord.

As Virginians we are familiar with our state’s motto “Sic Semper Tyrannis” (translated, “Thus Always To Tyrants”). Our motto restates the hope that tyrannical leaders will inevitably be overthrown, and I can’t think of any greater example of that hope than the truth we can see in Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection. In Genesis 3 we read how Satan tempted mankind’s earliest ancestors to sin, and how that sin separated us from a right relationship with God. Since that day, Satan has Tyrannically ruled over fallen humanity; and yet God in His steadfast love provided us with gospel hope in Genesis 3:15 that one day Satan would be crushed and overthrown. 

This promised hope of the coming Messiah was proclaimed throughout the centuries until finally, in Luke 2, an Angel of the Lord appeared to some shepherds and joyfully heralded the good news of the birth of the Christ Child and the fulfillment of that long awaited promise. Saying, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” As we receive Jesus with Joy as the greatest Christmas Gift ever given, we are reminded that this is the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” not merely because of the good food and fellowship we enjoy with our loved ones, but because of God’s love made manifest in Christ, who overcame the tyranny of sin and death to offer us life everlasting, and who came so many Christmases ago to point us into the light of God’s Love.

This Holiday Season, no matter what you choose to celebrate or how you choose to celebrate it, I pray that all your days be merry and bright.

CHANUKAH? HANUKAH? HANUKKA?

Whichever way you spell it, Chanukah is an eight-day Jewish holiday also known as the Festival of Light. It commemorates the victory of the people of ancient Israel who rose up against their Syrian-Greek conquerors and the brutish manner in which they subjugated the populace. They forbade Jewish worship, defiled the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and tried to make the people adopt Greek culture, religion, and language.

The heavy hand of Greek martial law became the law of the land and human rights were squashed. After years of living under such intolerable conditions, the people revolted. No one thought the small band of civilians, led by Judah Maccabee, could prevail against the strong, well-armed Syrian-Greek army. But they did it! After years of fighting, the Maccabees prevailed and the Syrian-Greeks quit Judea. Legend has it that the Temple Menorah (lamp) which had been extinguished by the Greek army was lit once again. There was only enough oil to last one day, but miraculously it lasted for eight. This is why we now light the Menorah for eight days.

Chanukah is sometimes called the first war fought for religious freedom.

Freedom of religion, religious tolerance, and freedom from religion have been cornerstones of American democracy. It is one of the freedoms for which Americans fought and died. Let’s never take the blessings of our freedom for granted.

WHAT IS KWANZAA?

Kwanzaa is a cultural celebration that honors the Nguzo Saba or the seven principles of African American values.

Some of the practices that take place in honor of Kwanzaa include:

1) Lighting a candle each day of the week-long celebration in honor of the principles of Kwanzaa.

2) Lighting a candle for remembering the past.

3) One candle also for learning about African American history and culture.

4) The fourth candle would be lit for the tradition of spending time with family.

5) The fifth candle on the fifth day would be for taking time to eat meals which include African American cuisine, Caribbean cuisine, and South American dishes.

6) The sixth candle and tradition would be for singing, dancing, drumming and participating and all other types of music and dance.

7) Last but certainly not least, the seventh candle and tradition is the recitation of poetry and narrating stories from which the history was foretold, from one generation to the next.