Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ; the Holy Priest-Martyr Ignatius the Godbearer (110)
Nativity Fast. Day of fast and abstinence from meat and foods that contain meat.
Read
Hebrews 5:11-6:8; Luke 21:5-7, 10-11, 20-24
Glory be to Jesus Christ!
Salem, the city of David, Zion, the Holy City, Jerusalem. One of the oldest cities in the world. It has been the centre of much conflict, rejoicing and life changing Divine encounters, which have changed the course of history. Jesus mourns over the inhabitants of the city likening himself to a mother hen (Matt 23:37), but yet Jesus foretells its complete destruction as a consequence for it’s rejection of its day of visitation. His desire is not for the city, but for it’s inhabitants.
Our Lord identifies what is most important, which we so often miss: The day of our visitation. How often are we overly concerned about the history, identity, culture, and even the faith of our ancestors, but ignore the Lord’s visitation in my own life. Let us take a moment today in our busy Christmas preparations to hear the knock of the Coming One, who longs for me and you, lest we too miss the day of visitation.