One of the first books I read on my journey towards Orthodoxy was The Way of the Pilgrim. This is a story of a young man who sets out to find out the meaning of continuous prayer. He comes into contact with several people who aid him in his quest on this journey and he eventually does find the meaning.
The series of videos below is a similar story. A Canadian-Romanian sets off on a journey to find out more about becoming a saint and if there are still saints today. To do this he returns to his native Romania.
I have only watched the first episode but if the rest are like this one it will be a great series. It is in English and some Romanian with English subtitles. We worth the time to watch.
On September 5, 1774 at Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia Pennsylvania Peyton Randolph of Virginia called into session delegates from 12 of the 13 Colonies, Georgia was not present at this time. Prior to the start of the Congress, the Reverend Jacob Duché, Rector of Christ Church in Philadelphia rose to invoke the blessings of God on those gathered and the work they were about to undertake.
O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these our American States, who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee. To Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give. Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle!
Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior.
In yesterday’s essay I quoted Walter Brueggemann that the first eleven chapters of the Book of Genesis are the most important in Scripture, well so far that has certainly proved to be the case. Today we come face to face with chapter 4 and the kill of Abel.
This is an interesting passage on many levels. We have a sacrifice that is unpleasing to God, not because of what is on the outside but because of what is in the heart of Cain. Cain did everything he was required to do, but his heart was not in the right place. Abel had a right discerning heart and had his passions under control; Cain on the other hand let his passions get the better of him.
Cain’s life was characterized by the domination of the sinful passions and in verse 6 we see that his countenance had fallen and he was filled with extreme sorrow. Because of his arrogant approach towards worship and the rejection of his sacrifice by God he continued to sin. Sorrow for our sins leads us towards humility and repentance but in the case of Cain his extreme sorrow led him in the other direction and his sorrow turned into hatred for and of his brother, jealousy drove him to murder and the hiding of his brother’s body from God.
The Lord asks Cain about his fallen countenance and asks him, “did you not sin?” God was asking to try and bring Cain to repentance, he was commended by God for worship but God scolded him for not having his heart in the right place. You see we can come to Church and do all of the right things but if our heart is not in it then it is not right worship, in fact it is a mockery.
God told Cain to be still, to settle his heart. That is the goal of our spiritual life, interior silence, when our life is filled with the turbulence of passions it leads us to do things we might not do if we were in a period of silence. This is not easy in our crazy world we live in. As I sit and write these words my mind is going ay 90 miles per hour about all of the things that need to accomplish today. But we need to slow down, center our thoughts on God, and pray for guidance. Acting out of our passions is what leads us to sin. This is what led Cain to kill his brother.
Cain was so blind by his rage, and working completely on his passions, he felt that his sin was so grievous that he could not be forgiven for it. Cain says to God, “My guilt is too great to be forgiven,” to which God responds, “Not so!” God then makes a covenant with Cain that he will live. No sin is so great that God will not forgive us.
But Cain was not convinced and Scripture tells us “he went out from the presence of the Lord and welt in the land of Nod opposite Eden.” He left the Lord presence and set out on his own. The commentary says that the name Nod means “one who wanders away from God” Cain set out on his own opposite Eden, the place where God dwells. Cain did the opposite of what God wanted him to do.
When we set off on our own, when we turn our back on God, God is never far from us and all we need do is turn around, turn away from ourselves, and turn back to Him. Just like the Prodigal Son, God will forgive all and welcome us back into the family.
I do not usually make New Year’s resolutions because I never follow through on them. I start of great but in a few shorts weeks it is gone. Well, I hope to change that this year. I am taking up the challenge to read the Bible in One Year. (I will be using this scheme if you would like to join me.) I have done it before but this time I am going to take it slow and really focus on the text. Scripture is very important in the life of the Orthodox Church, most of our Liturgical services are thick with references from Scripture. Dare I say that in a typical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, Orthodox Christians here more Scripture than the Protestants who claim that the Bible is all they need!
