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27TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 14TH OF ST LUKE – THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO – BEFORE THEOPHANY – 2 DECEMBER 2018 1.
Due to our Spiritual Inexperience and immaturity, it is CHURCH – i.e. correct, ORTHODOX WORSHIP AND REGULAR
imperative to humbly obey our Spiritual Father who PARTICIPATION IN ALL HIS SALVIFIC HOLY MYSTERIES,
Shepherd us towards Eternity, Salvation and Eternal beginning with Baptism and Chrismation – including
Life. CONSTANT PRAYERS, SPIRITUAL CONTEMPLATION, FASTING AND
We cannot achieve Theosis by ourselves and must LIVING EVERY MOMENT ACCORDINGLY.
therefore HUMBLY AND OBEDIENTLY FOLLOW THE PROPER The True Path has been laid out clearly for us to follow. It
TEACHINGS AN D COMMANDMENTS – THE DIVINE TRUTH OF OUR is thus neither complicated nor difficult when we do
LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST – and ALL ASPECTS OF AN so with sincere Humility and Obedience.
ACTIVE, FULLY PARTICIPATING LIFE IN CHRIST IN HIS HOLY
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST LUKE 18 : 35 – 43
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HEALS A BLIND MAN OF JERICHO
At that time, as our Lord Jesus was leaving Jericho, a certain Blind Man sat by the roadside begging. Hearing a
multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried
out: “Jesus, Son of David! Have mercy on me!” And those who went before Jesus warned him to be quiet.
He cried out all the more: “Son of David! Have mercy on me!” Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to
Him. When he approached, He asked him: “What do you want Me to do for you?” He replied: “Lord, grant that I
may receive sight.” And Jesus said to him: “Receive your sight. Your Faith has made you well.” And immediately
he received his sight, and followed Him, Glorifying God.
And all the people, having beheld it, praised God.
St Matthew mentioned “two blind men” in his Holy Gospel Our Holy Church Fathers made a Spiritual Interpretation
Account of this Miracle of Christ. However, such SMALL of this Divine Miracle.
DETAILS ARE UNIMPORTANT COMPARED TO THE MORE THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO SYMBOLISED THOSE FUTURE
SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS. GENERATIONS WHO WOULD BECOME CHRISTIANS OR DISCIPLES
Our Lord Jesus Christ was greeted as “Son of David,” OF CHRIST ONLY BY HEARING AND WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF
which is A SPECIAL TITLE THAT IS STRICTLY ASSOCIATED WITH SEEING CHRIST IN PERSON.
THE LONG-AWAITED MESSIAH OF GOD. JOHN 20:29 Our Lord Jesus Christ said to St Thomas
THE TITLE “LORD,” WAS RESERVED FOR GOD ALONE and the Blind after His Glorious Resurrection: “Thomas, because
Man of Jericho instinctively knew that CHRIST IS INDEED you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed
OUR LORD FOR WHOM EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE – ESPECIALLY are those who have not seen and yet have
MIRACULOUS HEALING OF BOTH BODY AND SOUL. believed!”
Although our Lord knows the deepest desires and secrets THE DOUBT OR INCREDULITY OF ST THOMAS is described in our
of every soul – even before we have acknowledged or hymns as “Blessed” for IT WAS NEITHER DOUBT OF NOR
expressed them – HE WANTS US TO FREELY AND RESISTANCE TO TRUTH BUT INSTEAD SHOWED ONE WHO
CONFIDENTLY REQUEST HIS GREAT MERCY, WHICH IS FULFILLED DESPERATELY DESIRED TRUTH.
ACCORDING TO HIS DIVINE WILL AND PURPOSE. It was “... a doubt that gave birth to Faith...” once the
WITHOUT FAIL GOD HEARS EVERY PRAYER AND PETITION – EVEN Truth was revealed and confirmed.
THOSE THAT REMAIN UNEXPRESSED - but we do not always In our Hymns, we chant the words of Christ to St Thomas:
understand or realise when He has answered us and “... Your doubt will teach My Passion and
SOMETIMES OUR PRAYERS TAKE LONGER TO BE FULFILLED Resurrection to all...”
BECAUSE WE LACK SOMETHING NECESSARY FOR OUR SPIRITUAL SUCH INCREDULITY OR DOUBT “... brought the hearts of
GROWTH OR WELFARE. believers to Knowledge...” BECAUSE ST THOMAS’
All too often WHAT WE THINK WE NEED MAY MERELY DISGUISE OR CONVERSION INTO FAITH LED HIM TO THE CLEAREST
PREVENT SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS FAR MORE ESSENTIAL FOR CONFESSION OF CHRIST’S DIVINITY WHEN HE SO JOYFULLY
OUR BENEFIT OR THAT OF MANY OTHERS – and until we ADDRESSED OUR SAVIOUR AS “... my Lord and my God!”
grasp the Truth, we may have to endure our current THOSE WHO TRIED TO SILENCE THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO SIGNIFY
circumstances with Patience and Contemplation. THE PERSECUTORS AND TYRANTS WHO – IN EVERY GENERATION –
ONLY WITH GOD’S WISDOM AND HELP CAN WE REALISE WHAT WE TRY TO SILENCE THE DIVINE TRUTH AND WORSHIP OF THE HOLY
TRULY NEED FROM HIM – and that is why Christ often CHURCH OF CHRIST.
asked what seemed to be an absurd question of those Nevertheless, under persecution, the Holy Church – i.e. All
who were obviously seriously afflicted. Faithful Christians – Confess our Lord Jesus Christ all
the more!
27TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 14TH SUNDAY OF ST LUKE – THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO
✞ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the OUR HOLY FATHERS GRANTS US THE BEGINNING OF THE THREAD
Holy Spirit.... WE SHOULD FOLLOW.
Dearly Beloved Brethren in Christ – as our Lord Jesus They transposed the Jericho Man’s blindness FROM THE
Christ was leaving the city of Jericho, He encountered PHYSICAL PLANE TO THE SPIRITUAL PLANE - making his
a certain Blind Man who not only had to bear the VOLUNTARY SUBJECTION TO THE SINS OF THE PASSIONS OF
burden of being blind, but also of abject poverty. DARKNESS THE MAIN CAUSE OF HIS AFFLICTION.
BEING BLIND, THE MAN OF JERICHO WAS UNABLE TO ENJOY THE From this point of view, MANY OF US ARE, IN ESSENCE,
FIRST AND GREATEST OF OUR LORD GOD’S CREATED BLESSINGS - SPIRITUALLY BLIND BECAUSE WE HAVE BECOME ENSLAVED TO
THE PERCEPTIBLE LIGHT THAT SHOWS US THE MATERIAL WORLD OUR PASSIONS AND WEAKNESSES, (which the evil one gleefully
SURROUNDING US – BOTH THE GOOD AND BAD ASPECTS. and successfully uses against us!)
His destitution, however, enabled him to gain his What we really need to do, is to go begging ourselves -
Salvation for, as he stood begging for alms from the as if we, too, were among the impoverished blind
passing citizens, being extremely sensitive to all people of Jericho.
noises, he sensed the increasing excitement of the WE MUST CONSTANTLY SEEK THE RESTORATION OF OUR SPIRITUAL
people. SIGHT UNDER THE EPITRACHELION (STOLE) OF OUR SPIRITUAL
AS SOON AS HE HEARD THAT IT WAS “JESUS OF NAZARETH” OF WHOM PHYSICIAN (OUR SPIRITUAL FATHER) THROUGH THE HOLY
THEY HAD ALL HEARD, HE BEGAN TO CALL OUT TO HIM, MYSTERY OF REPENTANCE-CONFESSION.
ADDRESSING OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR AS THE LONG-AWAITED Yet the Reality of Life - even in this present, modern day
MESSIAH, SAYING: “JESUS, SON OF DAVID! HAVE MERCY ON ME!” and age - demonstrates that this SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS IS
Even when other people tried to silence him, HE CONTINUED NEITHER GENERAL NOR ABSOLUTE.
TO CALL OUT TO OUR LORD JESUS, BEGGING FOR HIS GREAT Strange as it may seem, in our own era, THERE ARE STILL
MERCY AND SALVATION, FOR CHRIST IS INDEED OUR DIVINE PEOPLE AMONG US WHO HAVE MANAGED TO BECOME TRUE
PHYSICIAN Who has borne and Healed all mankind’s “OFFSPRING OF THE LIGHT.”
ailments and suffering. THE SPIRITUAL STATE OF TRUE HOLINESS, WHICH IS AS ACTIVE AND
THE HUMBLE FAITH OF THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO DREW OUR POWERFUL TODAY AS IT EVER WAS, SHOWS US THE LIFE OF
LORD’S ATTENTION, AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY HEALED ON (DIVINE) LIGHT, NOT OF (EVIL) DARKNESS.
SEVERAL LEVELS. For example, our Holy Church honours many exceptional
If we wish to take a longer-term and more profound figures of Holiness, such as SAINT PORPHYRIOS
approach to this particular Miracle, THE TEACHINGS OF KAVSOKALYVITIS, WHO, ALTHOUGH HAVING BECOME
2. 27TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 14TH OF ST LUKE – THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO – BEFORE THEOPHANY – 2 DECEMBER 2018
BIOLOGICALLY BLIND, LIVED IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST - IN THE THESE MODERN-DAY SAINTS ARE INSPIRED SOURCES OF SPIRITUAL
GLORY OF THE DIVINE “CLOUD OF UNKNOWING.” REVELATION, MOTIVATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT – not only
DESPITE BEING PHYSICALLY BLIND THIS GREAT SAINT OF ATHENS as GOOD EXAMPLES OF THEIR HOLY LIFE IN CHRIST, DUE TO
HAD EXCELLENT SPIRITUAL SIGHT, to the extent that, as THEIR UTTER HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE, but as MODELS OF
another Holy Figure of the last century, Saint Païsios THE CEASELESS SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE AND WARFARE AGAINST
the Athonite, had explained it, HE WAS ABLE TO SEE WHAT TEMPTATION AND SIN, WHOM WE SHOULD EMULATE TO THE BEST
WAS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE, AND IN THE WORLD GENERALLY, AS OF OUR ABILITY.
