The Holy Children who were murdered by Herod in Bethlehem; Our Venerable Father Marcellus, Hegumen of the Monastery of the Sleepless Ones (c. 470)
Hebrews 12:25-26; 13:22-25; Mark 10:2-12
No fasting or abstention from foods.
Read Hebrews 12:25-26; 13:22-25
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
“The man who goes his own way, travelling without understanding of the gospels and without guidance, often stumbles and falls into many pits and snares of the devil.” – St. Mark the Ascetic
Whenever I am preparing for a homily and I find myself stuck in my preparation, my wife will often “encourage” me by saying, “What do the Fathers say?” Truth be told, understanding patristic writings can be a difficult exercise at times, but it is truly a great blessing. These writings belong to the venerable tradition of the Church, one which stretches back to Christ and has been built upon His Gospel message. No matter what the question of faith or morals may be, one can find an answer based in the Gospel in the tradition and writings of the Church.
As harsh as the quote above may be, it rings true. How often do we, faced with a “truth” that the world preaches, go first to the teachings of our Lord and His holy Church in trying to understand what is the real truth? Do we seek validation for our personal thoughts in the teachings of the Church, and, if we fail to find them, does this cause us to sin or drive us away from the Gospel and from Christ?
As we continue to celebrate the Nativity in the flesh of the One who is Truth, may we always first seek His truth through the life and tradition of the Church before looking to the fallen world in which we live.