So along with the reading I will be reflecting on various themes from the Scripture I am reading and I will write about it here on these pages. It might not be everyday or even once a week, but when I come across something that is of particular interest or perhaps jumps out at me, I will reflect upon it. I welcome your questions and your comments. I am not a Scripture scholar only a pilgrim looking for answers.
It is logical then to start “In the beginning” with the first three chapters of the Book of Genesis. Walter Brueggemann in the Interpretation series of Biblical Commentaries say that “The first 11 chapters of Genesis are among the most important in Scripture.” I certainly have found this to be true. Whilst in seminary, I took a summer class on this subject. The class met for four hours a day for three weeks and we were supposed to get through all 11 chapters. I cannot remember for sure, but I don’t think we made it past 5 or 6 chapters that is how much is included in these chapters.
I am zeroing in on Chapter 1 and the first part verse 26, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” The first that jumps out to me in the use of the plural “Us” and “Our.” At a first glance, and using the language of the New King James Version, one might simply think this is regal language however, St. John Chrysostom indicates this is the Father speaking to God the Son as an indication of the distinctness of the Three Persons of the Trinity and that the Trinity existed before creation itself and was part of that creation.
But what image, if the first person and the third person of the Trinity have no human form what image is this creation to take? Man is not one in nature with the Trinity, we see that each member of the Trinity is separate but one in nature, humanity is not part of that nature, in the sense that the others are, the dignity, and the worth of each man and woman is the image and likeness of God.
The modern world has reduced humans to things and respect for human life, all along the spectrum of that life, is not respected. Poverty, war, hunger, murder all disrespect dignity of humanity and thus disrespects the image and likeness of God. When humans are used as a means to an end their value is, well, devalued. If we respect God then by extension we must respect His creation.
We see in the seven preceding creation events, air, water, sun, moon, animals, plants, etc. God says “it is very good” nothing that God creates is bad and that includes humanity. Nothing that God made is evil in itself. Human nature is good in itself but sin is a choice and that free choice of man to sin is contrary to both God’s nature and human nature. People are not evil, their actions are. Everything that God creates is good, simply put, because God is good.
The creator has a purpose for His creation and creation exists because of that purpose and because of the will of God. The Creator did not abandon His creation but continues to address the creation. The response of creation, humanity, is to show our faithful and of obedience to His will, His will not our will. God does not impose His will on us it is given freely to us and we have to choose, through obedience, to accept it or turn away from it. The sovereign rule of God is expressed by humanity through trust is His will for us and in accepting the generous invitation of God to follow Him.
Take particular note of the fact that Humanity is the only part of Creation that God actually speaks to. This indicates that humanity is to have a much different relationship with God than any other part of His creation. This is to be a very intimate relationship; God shows genuine care for humanity by creating a helper for it when it was alone. This was not done for any other part of creation. And because of this intimate relationship this is the only way that God is imaged in the world because humanity has the freedom to be faithful and generous, these are the energies of God. He is always faithful, no matter what we do, and He is generous with His love.
Man and woman are not simply chattel and servants of God but agents of God to whom much is given but from whom much will be expected. Humanity is not a single entity, “male and female he created them.” We all stand alone before God but because of being created male and female we have been created as community. None of us is the full image and likeness of God on our own, only in community can the image and likeness of God be reflected, God is not individual but communion, we need each other!
I will end this reflection with a quote from Walter Brueggemann about the nature of creation itself. “Creation is God’s decision not to look after Himself but to focus his energies and purposes on the creation.”
