On the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ, we read the Gospel of St. Matthew 1:1-25, which traces the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
It's always a powerful thing when our Church reminds us that we come from a lineage that goes all the way back to Adam and Eve. As we celebrate Christmas, we need to be reminded where our roots are, where we're from, and who we are. The world is telling you so many things about who you need to be. We hear, "just be yourself!" But what does that mean? What does it mean to be yourself?
Today the Church reminds us that to be ourselves is to be rooted in Christ. Within ourselves dwells the Spirit of God. However wonderful the parties, the gifts, and the loving family events are, the greatest gift of Christmas is Christ—our Lord coming to earth and taking on our flesh! He comes to remind us of who we truly are by reminding us of who He truly is. On the Nativity, God becomes human so we can become like Him, restored to our original beauty.
Today our Church announces the real news of the season: There's a cave, and the cave is heaven. There is a King, and the King is the infant Christ. There is a throne, and that throne is the Virgin Mary. We also get to be a throne for Jesus. Because as He stepped into Mary's life, He wants to step into your life. Not as an idea. Not as a philosophy. Not as a way to think. But as a real person, who wants to come into your life to change you from the inside out.
This is where our minds should be dancing, with the fantastic miracle of God's love for us! St. Macarius the Great says:
Today the Lord is born, the life and salvation of mankind; today a reconciliation is made of Divinity to humanity, and of humanity to Divinity; today all creation has leapt for joy; those above sent toward those below; and those below towards those above; today occurred the death of darkness and the life of humanity; today a way was made toward God for man and a way for God into the soul.
Do you get it? Can you begin to taste that fresh reality? Divinity has been reconciled to humanity.
The reality of Christ taking on our flesh through His mother, the Theotokos, has created a revolution of epoch proportions! The One who created the Universe, the One who suspended the earth, the One who created the human person in His image, breathing His life into us all, humbly and lovingly came to earth as a tiny baby to save us and to restore us to our original beauty.
This is powerful! This is the Gift! This is Christmas!
Glorify Him!
God is at the center of everyone's life. He is in our heart whether we accept Him or not. He never separates Himself from us because He is the Giver of Life. Unfortunately, many of us have buried Him underneath our worries, our anxieties, and our worldly cares. That is why we have no peace or rest.
Elder Thaddeus, one of my favorite writers, wrote in his book Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives:
As we prepare for Christmas, let's train ourselves for life in the Heavenly Kingdom. We must attain Divine peace. No one can give us that peace—only God can give that peace to us if we seek Him and long for Him with all our heart, and if we desire to become one with Him.
Advent can be a busy season, full of hustle and bustle. And sometimes in the middle of all this, Christ and His peace—the peace He desperately wants you to have—can get forgotten.
Today, let's allow that peace into our hearts as we glorify the infant Christ. And if you've been directed anywhere else, or if you've put your attention elsewhere, I'm asking you to redirect yourself here, now, to the mystery and the power of the birth of Jesus.
May we thank God for this Church that slows us down to remind us of our lineage, our heritage, and our true self in Christ.
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
+Fr. Tom
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