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Sunday of the Holy Fathers
The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent. The peace of God identified with the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ can be felt at this time. Serious believers approach the feast with the greatest of anticipation. The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ changed the world and ushered in a new period that will last until the glorious Second Coming of the Lord.
The birth of Christ demonstrated His humility in taking on human flesh while at the same time remaining divine. The birth of Christ in humble basic conditions was further evidence of His humility. Jesus was not born in elegant surroundings. Jesus was not born at a time when modern conveniences known today existed. Jesus’ parents did not have motorized forms of transportation. Jesus’ was not warmed by heat from a nuclear power plant.
The current Gospel lists names identified with the ancestry of Joseph. The genealogy spans centuries. Believers need to think carefully about the names mentioned and the actions of God in their individual and collective lives. God is always at work in our lives. God is always present in our lives. The Feast of the Nativity presents each believer with the opportunity to be renewed in Christ.
The ideal way to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity is to prepare for Holy Confession and Holy Communion. The ideal way to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of Christ is to experience the Divine Liturgy of the Feast and receive the Precious Body and Blood of Christ.
When the newborn Christ resides in our hearts, our minds and our souls we are united with Christ and are renewed in Christ. The barriers existing between a person and Christ are barriers created by the person. Christ enters the hearts, the minds and the souls of individuals welcoming Him.
Individuals distancing themselves from Christ and over-emphasizing material and social aspects often confused with the Feast of the Nativity deny themselves full benefit of the life in Christ. Christ taking on human flesh is a miraculous occurrence. The change in lives and in the world due to the birth of Christ is beyond measurement.
The joy experienced due to the birth of Christ is immeasurable. The love of Christ cannot be exhausted. Individuals of every century benefit from the love of Christ. Individuals of every race, nationality and religion benefit from the love of Christ. Everyone is welcome to draw near to Christ.
Christ understands all languages. Christ understands the yearnings of every heart and mind. Welcoming the love and peace of Christ into the heart, the mind and the soul changes everything. Families become new when Christ is at the center. Homes become radically better when Christ is the Head of the house.
Each day leading to the Feast of the Nativity is laden with meaning. Each day is important in preparation for the feast. Keeping Christ at the center of personal preparation is truly beneficial. Many diversions, temptations and distractions exist to stymie a person’s focus on Christ. Prayer, fasting and mental discipline keep the focus on Christ.
Each day is filled with twenty four hours of opportunity to love Christ and prepare to celebrate His birth. Thankfulness to Christ needs to be on our lips, in our hearts and on our minds constantly.
Keeping our hearts and minds guarded against sin has a place throughout the day and night. The joy of the feast is triumphant. God’s Holy Church provides the structure and location for the proper celebration of the feast. Families need to be in church as much as possible to experience the fullness of Christ as celebrated by His Holy Church.
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St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. Sunday of the Holy Fathers. St.Ignatius of Antioch. St. Daniel II of Serbia. Father’s Day.
December 19, 2010/January 1, 2011. Father Rodney Torbic |