55 Maxims for Christian Living
by Fr. Thomas Hopko
1. Be always with Christ.
2. Pray as you can, not as you want.
3. Have a keepable rule of prayer that you do by discipline.
4. Say the Lord’s Prayer several times a day.
5. Have a short prayer that you constantly repeat when your mind is not occupied with other things.
6. Make some prostrations when you pray.
7. Eat good foods in moderation.
8. Keep the Church’s fasting rules.
9. Spend some time in silence every day.
10. Do acts of mercy in secret.
11. Go to liturgical services regularly
12. Go to confession and communion regularly.
13. Do not engage intrusive thoughts and feelings. Cut them off at the start.
14. Reveal all your thoughts and feelings regularly to a trusted person.
15. Read the scriptures regularly.
16. Read good books a little at a time.
17. Cultivate communion with the saints.
18. Be an ordinary person.
19. Be polite with everyone.
20. Maintain cleanliness and order in your home.
21. Have a healthy, wholesome hobby.
22. Exercise regularly.
23. Live a day, and a part of a day, at a time.
24. Be totally honest, first of all, with yourself.
25. Be faithful in little things.
26. Do your work, and then forget it.
27. Do the most difficult and painful things first.
28. Face reality.
29. Be grateful in all things.
30. Be cheefull.
31. Be simple, hidden, quiet and small.
32. Never bring attention to yourself.
33. Listen when people talk to you.
34. Be awake and be attentive.
35. Think and talk about things no more than necessary.
36. When we speak, speak simply, clearly, firmly and directly.
37. Flee imagination, analysis, figuring things out.
38. Flee carnal, sexual things at their first appearance.
39. Don’t complain, mumble, murmur or whine.
40. Don’t compare yourself with anyone.
41. Don’t seek or expect praise or pity from anyone.
42. We don’t judge anyone for anything.
43. Don’t try to convince anyone of anything.
44. Don’t defend or justify yourself.
45. Be defined and bound by God alone.
46. Accept criticism gratefully but test it critically.
47. Give advice to others only when asked or obligated to do so.
48. Do nothing for anyone that they can and should do for themselves.
49. Have a daily schedule of activities, avoiding whim and caprice.
50. Be merciful with yourself and with others.
51. Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath.
52. Focus exclusively on God and light, not on sin and darkness.
53. Endure the trial of yourself and your own faults and sins peacefully, serenely, because you know that God’s mercy is greater than your wretchedness.
54. When we fall, get up immediately and start over.
55. Get help when you need it, without fear and without shame.
A few years ago my family decided to celebrate the Scots New Years with a Hogmanay celebration. So I will be heading home on New Years day for some food and fun with family and friends. I thought I would give a little information about what Hogmanay is for my readers who are unsure what this is all about. The following information comes courtesy of wikipedia.
The roots of Hogmanay perhaps reach back to the celebration of the winter solstice among the Norse, as well as incorporating customs from the Gaelic New Year’s celebration of Samhain. In Europe, winter solstice evolved into the ancient celebration of Saturnalia, a great Roman winter festival, where people celebrated completely free of restraint and inhibition. The Vikings celebrated Yule, which later contributed to the Twelve Days of Christmas, or the “Daft Days” as they were sometimes called in Scotland. The winter festival went underground with the Protestant Reformation and ensuing years, but re-emerged near the end of the 17th century.There are many customs, both national and local, associated with Hogmanay. The most widespread national custom is the practice of ‘first-footing’ which starts immediately after midnight. This involves being the first person to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour and often involves the giving of symbolic gifts such as salt (less common today), coal, shortbread, whisky, and black bun (a rich fruit cake) intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder. Food and drink (as the gifts) are then given to the guests. This may go on throughout the early hours of the morning and well into the next day (although modern days see people visiting houses until 3 January). The first-foot is supposed to set the luck for the rest of the year.Each area of Scotland often developed its own particular Hogmanay ritual.Catalonian Sun Goddess from the Hogmanay Street Party, Edinburgh 2005
Stonehaven Fireballs Ceremony 2003
An example of a local Hogmanay custom is the fireball swinging that takes place in Stonehaven, Kincardineshire in north-east Scotland. This involves local people making up ‘balls’ of chicken wire and tar, paper, and other flammable material up to a diameter of 61 cm. Each ball has 2 m of wire, chain or nonflammable rope attached. As the Old Town House bell sounds to mark the new year, the swingers set off up the High Street from the Mercat Cross to the Cannon and back, swinging their burning ball around their head as they go for as many times as they and their fireball last. At the end of the ceremony any fireballs that are still burning are cast into the harbour. Many people enjoy this display, which is more impressive in the dark than it would be during the day. As a result large crowds flock to the town to see it, with 12,000 attending the 2007/2008 event. In recent years, additional attractions have been added to entertain the crowds as they wait for midnight, such as fire poi, a pipe band, street drumming and a firework display after the last fireball is cast into the sea.