IF HE WERE WATCHING COLOUR TELEVISION. We must ENDEAVOUR TO FULFIL THEIR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLES FOR
Another such Holy Father, who has recently been THE CLEANSING OF OUR MIND, THE PURITY OF OUR HEART AND
Canonized, SAINT IAKOVOS TSALIKIS, who was THE ABBOT SOUL, AND FOR THE RESTORATION OF OUR SPIRITUAL SIGHT, so
OF THE MONASTERY OF SAINT DAVID, ON EVIA. that WE CAN PROPERLY AND EAGERLY FOLLOW THE TRUE PATH
This Holy Ascetic of Evia HAD EXCELLENT PHYSICAL AND LAID BEFORE US BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
SPIRITUAL SIGHT, SO MUCH SO THAT, DURING THE DIVINE As the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ our Divine
LITURGY HE BEHELD NOT ONLY THE VISIBLE ASPECTS, BUT ALSO Saviour approaches, . may our Prayers and
THE INVISIBLE ACTIVITY. Supplications be for the Healing of our Spiritual
These three Sainted Holy Fathers of our own day are Blindness, so that WITH GOOD SPIRITUAL SIGHT WE SHALL
LIVING PROOF OF OUR UNWAVERING HOPE THAT SPIRITUAL TRULY BEHOLD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST Who was Born in
DARKNESS AND BLINDNESS WILL NOT PREVAIL, but that THE the humble Grotto!
DIVINE LIGHT OF OUR LORD GOD WILL INDEED PREVAIL, AND Through the Prayers of all our Holy Fathers.
LEAD US INTO ETERNAL LIFE. Amen
HTTP://PEMPTOUSIA.COM/2017/12/14TH-SUNDAY-OF-LUKE
ST ISAAC THE SYRIAN – ON LOVE
Just as oil maintains the light of a lamp, so Charity (Love) God’s Love is, by nature, Fervent. And when it falls on us
feeds the soul with True Knowledge of God. in abundance, it makes our soul ecstatic.
The key for our heart to acquire Divine Gifts is granted to This is why the heart of those who have been Blessed to
us through the (unconditional) Love for our Experience God’s Love cannot receive It into
neighbours. themselves – they cannot bear It, but, depending on
How wonderful and praiseworthy is Love for our the amount of Love which overshadowed them, an
neighbours, provided, of course, such concern does Uncommon Change or Transformation seems to hover
not distract us from our Love of God. above them.
How sweet is the company of our Spiritual Brothers and The perceptible Signs of their Transformation are as
Sisters, as long as we can preserve our Love for God, follows:
as well. Their faces become as red as fire and Joyful, and their
If we are busy making a living, doing manual work, and body heats up.
we receive help from others, we have an obligation to Fear and shyness (‘bashfulness’) depart from them and
give alms. they become Ecstatic.
If we neglect this, our hardness of heart will be contrary The Power that concentrates the mind is lost and they
to our Lord’s Commandment! pass into a Spiritual State that is beyond thought.
Suppose a Monk has been given a Rule to stay in his cell Dreaded death is thought of as Joy and their mind never
and pray for seven weeks or a week and, when he ceases to gaze upon and Contemplate Heavenly
has completed the Rule, he meets up with and keeps Things, and although not physically in Heaven, they
company with others and is consoled by their speak as though they were, without anyone else
companionship. seeing them there, of course.
If he then is indifferent to any suffering among his Their mind loses its natural knowledge and its natural
Brethren, thinking that his weekly Rule is sufficient in sight.
itself, he is being uncharitable and harsh. Their mind loses the sense of movement within a
Because, if he has no Charity in his heart, if he is perceptible environment, because whenever it does
disdainful and contemplates what is false, then he something, it does not feel it at all, since they are
will not condescend to share the pain of his Brothers. suspended in the Contemplation of the Heavens, and
If we scorn the pain of others, we are not going to see the their intellect appears to be conversing with someone
Light of God. else.
And if we turn our face away from anyone who is in It was this Spiritual Inebriation that affected the Holy
trouble or need, our day will be very Dark. Apostles and Martyrs.
A famous Saint once said that nothing can help us to The Apostles travelled all over the world, enduring
become free of the demon of pride and to overcome Labours, exhaustion and mockery.
the burning passion of fornication as visiting and The Holy Martyrs suffered unspeakably hideous torture,
serving the bed-ridden and relieving their bodily and although their blood ran like water during the
pain. most terrible cruelties and brutalities they endured
Our Lord said that we should behave towards others in they never lost their Faith in God.
exactly the same way we want them to behave Rather, they courageously bore everything with
towards us. (Luke 6: 31) tremendous Courage and Spiritual Strength.
