Theophany Eve; The Holy Martyrs Theopemptus and Theonas (284-305); the Venerable Syncletica
The Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today (aliturgical). The Royal Hours are prayed this day (ideally in the morning). It is a day of fast and abstention from meat and dairy and foods that contain these.
Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
The words “servant” or “slave” have an extremely negative connotation in the world around us. They illustrate for us an oppressive, utilitarian relationship that demeans human dignity and makes people a commodity.
We, however, are all servants of Jesus Christ, and we are reminded of this reality every time we receive the Holy Eucharist. We are servants of Jesus Christ because He became, first and foremost, a servant by taking on our humanity. His servanthood is further brought into focus at His baptism in the Jordan. Consider the following sticharion we sing at the Vesperal Liturgy tonight:
Wishing to save man gone astray,
You have not disdained to clothe Yourself in the form of a servant.
For it befitted You, as Master and God,
to take upon Yourself our nature for our sakes.
For You, O Deliverer, have been baptized in the flesh,
making us worthy of forgiveness.
Therefore, we cry to You:
“O Christ our God and Benefactor, glory to You.
Being a servant of Jesus Christ is anything but oppressive and demeaning. Being His servant uplifts and affirms our human dignity because by taking on human nature, Christ raises it up and makes us worthy of life with Him. Being a servant of Jesus means living a true life of servanthood: a life that always seeks to serve the other because in serving the other, we serve Christ himself.
Brothers and sisters, how do we imitate Jesus, the servant of all, in our lives of servanthood? Do we embrace the example the Apostle Paul gives us in his epistle? Are we ready to serve anyone whom the Lord sends into our lives?