Another example of a pagan fire festival is the the burning of the clavie which takes place in the town of Burghead in Moray.
In the east coast fishing communities and Dundee, first-footers used to carry a decorated herring while in Falkland in Fife, local men would go in torchlight procession to the top of the Lomond Hills as midnight approached. Bakers in St Andrews would bake special cakes for their Hogmanay celebration (known as ‘Cake Day’) and distribute them to local children.
In Glasgow and the central areas of Scotland, the tradition is to hold Hogmanay parties involving singing, dancing, the eating of steak pie or stew, storytelling and consumption of copious amounts of alcohol, which usually extend into the daylight hours of January 1.
Institutions also had their own traditions. For example, amongst the Scottish regiments, the officers had to wait on the men at special dinners while at the bells, the Old Year is piped out of barrack gates. The sentry then challenges the new escort outside the gates: ‘Who goes there?’ The answer is ‘The New Year, all’s well.’
An old custom in the Highlands, which has survived to a small extent and seen some degree of revival, is to celebrate Hogmanay with the saining (Scots for ‘protecting, blessing) of the household and livestock. This was done early on New Year’s morning with copious, choking clouds of smoke from burning juniper branches, and by drinking and then sprinkling ‘magic water’ from ‘a dead and living ford’ around the house (‘a dead and living ford’ refers to a river ford which is routinely crossed by both the living and the dead). After the sprinkling of the water in every room, on the beds and all the inhabitants, the house was sealed up tight and the burning juniper carried through the house and byre. The smoke was allowed to thoroughly fumigate the buildings until it caused sneezing and coughing among the inhabitants. Then all the doors and windows were flung open to let in the cold, fresh air of the new year. The woman of the house then administered ‘a restorative’ from the whisky bottle, and the household sat down to their New Year breakfast.
The Hogmanay custom of singing Auld Lang Syne has become common in many countries. Auld Lang Syne is a traditional poem reinterpreted by Robert Burns, which was later set to music. It is now common for this to be sung in a circle of linked arms that are crossed over one another as the clock strikes midnight for New Year’s Day, although in Scotland the traditional practice is to cross arms only for the last verse.
When Ne’erday falls on a Sunday, 3 January becomes an additional public holiday in Scotland; when Ne’erday falls on a Saturday, both 3 January and 4 January will be public holidays in Scotland; when Ne’erday falls on a Friday, 4 January becomes an additional public holiday in Scotland.
As in much of the world, the four largest Scottish cities, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dundee, hold all-night celebrations, as does Stirling. The Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations are among the largest in the world, although in 2003-4 most of the organised events were cancelled at short notice due to very high winds. The Stonehaven Fireballs went ahead as planned, however, with 6000 hardy souls braving the weather to watch 42 fireball swingers process along the High Street. Similarly, the 2006-07 celebrations in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling were all cancelled on the day, again due to high winds and heavy rain. The Aberdeen celebration, however, went ahead, and was opened by the pop music group, Wet Wet Wet.
The etymology of the word is obscure. It may have been introduced to Middle Scots through the Auld Alliance. In 1604 the custom was mentioned in the Elgin Records as hagmonay. The most satisfactory explanation is a derivation from the Northern French dialect word hoguinané, or variants such as hoginane, hoginono and hoguinettes. Those being derived from 16th century Old French aguillanneuf which is either a gift given at New Year, a children’s cry for such a gift or New Year’s Eve itself. The second element would appear to be l’an neuf i.e. the New Year. Compare those to Norman hoguinané and the obsolete customs in Jersey of crying ma hodgîngnole, and in Guernsey of asking for an oguinane, for a New Year gift.
The quote below is taken from a much larger essay on fasting. I would recommend the entire article to you for your information and edification.
