Post-feast of the Nativity of Christ; the Holy Martyr Anysia (286-305); Holy Martyr and Presbyter, Zoticus, Protector of Orphans (4th c.)
James 4:7-5:9; Mark 11:27-33
Read Mark 11:27-33
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
Today’s Gospel lesson reminds us about the importance of seeking the Truth in an honest way and being ready for the Lord to lead us in living in the Truth. The chief priests, the scribes and the elders came to Jesus not because they wanted to know the Truth because when we accept the truth it changes us. They asked with hope that Jesus’ response would justify their own comfortable lives. They did not want to change. This is why they answered the truth with a lie. St. Augustine says this about the Jewish authority: “by asserting that they did not know what they knew, the Lord did not open up to them because they did not knock. For it has been said, “Knock and it will be opened to you.”? But they not only had not knocked that it might be opened but by their denial they barricaded the door itself against themselves. And the Lord said to them, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Tractates on John 2.9).
For the sake of comfort and convenience, just like the Jewish authorities, we can also barricade the door to the Truth from the inside out. The Truth of the Nativity of our Lord instills profound change in those who genuinely knock on its door. We witness and stand in awe of the extreme humility shown us in the incarnation of the Son of God in His divine condescension as the Lord of the universe became a babe—the infinite God bows low and takes on finite human nature. We stand in awe of His profound compassion for the human race for the Lord could not bear to see us suffer as a result of sin, the evil one and death. We marvel at the extreme generosity of the Father for He sends us the Son, who is the greatest gift for the human race. These are just a few of the profound outcomes of the Incarnation. If I receive the Incarnation with a willing and open heart then the Truth will change me. I come to recognize that the Incarnation is directed towards each person. I too must be humble, compassionate and generous towards others, for the Lord has dealt in such a way with me.