Preaching in the Orthodox Church: Lectures and Sermons by a Priest of the Holy Orthodox Church
Spiritual Reflections from the Priest's Desk
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As Orthodox
Christians, we greet one another with this confident exclamation during
the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord. With this seasonal greeting we
affirm that Jesus, who took on flesh and was born into our world, is indeed
the Christ, and worthy of glorification. This greeting is unlike other
seasonal greetings about being merry (Christmas), glad (tidings), or happy
(holidays). Not that I have any trouble with being merry, glad or even
happy. I enjoy a spiked eggnog or a traditional Christmas shot of whiskey
or arak as much as the next guy. But there is more to the preparation
and celebration of Christmas than that. In this feast we celebrate our
salvation through the good news of our Savior's advent. When we greet
each other with the news of Christ's birth, we seize the opportunity to
glorify the new born Savior. This greeting carries within it the promise
of salvation, and the very meaning of life.
We will not escape the secularization of this feast. We will not change
the marketing of goods, the office parties and the exchange of gifts.
We will not avoid the need to spend money we may not have, eat too much
or party ourselves silly. But with a little work to understand God's revealed
truth, we can transcend and baptize the now secular images to bring us
deeper meaning. I offer the following examples of what I mean: Let every
twinkling light on every bush and window remind us that Christ is the
Light that brings us from darkness into light. Every light can bring us
to him who is Light, just like the star that guided the Magi. Every light
can remind us of the Christ child who enlightens us with Divine truth.
This is the truth that sets us free. He is our light and our resurrection,
the light of truth that will guide us from the manger to the empty tomb.
This season of Christ's birth is ultimately the season of salvation.
Let every sale in every department store remind us of how God loves us
more than the world can understand. The retailers draw us in with sales
so that we will come and shop with them. How much more does Christ draw
us close? Christ took on flesh to call us home to Him. He suffered at
the hands of his own creation, humiliated and murdered. This is the epitome
of love. Every retailer, every jingle, every commercial can remind us
of God's own love for us.
Let every seasonal party remind us of the Joy of Salvation. To save us
Jesus voluntarily came to take on flesh and suffer in his body. His sacrifice
and his gift are reasons to celebrate. When we celebrate, we can remember
all that God accomplished for us. We can remember His nature of love and
mercy.
Let every Santa on the street collecting money, or posing for photos with
children, remind us of the gifts God has given us and the opportunities
God gives us to share with others. Think too of the example of St. Nicholas
who taught us to fast, share our resources and love God with fervor.
Let every gift we present to one another remind us of the gift of life
that Christ is for us. Christ gives us life as we are born anew into Him.
Remember also that the Eucharist is life-giving and is given in his name.
Let every snowman, made of ice or styrofoam, remind us of how cold the
world can be and how we need the warmth of our Savior. The world needs
your example, your love and your witness in order for it to be warmed
by God's love.
Let every ribbon and bow on every package remind us how Christ has put
Satan in bonds and freed us to love him and stay with Him. He who was
born in a manger is He who could not die and defeated Satan in Hades.
Let every Christmas carol and seasonal song, remind us that we are called
to praise God from the depths of our beings. Our soul wants to call out
to Him who created us and who comes to us in this feast as a baby. Sing
out, and let God hear your voice. Sing out and let others hear your testimony
God has taken on flesh and dwelt with us as the prophets foretold. This
is a time to sing out!
Perhaps you could add to my list and share your illustrations with our
readers. Take a few moments to write down some secular images that you
think can be given new meaning and send them to The WORD. By reading them
next year, others may find practical ways to use secular images to be
less distracted, and to focus more on the real meaning of this Holy Season.
In this issue we have blended some uplifting messages about Christmas.
You will also find an article for St. Ignatius Month, delivered by one
of the members of the Order. The busy Communities in Action section testifies
to how active our local parishes are. Their activities bear witness to
the Christ born to us. Christmas comes at the end of the secular calendar.
It is for us more than the end of one year and the beginning of a new
year, and now a new century. It is for us a call to rededicate ourselves
as we make God our Lord, and call him our Savior. Rededicated to Christ,
let us charge boldly into the next century. Let us not be ashamed to proclaim
that Christ is Born! Glorify Him! He is our God and we are His people.
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
From Word
Magazine
Publication of the Antiochian Orthodox
Christian Archdiocese of North America
December 1998
pp. 3-4
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