So, is it a sin to break the fast? The answer to this question depends on what is meant by breaking the fast. As we have discussed, it turns out that most people—monastic and lay alike—deviate from the rule in some way. If this deviation is meaningful and its purpose is to accommodate a real physiological need, then, it seems to me it is well within the spirit of fasting, even if it is not exactly according to monastic rules. If, however, the deviation is due to our gluttony, laziness, lack of discipline, or some other weakness, then we have something that should be corrected. Perhaps, the best way to think about sin in relation to fasting is not in legal terms—law, crime, and punishment, but in terms of preparation or exercise. Fasting is an ascetic discipline. The word “ascetic” comes from the Greekἄσκησις which means “exercise” or “training.” In other words, imagine that you are a soldier preparing for a difficult and dangerous mission. It is not so much a crime to be lazy in your training or to cut corners as much as it means that you may not be well-prepared for your task and thus will not be able to complete it or even perish in the process. So, if you choose not to exercise the discipline of fasting, you are cheating yourself out of the training necessary to fight against the enemy—sins and passions—and will be unprepared to face the snares of the devil.
Today is the 2nd day of Christmas. All during the season that preceded this one, I was reminding people that it was not yet the Christmas Season that it was in fact the Season of Advent. The Advent Season is the time of preparation for the Great Feast of The Nativity According to the Flesh of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ. Because of our material obsession in America we throw Advent out the window and start the Nativity right after Halloween. But we miss so much when we shorten, or completely forget about; the seasons as the Church indicted they should be celebrated.
Starting with the day of the Nativity itself, each of the following days has significance to it and should be commemorated as separate days. These twelve days link together the great feast of the Nativity with the great feast of Theophany as one celebration naturally leads to another.
The Nativity of Christ is actually a three day celebration that starts on the eve of the 25th with, not only the celebration of the Birth of Christ, but also commemorates the Adoration of the Shepherds of Bethlehem and the arrival of the Magi (the three Wise Men). The 2nd day celebrates the Synaxis of the Theotokos and commemorates the role of the Virgin Mary in the Incarnation. The 3rd Day commemorates the Protomartyr Stephen. Each of these days has its own significance, and like the celebration of Pascha, is celebrated with a Divine Liturgy in some Churches.
There are other significant days during the twelve days such as December 29th the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the day we commemorate the children murdered by Herod in search of the Christ Child. A fitting day to remember all of the innocents murdered by the sin of abortion every year.
The Sunday after the Nativity is the day set aside to commemorate Joseph the Betrothed, who is also commemorated the day following the Nativity, David the King, and James the Brother of the Lord. These three are commemorated as the protectors, St. Joseph the protector of the Child Jesus, David the Protector of Israel, and James the protector of the Church of Jerusalem.
On January 1st we commemorated the Circumcision of our Lord and also St. Basil the Great. This day is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.
January 2nd begins the preparation for the Great Feast of Theophany which culminates on January 5th with Great Vespers followed the next day with the Celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the Great Blessing of Waters. According to the Liturgy Books, the Great Blessing is to take place at the conclusion of Great Vespers but because many of the faithful chose not to attend Great Vespers many Churches transfer the blessing to after the Divine Liturgy.
So the celebration of Christmas has just begun. It is customary for the decorations to remain up until after the Feast of Theophany so keep those decorations up and keep these days of feast.
His All Holiness Bartholomew Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch
+ BARTHOLOMEW
By God’s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome
and Ecumenical Patriarch
To the Plenitude of the Church:
Grace, mercy, and peace from the Savior Christ, born in Bethlehem
Beloved brothers and sisters, children in the Lord,
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” – (Isaiah 9.5)
Many centuries ago, the Prophet foresaw and announced with enthusiasm and joy the birth of the child Jesus from the ever-Virgin Mary. Naturally, even then, there was no period of census by Augustus Caesar, no place to stay for the safety of the Holy Virgin who was carrying a child by the Holy Spirit. So the holy Joseph as her betrothed and protector was obliged to lead her to a cave, a manger with animals, “in order to give birth to a child.”
