Sunday after the Nativity of Christ Commemoration of the Holy and Righteous Joseph the Betrothed, David the King, and James, Brother of the Lord. Octoechos Tone 4; The Holy Children who were murdered by Herod in Bethlehem; Our Venerable Father Marcellus, Hegumen of the Monastery of the Sleepless Ones (c. 470)
Read
Galatians 1:11-19; Matthew 2:13-23
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
From where did the Magi come? They travelled from the East (from Babylon) to meet the New King and Mary and Joseph. To where did Joseph take the New King and Mary? He took them to Egypt where he looked after them and protected them until their return to Israel, to Nazareth. Did you know that both Babylon and Egypt were known in the Old Testament as cesspools of iniquity, of abuse and sin from which rises evil? Babylon is even recognized as a whore in the Book of Revelations. Yet, from Babylon comes those who are learned, led by a star, to worship the Lord of the universe made incarnate, and to Egypt, He goes to sanctify that land that once was of bondage.
Isn’t it true for us as well? From our own sinfulness, from the ways of iniquity, we come and adore the Sun of Righteousness. In that adoration, we present gifts to Him, the best of who we are, and He comes to us who were once in bondage to set us free, to sanctify us, to make us by His grace as He is by His nature. This is joy! And it is this joy which we bring to this world!