Holy Prophet Zephaniah (Sophonias) (7th century BC).
Nativity Fast.
Hebrews 4:1-13. Luke 21:12-19.
Read Hebrews 4:1-13
The season leading up to Christmas is often one of joy, but also of great busyness. Amid the shopping, decorating, and hosting, we can easily lose sight of the deeper invitation this season offers: to enter God’s rest. Hebrews 4:1 warns us with a fear that is not anxiety, but attentiveness. It is a call to take seriously the promise of entering His rest, lest we fall short like the Israelites who heard God’s Word but did not unite it with faith.
The Sabbath, both in the Old Testament and for us as Christians, is a sacred rhythm that points to this rest. For us, Sunday—the day of the Resurrection—is a celebration of the victory of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ over sin and death. It is a foretaste of the eternal joy and fellowship we are called to share with Him. It also reminds us that our lives are not meant to be endless cycles of labor and distraction. The various feasts of the liturgical year, from Pascha to Pascha, are moments when we are invited to step away from the demands of the world and enter into the peace of His Kingdom.
The rest God offers is not simply the absence of work or stress, but a sharing in His joy and life. It is the culmination of creation, as God rested on the seventh day—not because He was weary, but to bless and sanctify all He had made. This rest, though, is not automatic. It requires faith—a deep trust that His Word is true and worthy of shaping our lives. The Israelites failed because their hearts were hardened, and they resisted His invitation.
In this busy season, let us hear again the words of Psalm 94 (LXX): “Today, when you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” The living and active Word of God calls us not to labor endlessly for fleeting things, but to strive for what truly matters: a life of faith and communion with the Holy Trinity. Each Sabbath, and every liturgical feast, is a chance to practice entering His rest—a rest we will one day experience fully in the joy of eternal fellowship with Him.
This Nativity Fast, let us pause amid the noise, listen to His Word, and respond with faith. His rest is waiting.