But if we do not have the material goods or the bodily Although the Holy Apostles and Martyrs were wise
strength to put our Love for others into practise, it is beyond understanding, other people considered
acceptable to our Lord God if we Love them by intent. them to be foolish, ridiculous and witless.
God’s Love is Inexhaustible! There were also many Holy Ascetics and Saints who
Love that comes from the things of this world is like the wandered in deserted places, in the wilderness, who
light of a lamp that has to be kept alight by adding lived on mountains, in caves and even in holes in the
more oil, or like a torrent that flows only when it rains ground, and although what they did and how they
and dries out when it stops. lived was considered improper and undesirable by
But Love that comes from God is like a spring that wells others, to God and His Faithful People it was most
up and never stops flowing. Its waters never fail, proper and acceptable.
because God alone is the Source of Love – and Love May God grant that we, too, might attain to such Wise
never fails and never ends! Foolishness!
God’s Love brings an uncommon Change and Spiritual
Transformation upon us. www.agiazoni.gr
Why do we Worry?
More often than not, we all fall prey to our worries, Why do we worry? What causes us such terrifying anxiety
anxieties, fears and concerns. and stress?
However, as soon as we become humble and Obedient to Our Holy Fathers tell us that it is caused when our
the Will of the Lord our God, all this agitation departs circumstances have worked out in such a way that we
from our heart and soul, and we are able to rest are exposed – stripped of our futile and deceptive
assured in Christ our Lord and our Faith in the Great arrogance, pride and ego.
Mercy and Abundant Providence of God. When we are thus exposed, “the old man” – our old fallen
nature – is not “fed” – is not sustained - and we are
27TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 14TH OF ST LUKE – THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO – BEFORE THEOPHANY – 2 DECEMBER 2018 3.
forced to see ourselves as we actually are - Our greatest obstacle in this life is our selfish ego, which
insignificant, incapable and thus powerless. prevents us from developing and nurturing our True
Sometimes our Lord God allows us to contend with Relationship with God and also with each other.
various overwhelming difficulties so that we may As soon as we Repent our sins and receive God’s Loving,
realise that we cannot achieve much at all by our Merciful Forgiveness, we are no longer upset nor
own power and abilities. worried, for God grants us His Peace and Spiritual
Many of us – if not most of us – need to reach a point Assurance, as St David the Royal Psalmist expressed it
when we are forced to fact the Truth of our situation – so well: “... I was brought low, and He Delivered me!”
a point when we can only turn to God and beseech Repentance-Confession means that we confess our guilt
His Divine Assistance. – not merely the incidents.
But this requires our sincere Humility and Obedience! We must Repent and then Confess our sins because we
Like the Prodigal Son, we need to hit “rock bottom” in are in pain and are being torn apart but we do not
order to become humble and to reach out to God for bear any grudge against God or others at all.
Help, Wisdom and Understanding that is beyond us. Repentance-Confession is done with extreme and
We desperately need to return to the Safe Embrace of our sincere seriousness – without making any excuses
Loving Heavenly Father Who takes care of all our for ourselves!
needs – Who leads us along His Path of Righteousness
and Who carries us over the worst parts of our (ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP FROM A TALK DELIVERED BY ARCHIMANDRITE SYMEON
Journey. KRAGIOPOULOS)
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BELIEVE IN JESUS?
We might agree that Holy Scripture is a “reliable We cannot deceive our Lord Jesus Christ at all, for He
document” that guides us in our Faith, and we might knows the heart and soul of every creature He has
believe that our Lord Jesus Christ really does exist and created! He suffered a voluntary death on the Cross
we might accept the Truth that He was indeed to show us the Way through His Resurrection to Eternal
Resurrected, but we do not always understand why it Life with Him in His Kingdom of Love.
is essential for us to follow Him with Humility and Our Heavenly Father, His Only Begotten Son and Word,
Obedience. and His Holy Spirit – i.e. God the Holy Trinity - want us
The reason why we should not try to “do our own thing,” whom He created in His own Image and Likeness - to
but rather strive to be Faithful Disciples who - with be with Him in Eternity!
much Spiritual Struggle and determination - follow Our Lord Jesus Christ knows only too well how we
our Lord Jesus Christ wherever He leads us - is Struggle against the innumerable temptations and sin
explained to us by our Divine Saviour Himself, when that threatens to overwhelm us every moment of every
He spoke of His Second Coming or Glorious day and night! He knows the depth of our sinfulness.
Reappearance in our physical world – when He Yet He is infinitely Patient, Longsuffering, Compassionate,
visibly Reappears before the entire world, to judge His Kind, Loving and Most Merciful. Whenever we fail to
entire Creation. fulfil His Teachings, He asks us to seek forgiveness by
For those who refuse to Repent their sins and who have Repenting, and to surrender our will to His Will, which
rejected our Lord Jesus Christ and our Triune God, it grants us True Freedom, Peace and Joy.
will be a most terrifying Event, while for others who Our Lord Jesus Christ Guides us, Protects us and watches
have Struggled to fulfil God’s Commandments and over us as we strive to follow Him, so we will not fear
Teachings, motivated by their Love of God and each His Reappearance due to our close personal
other, it is a longed for Event. Relationship with Him - a deep, mutual Love.
