Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ; The Holy Great-Martyr Anastasia (305)
James 1:1-18; Mark 10:11-16
Nativity Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Read Mark 10:11-16
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
It used to be in magazines and newspapers. And then it appeared on late-night and through-the-night television. Today, it is everywhere on the internet. What is it? The multitudinous and manifold mountains of methods to manage and maintain a portfolio of wealth, property, and prestige. While some say it is truly easy to achieve this goal, it tends to be quite difficult and may even be painful. Put in the effort, run the race, and achieve the finish line, and bask in money, wealth, riches, glory, and prestige.
Well, there is another race we run, as St. Paul puts it. And it is all about glory – but it is not my own glory, and it is not about a goal in this life. It is about actually sharing in the divine glory – forever! And the wonderful thing about THIS goal is that we don’t do anything to obtain it. That’s right – it is given to us – all we need to do is receive it – life in the Kingdom of God.
“Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
It is for God to give. we cannot earn it; we cannot make myself worthy to get it.
What I can do is become like a child and receive it – at baptism, when I get up in the morning, when I greet my family and bless them for the day, when I work with my superiors and colleagues, when I am caught in late-day traffic, when I witness the defeats and achievements of my children, when I sit before the icons in prayer, when I brush my teeth… simply receive as a pure and unmerited gift.
It is a good thing that Lord came as an innocent Babe—in the very act of the saving Incarnation, He, too, shows the way to receive this Gift!
A blessed Feast of the Nativity of our Lord to you and yours.