On the 10th Day of Christmas

My True Love gave to me Ten Lords a Leaping. So often, this is depected in a comical way. That’s okay, for we know that God has a sense of humor. How else could you explain the aardvark?

But there is a lot more going on today then just a bunch of well dressed men leaping about. The Ten Lords represent the Ten Commandments. Commandments from God are to be taken seriously. A multitidue of civilizations have based their laws on the Ten Commandments. The first three deal with the importance of faith and honoring that faith. The remaining seven are instructions on how to be a good person while avoiding the pitfalls of serious sins along the way. Adultery, lying, cheating, stealing and worst of all slaughtering one another are all very bad things. You don’t even need to be religious to know these things are wrong.

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Today is also the Feast Day of the Holy Name of Jesus. It is an Optional Memorial, which means Catholics who wish to attend Mass may do so, but there is no obligation on the part of the faithful. Christians everywhere would agree that every aspect of our Lord is Holy, including His Name. We hear it for the first time when the Archangel Gabriel spoke to Mary.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
Luke 1:31

While Gabriel spoke the name, he was but a messenger from God. The Father in Heaven named the Son. With this name comes great power. Saint Peter was one of the first Apostles to speak with authority in the Holy name of Jesus when he healed a crippled man.

I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise up and walk”
Acts 3:6

Always and everywhere, we should pray in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen. For God the Father loves us, and calls us always to be with Him through God the Son. God the Son has given us the guidance of the Holy Spirit that we might answer the call of the Father. This realization is just another way to understand that there is but One God in Three Persons.

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While I know for some of you, this is the dead of winter. Where I am, it’s winter, too. However; central California rarely gets snow. While we’ve been known to flood a time or two, you can still manage to find suitable conditions to fire up that grill. The best part about the dead of winter is that steaks are generally on sale since most people don’t think about cooking outdoors. We do.

Mesquite Grilled Ribeye Steaks
3 bone-in Ribeye Steaks
Salt to taste
Fresh Black Pepper to taste
1 tablespoon Mesquite Seasoning
1/2 tablespoon Olive Oil

Lay steaks out on a cutting board. Plot with paper towels, season generously with salt and pepper. Set steaks aside and let come to room temperature, about an hour.

Place mesquite seasoning in a small bowl. Drizzle with olive oil. Brush steaks on both sides with the seasoned oil.

Heat one side of the grill to medium-high heat, leaving the other side unlit. Close grill, let heat to about 425-degrees.

Place steaks on the hot side to grill and form nice grill marks, about 3 minutes. Turn, grill another 2 or 3 minutes for marks.

Transfer steaks to the cool side of the grill. Close lid, continue to cook to desired doneness, about 8 minutes total for medium-rare. Transfer steaks to a plate, cover with an inverted large metal bowl and let rest for 10 minutes. Juices will accumulate in the plate.

Serve steaks alongside baked potatoes. Drizzle with the drippings that have gathered at the bottom of the plate. Enjoy!

Baked Potato
3 Baking Potatoes
Olive Oil as needed
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
Cheddar Cheese as desired
Sour Cream as desired
Bacon Bits as desired
Chives

Heat oven to 400-degrees.

Scrub potatoes. Cut slits in tops with a sharp knife. Rub the skin with olive oil, season with salt. Place potatoes directly on the oven rack to bake for 45-minutes.

Once done, shut oven off, wrap potatoes in foil and keep warm until ready to serve alongside the steaks.

Potatoes can be garnished with freshly shredded cheese, bacon bits, sour cream and chives using one or all the toppings as desired. Split potatoes open, garnish and enjoy.

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 Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted Him
He gave power to become the children of God.
Alleluia, alleluia.