READINGS 11, 12 & 13
Nativity, Oriental Church New Year,
Circumcision of the Lord, Theophany at the Jordan River
"Tu Bishvat", the New Year of the Trees for the Jewish Communities
INTRODUCTION
A TIME OF BIRTH, RENEWAL AND HOPE BEYOND ALL HOPE
"WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME WAS COME, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON, MADE OF A WOMAN, MADE UNDER THE [Jewish] LAW TO REDEEM THEM THAT WERE UNDER THE LAW, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION OF SONS AND BECAUSE YOU ARE SONS, GOD HAS SENT FORTH THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO YOUR HEARTS CRYING, ABBA, FATHER".
"JERUSALEM WHICH IS ABOVE IS FREE, WHICH IS THE MOTHER OF US ALL FOR IT IS WRITTEN: REJOICE, Y0U BAREN THAT BEAREST NOT; BREAK FORTH AND CRY, YOU THAT TRAVAIL NOT; FOR THE DESOLATE HAS MANY MORE CHILDREN THAN SHE WHO HAS A HUSBAND. NOW WE, BROTHERS, AS ISAAC WAS, ARE THE CHILDREN OF PROMISE.
WE ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF THE BONDWOMAN, BUT OF THE FREE"
[The Epistle of Saint Paul to the Galatians 4:4-5, 26-28, 31]
Beloved Friends of God, the Eastern Orthodox Church of Jerusalem and all the Churches using the old Julian calendar enter this week in the time of the Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, anticipation of His Resurrection, i.e. His Birth through the Cross to Eternal Life at the Right Hand of the Father and the Throne of Glory.
He was born in Bethlehem, the city of King David and rested in a manger, a sign of this Throne of Glory [Hebrew: "Kisse HaKavod"]. The oriental Church chants: "Christ is born, Glorify Him!" as they proclaim at the same time His Resurrection. This is especially the case in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. This year this appears to be a real challange, not a political, economic, strategical one, but the challange of our FAITH.
Jesus was born because "It is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" [1 Timothy 4:2]. And do "have hope toward God... that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust" [Acts of the Apostles 24:15].
Dear Friends who come to read these commentaries! The Church of Jerusalem is going through a deep period of trial and insecurity. The same happened throughout history in this region of transit, the Land of Canaan, Israel, Palestine, Jordan River. Here happened the most marvelous and wonderful event of Salvation. This event does not belong to any human being, to any institution. God shows His love to the fullest and even spoke through His only-begotten Son and the Holy Spirit, the Apostles: Do not reject yourself to torments. Do not judge anyone. The rain - a sign of blessing - falls upon the just as the unjust and as mentioned in the above quotation, God will call to the resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" [Isaiah 9:6]. We are going here through the pangs of the birth, drifting sometimes away from this unity accomplished in Jesus Christ. We would sometimes dream the nice birth of a child, so sweet, tender and frail. We would prefer the sweets and would strive not to face a reality: Christ is born, Christ is risen! Rejoice and glorify Him!
This is a tremendous moral, ethical challenge. We should never ritualize or fossilize this realm of God, which leads us forward without fear and allows any human being to enhance and correct his faults, errors, to come near to perfection and sanctity. This is the true challenge that wipes out hatred, self-contentment, absence of moral dignity and lies. The clergy as laymen should not dare even speak of God in order to gain souls as they try to make their living. God gave us a Saviour and this requires that we abandon our lives into His hands and trust the way which opens for each of us.
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