It all depends on the degree of our Faith – for if we know St John, His Beloved Apostle and Theologian explained
our Lord God, if we trust in Him, and have a close clearly: “...God so Loved the world that He gave His
Relationship with Him, allowing Him to Guide us Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
throughout our life, then we know with complete should not perish but have Everlasting Life. For God
assurance that we have nothing to fear (except our did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
own failure to fulfil the Will of God) when He comes in world, but that the world - through Him - might be
all His Divine Majesty and Glory to judge all mankind. Saved. He who believes in Him is not Condemned;
But if we do not know Him, if we have ignored His but he who does not believe is Condemned already,
Teachings, have lived a self-indulgent lifestyle that because he has not believed in the Name of the
alienates us from God, then we certainly should feel Only Begotten Son of God. And this is the
extremely afraid of His Final Judgement. Condemnation - that the Light has come into the
Our All Merciful and Compassionate Lord God has world, and men loved darkness rather than Light,
created us human beings with intellectual abilities because their deeds were evil. For everyone
and free-will to make our own choices. practising evil hates the Light and does not come to
Therefore, we can voluntarily chose to follow our Lord the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he
Jesus Christ, to obey Him, to fulfill His Divine Truth and who does the Truth comes to the Light, that his
ultimately receive Eternal Life in His Heavenly deeds may be clearly seen - that they have been
Kingdom, or we can chose to disobey Him, to reject done in God.” (JOHN 3:16-21)
Him or to ignore Him but then must understand that In order to be Judged and accepted by God, we must
we will reap the worst consequences of doing so – i.e. know Him, we must believe in Him, and we must
we choose Eternal Death and Exile into Outer follow His Teachings. Others who do not know Him will
Darkness where there is ceaseless pain, sorrow and not ‘...pass the Test’ at our Judgement.
suffering - “...gnashing of teeth” due to irreparable, Those who do not understand the necessity of our
evil – a permanent Spiritual State that is utterly void of Saviour, or who prefer the fleeting, unbeneficial
all God’s Divine Love and Goodness! pleasures of this world, cannot enter His Eternal
There are always consequences due to the choices we Kingdom.
make, but now we are still able to correct the Our entire life will be our Judgement for we are held
resultant circumstances by means of Repentance- accountable by our words, thoughts and deeds! We
Confession and the forgiveness of our sins. will not be able to justify nor excuse ourselves at all for
We can still restore our Relationships with God and each we either know and Love God, or we ignore, reject
other! We can still regain our Spiritual Life through and disobey Him and remain unrepentant!
Repentance - Restore ourselves from Spiritual Death In this present existence, we choose to be United with
caused by our sins. God never forces us to chose Him, God by striving humbly to obey His Will or to be
to Love and obey Him, for He is Love itself and Love is alienated from Him by our selfishness and sinfulness.
only possible as a voluntary Holy Gift – a self-willed The choice is ours alone but we must then understand the
action, for Love cannot be forced upon anyone at all! ultimate Consequences of those choices we make!
We must Love God with all our being – body and soul – God Loves us, providing us with everything we need. We
just as He Loves us unconditionally and utterly. must merely follow His Path of Righteous that leads to
God Loves us – even though we are habitual sinners. So Eternal Life and Salvation!
we need to decide if we wish to truly Live in a State of What could be easier?! Yet we ourselves make it
Unconditional Love or the alternative, of which even complicated and difficult!
Satan and his demons are terrified! www.orthodoxwayoflife
4. 27TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 14TH OF ST LUKE – THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO – BEFORE THEOPHANY – 2 DECEMBER 2018
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and
unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious
Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one
another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
4 December 2018
St Barbara of Heliopolis, Syria
FOREFEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD
Also the Feast of ST JULIANA OF HELIOPOLIS, SYRIA – ST JOHN OF DAMASCUS – St John of Phrygia – St
Alexander Hotovitsky, New Martyr of Russia – St Gennadios, Archbishop of Novgorod – St
Seraphim, Bishop & Hieromonk of the Phanar
5 December 2018
St Savvas the Sanctified
FOREFEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD
Also the Feast of St Gurias, Archbishop of Kazan – St Anastasios the Fuller of Salona, Dalmatia – St
Karion/Cyrion & St Zacharia of Sketis, Egypt – St Nektarios of Bitolya & Mount Athos – St Philotheos the
Holy Ascetic of Karyes, Mount Athos – All Martyred Monks of Karyes, Mount Athos – St Crispina of
Tagora, Africa
ISODIKON – TONE 2
✞Defte proskinisomen, ke prospesomen Hristo. Soson ✞Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save
imas, Iie Theou, O E N A G I I S T H A V M A S T O S , psallontas us, O Son of God, W H O A R T E X T O L L E D B Y T H E S A I N T S :
Si. Allilouia! as we sing to Thee: Alleluia!