Heaven and earth received them, offering thanks to their Creator: “The angels offered the hymn; the heavens a star; the wise men gifts; the shepherds a miracle; the earth a cave; the desert a manger; and we the Mother Virgin.” The shepherds were keeping watch over their flock, protecting them throughout the night, while the angels were witnessing the Mystery in ecstasy, singing hymns to God. (From Vespers of the Nativity)
The sweetness of the Holy Night of Christmas once again embraces the world. And in the midst of human trial and pain, of unending crises, of passion and enmity, of concern and despair, it presents the mystery of the Incarnation of the Divine Word as a genuine and timely solution. For He descended as dew in a field of cotton inside the womb of the ever-Virgin Mary in order to give rise to righteousness and much peace. (See Ps. 71.7)
In the silence and peace of that sacred night of Christmas, Jesus Christ – being without beginning, invisible, incomprehensible, immaterial, ever existing and the same – enters the drama of history bearing flesh, being insignificant, simple, poor and unknown. At the same time, he comes as a “wonderful, counselor, almighty, prince of peace, everlasting father.” (Is. 9.6) Indeed, he comes as a human being, born of a Virgin Mother, to solve the complexity of sin and grant resolution to the impasse of life’s anxiety through His grace and mercy, while providing destiny, value, content, as well as an exemplary ethos and model for the human adventure.
The Lord assumed and sanctified all of human nature. The pre-eternal God condescended to become for us an embryo and be borne inside the womb of the Theotokos. In so doing, He both honored human life from its earliest stage and taught us respect toward humankind from its earliest conception. The Creator of all accepted to be born as an infant and be nurtured by a Virgin. In so doing, He honored both virginity and motherhood, spiritual and natural. This is why St. Gregory the Theologian exhorts: “O women, be as virgins, so that you may become mothers of Christ.” (Homily XXXVIII on Epiphany, PG36.313A)
So the Lord appointed the marriage of male and female in the blessed family. The institution of Christian family constitutes the cell of life and an incubator for the spiritual and physical health and development of children. Therefore, the manifold support of the institution of the family comprises the obligation of the Church and responsibility of leadership in every country.
In order for a child to be raised in a healthy and natural way, there needs to be a family where man and woman live in harmony as one body, one flesh, and one soul, submitting to one another.
We are certain that all spiritual and ecclesiastical, much like the vigilant shepherds of old, but also the leaders of our world, know and accept this divine truth and reality, which we once again proclaim from the Ecumenical Patriarchate during this Christmas period. We must all encourage the creation and function of natural families, which can produce citizens that are spiritually healthy and joyful, filled with sentiments of security, based on the feeling of safety provided by a strong and protective father as well as a nurturing and loving mother. We need families where God might find rest. We invite and urge the entire plenitude of our holy Orthodox Church to live in a manner that is worthy of their calling and do everything that is possible to support the institution of marriage.
Brothers and sisters, “the night is far gone; the day is at hand.” (Rom. 6.12) The shepherds are already headed toward Bethlehem in order to proclaim the miracle. They are inviting us to follow them “like other star-gazing wise men filled with joy” (From the Christmas Troparion of the 4th Ode), bringing “worthy gifts” “such as fine gold to the King of ages, incense to the God of all, and myrrh to the immortal that lay dead for three days.” (Anatolios, Vesperal Hymn at Christmas) That is to say, the gifts of love and our faith, which test us as Christians, especially as Orthodox Christians, in the ethos and tradition of the family, the Fathers, and the Church, which has always practiced the Orthodox way through the centuries and to this day holds together our blessed society, whose cell for sacred life and growth is the family.
Beloved brothers and sisters, children in Christ,
2013 years have passed since the birth of Christ in the flesh
2013 years have passed and, like then, Christ continues to be persecuted in the person of the weak by Herod and all kinds of contemporary Herods
2013 years have passed and Jesus is persecuted in the person of Christians in Syria and elsewhere
2013 years have passed and Christ still flees like a refugee not only in Egypt, but also in Lebanon, Europe, America and elsewhere, seeking security in an insecure world
2013 years have passed and the child Jesus remains imprisoned with the two hierarchs in Syria, Paul (Yazigi) and Youhanna (Ibrahim), as well as the Orthodox nuns and many other known and unknown Christians
2013 years have passed and Christ is crucified with those who are tortured and killed in order not to betray their faith in Him
2013 years have passed and Jesus is daily put to death in the person of thousands of embryos, whose parents prevent from being born
2013 years have passed and Christ is mocked and ridiculed in the person of unfortunate children, who experience the crisis of the family, destitution and poverty.
