Sunday of the Holy-Forefathers, Octoechos Tone 2; The Holy Priest-Martyr Eleutherius; Our Venerable Father Paul of Latra (956); Our Holy Father Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Surozh (8th century)
Nativity Fast.
Read
Colossians 3:4-11; Luke 14:16-24
Preparing for the Nativity of our Lord hasn’t changed. At the time of Jesus, everyone was busy. They had no time for Him. There was no room at the inn. Today, that same busyness prevails. We are often led by full social schedules and rampant consumerism fuelled by profit margin that we, like those at the time of our Lord’s birth, miss the Mystery that is before us. This is why the Church, in her wisdom and like a true mother, draws our attention to spiritual complacency in our preparation for His Nativity by having us listen to the parable of the great supper.
Who in their right mind purchases a field without looking at first? Who purchases five oxen (one or two were enough for family back then) without testing them out first? And do you know anyone who has ever excused themselves from anything (other than an impending war battle) just because they were recently married? I think we would all agree that these excuses are quite extraordinary and flimsy.
Don’t we do the same? Don’t we make up any excuse to keep us from prayer, from meditating on the true meaning of Christmas? It’s not about gifts or parties, or decorations, or this or that. It’s about how the Creator of the universe loves us (and me) so greatly that He makes Himself so very small, and in every way like us (and me) – except sin – in order to dwell with us (and me) and bring us (and me) into His life and make us (and me) like Him in every way by His grace. This ought to make us (and me) say, “Whoa!” But we don’t. Why? It’s spiritual complacency that is based on the assumption that, since I am baptised, I am going to heaven. Today’s Gospel acts as a guardrail to bring us back on the right road.
As a response to the Gospel, let’s not just AGREE to take time to think about this great mystery of the Incarnation, of God becoming one of us so that He may make us like Him in grace. Let’s PLAN some moments, and then actually TAKE those moments. I wish I could tell you that it will be easy. It won’t. But I can tell you that it will be worth it!