FESTAL APOLYTIKION – ST SAVVA THE SANCTIFIED – TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
Tes ton dakrion Sou roes, tis erimou to agonon egeorgisas; With the rivers of Thy tears, Thou changed the barren
ke tis ek vathous stenagmis, is ekaton tous ponous desert into fertile land; and with the sighs from Thy
ekarpoforisas; ke gagonas Fostir, tis ikoumenis, depths, Thou made Thy Labours produce a
lambon tis thavmasi, Savva Patir imon Osie. Presveve hundredfold; and Thou became a Bright Star, shining
Hristo to Theo, Sothine tas psihas imon. on the earth with Thy Miracles. O Savvas our Father
Righteous: Intercede with Christ our God, for our
PARISH PATRONAL APOLYTIKION souls to be Saved!
FESTAL KONTAKION - ST SAVVAS THE SANCTIFIED - TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
Os apo vrefous to Theo thisia amomos, prosevehthis di O Blessed Savvas, Thou was offered from Thine infancy
aretis, Savva Makarie, to Se prin gennithine through Thy Great Virtue as a Pure and Spotless
epistameno, ehrimatisas Osion egkallopisma, polistis te Sacrifice to God, Who before Thy Birth, verily foreknew
tis erimou exietpenos. Dio krazo Si. Heris Pater aidime. Thee; wherefore Thou was an Adornment of the
Righteous Saints, an All-praised Founder of cities in the
wilderness. Hence, I cry to Thee: Rejoice, O Father of
Great Renown!
SEASONAL KONTAKION - NATIVITY OF CHRIST
I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to spyleon Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all
to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon doxologousi, being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no
Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di’ imas gar egenniti, man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give glory,
Pedion neon, O Pro Aionon Theos. and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is Born a
young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.
RETURN TO THE SERVICE BOOK – TRISAGION HYMN
PROKEIMENON – PSALM 149 – TONE (7) VARYS-GRAVE
The Saints shall rejoice in Glory, and they shalt greatly Rejoice on their beds.
Sing unto the Lord a New Song – His Praise in the Assembly of His Holy
THE EPISTLE OF ST PAUL TO THE GALATIANS 5 : 22 – 6 : 2
BATTLE AGAINST THE FLESH & DO GOOD TO EVERYONE
Brethren: the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-
control. Against such there is no law. Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one
another.
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are Spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of Gentleness,
considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ.
St Paul reminds us of THE WONDERFUL SPIRITUAL FRUIT THAT IS mankind, for whatever we do for them will be done
GRANTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO STRIVE for us a hundredfold.
CEASELESSLY, all of which HELP US TO DEAL WITH OUR DAILY Thus it benefits us immensely if we do achieve Agape
PROBLEMS AND SPIRITUAL CONTESTS that confront us all. and treat one another with pure, virtuous heart and
EVERY ONE OF THESE DIVINE FRUITS PROMOTES AND NURTURES OUR soul!
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND WITH EACH OTHER. ✶✶ THEOSIS, DEIFICATION OR SPIRITUAL PERFECTION MEANS TO HAVE
✶✶ THE ONLY GIFT AND FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT WE REQUIRE ACQUIRED THE GREATEST OF ALL HOLY VIRTUES - TRUE LOVE –
FOR OUR ETERNAL LIFE – AS WELL AS A SUCCESSFUL, THAT DIVINE, PERFECT AGAPE.
TEMPORARY, PREPARATORY LIFESPAN IS LOVE, FOR LOVE OR This short lifespan, which prepares us for Eternity, should
AGAPE NEVER FAILS!! be spent STRIVING TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN OUR
Furthermore, UNLESS WE STRIVE WITH ALL OUR MIGHT TO ACHIEVE IMMORTAL SOUL IN ORDER TO CONTROL OUR WILFUL, SELFISH
TRUE AGAPE, WE WILL NOT BE WORTHY CITIZENS OF THE AND ARROGANT FLESH, because we all need TO RETURN TO
HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF LOVE. GOD WHO CREATED US AS HIS PERFECT CREATURES OF LOVE.
OUR ENTIRE JUDGEMENT IS BASED ON THAT UNCONDITIONAL, HOLY,✶✶ IF WE DO NOT LEARN TO CONTROL THE DEMANDS OF OUR
DIVINE AND ABSOLUTE LOVE of God and our fellow UNDISCIPLINED FLESH, WE WILL DEVELOP A ‘FLESHY’ SOUL
6 December 2018
St Nicholas of Myra, Lycia
FOREFEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD
Also the Feast of St Maximos, Metropolitan of Kiev
ISODIKON – TONE 3
✞ Defte proskinisomen ke prospesomen Hristo. Soson ✞ Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save
imas Ie Theou O A N A S T A S E K N E K R O N , psallontas Si: us, O Son of God, W H O R O S E F R O M T H E D E A D , as we
Allilouia! sing to Thee: Alleluia!
