Beginning of the Indiction, that is, the New Year; Our Holy Father Symeon the Stylite (459) and his mother Martha; Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God of Miasenes
Polyeleos Feast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
1 Timothy 2:1-7; Colossians 3:12-16; Luke 4:16-22; Matthew 11:27-30.
Read Luke 4:16-22
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today marks the beginning of the new Liturgical Year. In our calendar it is historically associated with the Roman civil New Year, the natural movement of the seasons and the Old Testament feast of Trumpets. All of these are inspired and elevated by the coming of the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Roman Empire set September 1st as the beginning of the civil and tax year. Emperors used to impose a tax on September 1st. This rate was fixed every fifteen years and the collection would support the army.
This is also a time dedicated to harvest and therefore it naturally inspires a time of thanksgiving for the bounties of the year past and the preparation for the new. The Jews did this on the first day of the seventh month, which would correspond with the beginning of September, on the feast of Trumpets. They would rest from work and give a sacrifice of thanksgiving and bring to a close the old year and welcome the new.
On this day when nature is about the bring to a close the fruitful season of summer and renew the close of the seasons we commemorate when Jesus entered the synagogue and read the passage, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” It is Christ himself who opens the gates of the year and who calls us to follow him, so that we can share not only in the bounty of the year, or the bounty of our common humanity, but most importantly that we can share in his eternity. For this gift is what brings us the greatest bounty and is worth more than anything. This proclamation brings us the year of the Lord and sets us on a trajectory of God’s blessings.
Happy New Year to everyone.