Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church

As we enter the New Year, let us reflect the powerful message of Christ’s entrance into the world. Indeed, creation rejoices knowing that Jesus came not only to save us and restore us to our original beauty, but He came to restore all creation. During the feast of Epiphany, we are invited to take a special look at the mystery of grace, baptism, and being united with creation. Imagine if we could experience the world in awe as we did when we were children.

As a child, I was amazed at the miracle of a rainbow. I was fascinated with the trail of a slug and a butterfly flying in the air. Simply looking at a blade of grass was magical, I marveled at the glistening constellation of stars in the sky…. We are all called to love and respect God’s glorious creation!

Orthodox Christian prayers often reflect this harmony, respect and love of creation. During daily Orthros, the priest offers this prayer: “… Lord, may You accept our prayers that we are able to offer you to the best of our abilities ‘along with Your creation’…”

Indeed, creation participates with us in glorifying and praising God. The trees, the birds, the wind, the water, everything seeks to be united with its creator. God promises to re-integrate and draw all closer to Himself, the earth, the water, trees, shrubs… Our church proclaims God’s sanctification of all, that all creation belongs to Him and He in turn, gives it back to us in abundance.

The glorious hymns we sing during the Feast of Epiphany illustrate the powerful way that creation participates in the restoration of humankind.

“For today the time for feasting has come and the choir of the saints holds assembly with us, and angels celebrate with men. Today the grace of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove came upon the waters. Today the unwaning sun has dawned and the world is lit up with the light of the Lord. Today the moon with its brilliant rays shares its light with the earth. Today the luminous stars embellish the universe with their joyous luster. Today the clouds refresh humanity with a rain of justice from above….Today all of creation is watered by mystical waters. Today paradise is opened to all humankind.”

Paradise is open to everyone! Put on your new nature, created to be like God–truly righteous and holy In Christ (Ephesians 4:23-24). You see, God became man, so that man can become like God and as we become Christlike, we learn to respect and honor His environment. We also see how God’s creation participates in salvation. As orthodox, we honor a tree that Jesus used as the vehicle to trample death upon death. The cross, the tree of life which participates in my salvation, and elements of God’s creation continue to be instrumental in our healing.

Human clay has been mixed with the divine essence. This means that God can and will use anything to save and heal us. Fr. Andrew Anglorus helps us consider how creation participates in our healing and salvation. He writes:

“Clay cannot heal the blind and yet with the breath of God, it becomes the container for the healing grace of God. Water cannot heal and yet the water of baptism heals because the blessed water bears the Holy Spirit. Oil cannot heal and yet the oil of chrismation and unction heal because they are filled with the grace of God. A piece of cloth cannot heal and yet a priests stole can heal through the grace of Christ at the sincere confession of sins and the repentant intention not to sin again. Bread and wine cannot heal and yet bread and wine transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ heal through the Holy Spirit. Wood and paint cannot heal and yet icons can heal by the Holy Spirit Who penetrates into their material essence and radiates grace from them. Christ teaches us then that all things can be used for our healing and benefit and salvation, but that they must first be touched by His grace.

In this way our bodies, mere flesh and bones and blood, can become containers of Christ. Our souls activated, we can become lamps of the Holy Spirit; the eyes of our souls, the doors of perception, become seeing, and we see the whole of God's Creation as it really is. We see that every blade of grass and every hill, every tree and every cloud, every drop of rain and every ocean, all creatures and all people, are miracles of God's handiwork!!!”