OCTOEHOS – RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION – TONE 3
Evfrenestho ta Ourania, Agaliastho ta Epigia, oti epiise Let the Heavens Rejoice and let the Earth be glad, for the
Kratos en Vrahioni Aftou O Kyrios. Epatise to Thanato Lord has shown Strength with His Arm; He has
ton Thanaton.Prototokos ton nekron egeneto. Ek kilias trampled down Death by Death; He has become the
Adou errisato imas ke pareshe to kosmo to Mega Eleos. First-born of the dead; from the womb of Hades He
has Rescued us, and to the world He has granted Great
Mercy.
MENAION - FESTAL APOLYTIKION – THE CONCEPTION - TONE 4
Simeron tis ateknias desma dialionte. Tou Ioakim gar ke Today the bonds of Childlessness are broken. For hearing
tis Annis isakouon Theos, par’ elpida tekin aftous safos, the Prayers of Joachim and Anna, God promised that
ipishnite Theopeda, ex is aftos etehthi O aperigraptos, against all Hope they would give Birth to the Maiden of
vrotos gegonos, di’ Angelou kelefsas voise afti. Here, God. He, the Uncircumscribed, would be Born of Her,
Heharitomeni, O Kyrios meta Sou. and when He had become Man, and by the Angel’s
Example, He commands us to call to Her: “Rejoice, O
PARISH PATRONAL APOLYTIKION ➜. Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee!”
SEASONAL KONTAKION – THE CONCEPTION – TONE 3
Eortazi simeron, i ikoumeni, tin tis Annis sillipsin, Celebrating today is the entire world for Anna conceived a
gegenimenin en Theo, ke gar afti apekiise, tin iper Child, which is a Miracle of God, and thus she gave
Logon, ton Logon kiisasan. birth to Her who bore the Divine Logos - beyond all
speech or thought.
PROKEIMENON – PSALM 63/64 – TONE (6) PLAGAL 2
The Righteous Man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall Hope in Him.
Hear my voice, O God, in my Supplication.
THE EPISTLE OF ST PAUL TO THE GALATIANS 4 : 22 - 27
C ONCERNING SLAVERY & SONSHIP
Brethren: Abraham had two sons - one by a bondservant, one by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman
was born according to the flesh, while he who was born of the free woman was born through a Promise.
These things are symbolic. These are the two Covenants – one from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to bondage, being
Hagar. For Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which is now - in bondage with her
children. The Jerusalem Above is Free – being the Mother of us all. It is written: ‘Rejoice, you barren who do not
bear! Break forth and cry you who do not travail! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a
husband!’
By stating that Abraham’s two sons and related events THE ‘DESOLATE’ are those in Church, especially the
are symbolic (allegoreo), St Paul did not imply that Gentiles.
they were not historical. “SHE WHO HAS A HUSBAND,’ is Israel.
Rather, St Paul asserts that OLD COVENANT HISTORY Furthermore, SARAH IS A TYPE OF MARY – our Lady
ANNOUNCED SOMETHING FAR GREATER THAN ITSELF. Theotokos (Mother of God) – for Sarah’s son was
HAGAR the Bondwoman and Mount Sinai symbolise born through Divine Promise.
earthly Jerusalem, and the Judeans under the According to St John Chrysostom, Isaac “... was the issue
Law. of bodies that were dead, and of a womb that was
SARAH, the Freewoman, symbolises the Heavenly dead. His conception was not by the flesh, nor his
Jerusalem – i.e. the Church. birth by the seed, for the womb was dead both
through age and barrenness (infertility).
28 T H S U NDAY A FTER P ENTECOST - 10 T H OF S T L U KE - T HE B OWED W OMAN - C ONCEPTI ON OF S T A N NA & S T J OACHIM – 9 D ECEMBER 201 8 11.
“But the Word of God fashioned him... He who was not “Therefore, let it not disturb you that you were not born
according to the flesh was more honourable than he after the flesh. For from the very reason that you are
who was born after the flesh not so born, are you most of all Abraham’s kindred.”
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST LUKE 13 : 10 - 17
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HEALS THE BOWED WOMAN ON THE SABBATH
At that time, our Lord was teaching in one of the Synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold: there was a woman who
had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself. Seeing her, Jesus
called her to Him, and said to Her: “Woman: you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His Hands on her.
And immediately she was made straight, and she Glorified God.
Indignantly, the Ruler of the Synagogue responded, for Jesus had Healed on the Sabbath. He said to the crowd: “There
are six days on which to work. On them come and be Healed, and not on the Sabbath Day!” Answering him, the
Lord said: “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it
away to water it? So ought not this woman – being a daughter of Abraham - whom Satan has bound – think of
it: for eighteen years – be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”
And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the Glorious
Things that were done by Him.
