Sunday before the Nativity of Christ – Sunday of the Holy Fathers. The Holy Martyr Sebastian and His Companions
Hebrews 11:9-10,17-23,32-40; Matthew 1:1-25
Read Hebrews 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
The creed we sing every Divine Liturgy is called the “symbol” of faith, from the Greek word for “summary”. In catechetical usage, though, the English term “symbol” has led to seeing the creed as a “sign” pointing to the reality it expresses. Speaking can be an act of faith, but just stating words is not in and of itself faith – faith is always acting on a trusting relationship.
It is impossible to miss that today’s reading is about faith. In our excerpt the word is used eight times, and fifteen more in the rest of the chapter. What stands out clearly in every use of the word is that it is about what people did. The actions of these spiritual forefathers were always based on something known and stateable about God, but by faith they always did something.
Like a bell ringing at the end of this honor roll, we hear that, “the world was not worthy of them,” these evidently flawed people. That tells us that faith is also a divine gift – it is given into this world through willing human recipients.
But the culmination of this moving recitation is the profound encouragement amidst the poignant reminder that both they and we are still waiting for the complete fulfillment of what God has promised. That is why these people and their acts of faith are named, that we may take encouragement from the fact that we are united in a continuous past of faith in God with them, and that we can participate in a shared future that has now dawned in the coming of Christ.
May we, unworthy servants, likewise be vessels through whom the gift of faith is a blessing to others in this world.