Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ; the Holy Priest-Martyr Ignatius the Godbearer (110)
Nativity Fast.
Hebrews 4:1-13; Luke 21:12-19
Read Hebrews 4:1-13
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
| As we begin the forefeast of the Nativity—the pre feast period—we are given today to contemplate one of the fruits of the incarnation: the fulfillment of the day of rest found in Christ. St. Paul speaks about three rests: the rest of the Sabbath, the rest which the Jews received in the promise land—the land of Canaan— and the rest found in the eternal Heavenly Kingdom of Christ. The first rest is a gift to humanity, which we were created for—to rest in God—but we lost access to it through sin and disobedience. The second is an icon of that which is to come and which would not be exclusive to one ethnicity of peoples. The third is the restoration and fulfillment of the first two. In Christ we find our rest: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29). Humanity lost this rest, which our heart longs for—St. Augustin says, “our heart if restless until it rests in you.”(Confessions)—because of disobedience and faithlessness. The people of God are those who believe in Him, obey and follow His commandments for He has come to restore that which our heart longs for. |