It is this human pain, sorrow and affliction that our Lord came and once more comes to assume during this Christmas season. After all, He said: “As you have done to one of these, the least of my brothers and sisters,” you have done to me.” (Matt. 25.40-41) It is for these that He was born of a Virgin, for these that He became human, for these that He suffered, was crucified and arose from the dead. That is to say: for all of us. Thus, let each of us lift up our personal cross in order to find grace and mercy when we seek His assistance. Then, the born Emmanuel, our Savior and Lord, will “be with us.” Amen.
Traveling around the countries of Eastern Europe this time of year, you will not hear the very familiar greeting of Merry Christmas. Rather, people will say Christ is Born, to which the response is Glorify Him. This greeting calls to mind why we take this day out of the year as the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We say these words because this is what we are celebrating, the birth of the One who came to save us and to restore the image that we have tarnished.
There is a story of an old church – I cannot remember exactly where this church is – but the church was undergoing a restoration. The entire interior and exterior of the church was to be redone to make it new again. It had long since fallen into disrepair and was in desperate need of a touch up. During the restoration images started to be made clear on the walls of the sanctuary. As they carefully removed decades upon decades of grime from these walls the images of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and the saints became visible and very much alive. The grime was cleaned away and the image was restored to its former beauty.
Humanity had the same problem. It was in desperate need of restoration to the image it was intended to have. This is the blessing of this season of the Nativity. No longer do we have to face uncertainty; no longer do we have to face a life coated with grime, for Christ was born to save us from all of that. The image that was tarnished in paradise has been restored through the birth of a baby.
The 4th century writer Gregory Nazianzen, also known as Gregory the Theologian, had this to say in his Oration of the Nativity of Christ;
Christ is born, glorify Him. Christ from heaven, go to meet Him. Christ on earth, be lifted up, sing to the Lord, all the earth. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, because of Him who is of heaven and is now on earth.
This is the blessing of all of us this Nativity Season – that we will have the opportunity to know Jesus Christ and to celebrate all that He has done for us. It is not simply about us giving gifts to others but to recall the greatest gift of all, that which was born of man. God became man so that man might become God!
It is difficult for 21st century Americans to even consider the notion that we have all sinned. We are rugged individualists and really do not like it when someone tells us what to do. Recently I was engaged in a conversation on Facebook about shopping on Sunday. I remarked that in my opinion shopping on Sunday is not something that a Christian should be doing. The response back was a very curt “don’t tell me what I can and cannot do!”. The funny thing is that response came from someone who was not even in the conversation. But it is emblematic of what is happening in America today.
The story of humanity begins in the Book of Genesis with its very creation. Not long after that creation we see humanity, through its own pride, disobey the one who created it and is cast out of paradise. Now we can spend time going into the reasons for the fall, but that is not important to this particular essay. The point is we have been estranged from our creator and we need to find a way back.
Just like the church that needed to have its images restored from years of neglect so we, humanity, needs to have our image restored to its former beauty. Many prophets were sent to show us the way and they were rejected. So a tiny baby that would light the way for us and bring us back to that former glory was born in a stable.
The celebration of the Birth of Christ is more than celebrating the birthday of a baby; it is the celebration of the freedom of humanity from its utter destruction. The celebration of the Birth of Christ needs to be about more than the gifts we share with one another. It needs to be about the gift that was shared with all of us. The celebration of Christmas needs to be about more than lights. It needs to be about the light that has shown us the way. No longer is death the end but only the beginning. No longer is humanity held captive by sin but it has been freed. That is the true meaning of Christmas.
As we continue to celebrate this Nativity Season I wish you every blessing and I also pray for your good health and happiness in the coming New Year.
