Come and See
Nativity
Nativity
At
a store meeting where I work, the manager asked what "tradition"
people had for giving and the like as Christmas approached. Now, remember, this is a retail store -- and
in retail, the ultimate goal is sales, whatever else may be added in in terms
of customer service and the like. During
this brief exchange, one of our associates said that their "gift
exchange" is actually "buy whatever you want." That is to say, there is no real gift exchange
at all -- when they get together, they just all share how happy they were to
have, well, whatever it was that they wanted.
Now
THAT sort of dampened my spirits.
Although I enjoy my job, the whole frenzy at this time encourages greed,
I think. But to not even
"give" -- well, now that is a secularization of the season.
That
got me to thinking about the Nativity and the Fast the precedes it. Perhaps these observations will be
helpful. Keep in mind that when you keep
the Fast, and then the Feast, in the tradition of the Church, you may well have
opportunity to speak to people of Christ and invite them to "Come and
See!"
As
Christians, as Orthodox Christians, something much different is going on. Our focus is on the Nativity of our Lord and
Savior Jesus -- when the LOGOS took on our flesh, when the Creator indeed
became as one of the created. Over the
centuries the great feast of the Incarnation has been preceded by a Fast. During the Fast we deny the passions that so
often get out of control in order that in silence we may ponder the Mystery of
the Incarnation.
That
Mystery is so much more than a cute baby in a manger. And it is much more than gifts and shopping and spending large amounts
of money, perhaps exceeding what we can afford.
So
it is that we are faced with a challenge that may often cause us to go
"against the grain." Rather
than partying more, we pray more. Rather
than get so caught up in all the "stuff" that has become traditional,
we go to the ancient hymnody, the simple chants that turn our eyes and ears to
the fact that Christ in born, and we glorify Him.
Rather
than watching all the things that are on TV that claim to be
"Christmas", we can shut off the TV, and read together the Fathers,
the Scriptures, and in the silence of that time together be joined in Christ.
In
our times, it is very important to observe this Nativity Fast! It is all too easy to be caught up in the
so-called "holiday cheer" and "Seasons Greetings" and to be
swept away from the Nativity instead of coming close and pondering the great
and awesome mystery. It is all too easy
in our day to lose salvation in our watered down, Christless, celebrations.
When
you quietly observe the Fast, even when attending the occasional party, you may well have the opportunity to invite
someone to come and see Jesus. You may be asked why you didn't take this
offering or drink that beverage!
When
you as a family, intentionally pray together the prayers of the Church, perhaps
the Paraklesis together, the Holy Spirit works to calm the passions and direct
you from the "spirit of this
season" to eternity in Christ.
When
the music in your home is that of the Church, more than merely the traditions
of our times, your visitors may see Jesus!
Send
cards and greetings that reflect that Christ is Born!
Joined
in Christ and preparing to celebrate again the Incarnation, shut out the noises
that distract and wear you out: then you
can see Jesus in those around and truly enjoy His blessings.
Pray
daily and constantly as you journey toward Nativity -- so that you are not
merely trying to get through another Christmas, or outdo the gifts that
weregiven last year! Look to Jesus,
author and perfector of faith. He will
send the Spirit to guide you in such a way that the giving and gathering, will
strengthen and give true joy, rather than having you arrive at Christmas, the
Feast of the Nativity, worn out and secretly looking forward to it being all
over.
And when the Feast arrives, schedule around the
Divine Liturgy and other services and vigils!
When this happens, you say with words and actions, "Come and
See! Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
The
Fast and the Feast find meaning only in Christ God, the Lover of Mankind.
Everything else is secondary. Receive
Him! He is your Salvation!
Christ
is in our midst! Christ is born
--glorify Him.
Give
Glory to God for all Things!
Ezekiel
1 comment:
Thank you for reminding us all of this truth!
Blessings...
www.wayfarersquest-rsctt.blogspot.com
www.wayfarersquest.com
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