According to certain traditions that the Pharisees and the that position in order to UNDERSTAND THE SUFFERING that
Scribes had built up around the Mosaic Law, Healing she had so patiently endured.
was considered to be “work.” Therefore, even Healing Furthermore, our Holy Church Fathers regard this
was not permissible on the Sabbath Day. Divine Commandment – “... think of it!...” as
These self-righteous Pharisees and Scribes believed that DIRECTING OUR ATTENTION TO A PROFOUND SPIRITUAL
they served God by zealously keeping and enforcing MEANING of the “... eighteen years.”
these peripheral traditions. The Greek expression is literally “ten and eight years.”
However, SUCH LEGALISM ACTUALLY MADE THEM INSENSITIVE TO St Ambrose and St Theophylact understood this as
GOD’S GREAT MERCY. representing THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND THE EIGHTH
When our Compassionate Lord Jesus Christ told the DAY, which is the beginning of Eternity and the
people – especially those who criticised Him for General Resurrection of all mankind by Divine Grace.
Healing the Bowed Woman on the Sabbath – to “... Consequently, ALL MANKIND IS UPLIFTED BY FAITH IN CHRIST
think of it!” He was commanding them to CONSIDER WHO FULFILS BOTH THE ENTIRE MOSAIC LAW AND DIVINE
HOW IT FELT TO SUFFER FOR SO LONG – to put themselves in GRACE.
28TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 10TH SUNDAY OF ST LUKE – THE BOWED WOMAN
✞ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the also because we are not as humble, obedient, sincere
Holy Spirit... and honest as we should be to God and to ourselves!
Dearly Beloved, if the Bowed Woman had not been going Unless we learn to examine ourselves properly, in order to
to the Synagogue every Sabbath Day, she might not pluck out our deep-rooted sins, and to prevent
have met our Lord Jesus Christ. ourselves from submitting to all the temptations that
But she had the courage and the Spiritual Strength to ceaselessly assault us, we cannot co-operate with our
follow Christ’s Good Example, for she was a devout, Lord God Who can do everything that is impossible for
and regular worshipper at the Synagogue and was us to do.
never absent from any of the devotional gatherings. We, alone, must seek out and correct our errors by means
Neither was she embarrassed nor ashamed of her of Repentance-Confession, thereby taking full
disability, which must have been very difficult for her responsibility for our words, thoughts and deeds that
due to extreme discomfort and intense pain. are unworthy of a Faithful Disciple of Christ.
Nothing could prevent her from attending the Holy We must learn to be ever Watchful so that we do not fall
Services. into the many traps of the evil one – so that we may
Some of us might believe that we are only able to become adept at avoiding those wicked temptations
Encounter or Experience the Presence of our Lord that cause us Spiritual Death and alienation from our
Jesus Christ at very special moments – or at certain Benevolent, Loving God.
Sacred Sites – as though our Lord God is restricted to Our Lord Jesus Christ knows precisely to what degree
time or place! each of us seeks Deliverance from evil and Eternal
Yet, wherever we are, and whatever we are doing, we Salvation.
might suddenly Encounter our Lord, for at the most He grants us Spiritual Awareness whereby we are able to
unexpected times and conditions, according to His Experience Salvation.
Divine Will, He might suddenly set us free of our And when we at last realise and acknowledge the depth
Spiritual Afflictions or He might Call us to follow Him – of our Spiritual Fruitlessness, we will reach out for our
or to serve Him in a most specific manner! Divine Saviour, Who may grant us His Divine Grace so
Most of us would be utterly astonished and we would that we may encounter that marvellous Supernatural
wonder: “Was it so simple - so easy - to be released Spiritual Reality within us.
from the debilitating shackles of sin - from the evil When we simply, humbly and truly believe this way, then
one’s influence on me?” we will make an even more determined effort to stop
And indeed, it does seem to be more complicated and doing things that are contrary to our Lord Jesus
even impossible for us to be Healed and freed from Christ’s Teachings and Commandments, and our only
the imprisoning chains of our sins! desire will be to strive more and to please our Lord
But that is only due to our erroneous, egocentric stance – God in every manner possible.
our lack of Faith in the Almighty Power of God and
ARCHIMANDRITE SYMEON KRAGIOPOULOS
HTTP://WWW.ORTHODOXPATH.ORG
THE CONCEPTION OF ST ANNA & ST JOACHIM OF THE EVER BLESSED ALL HOLY VIRGIN MARY
St Joachim and St Anna had lived in Nazareth, Galilee Struck by the harsh words of the High Priest, as though it
“...in the whole piety of the Mosaic Law...” until their was the Awesome Judgment of God Himself, St
very old age, but were childless. Joachim had no time to withdraw before another
On the occasion of one of the Great Feasts, the Righteous heavier insult struck his heart.
St Joachim, according to the custom of the Mosaic Another Israelite who had come to make his offering to
Law, presented gifts and offerings to God at the God, pushed St Joachim away, saying: “Depart from
Temple in Jerusalem. here! Did you not hear? You are unworthy to bring
The High Priest, Issachar, who accepted the offerings gifts to God together with us, because you have not
from the multitude of Faithful worshippers, refused to produced any offspring for Israel!”
accept St Joachim’s offerings, saying: “... it is not right With deep Humility and heartfelt sorrow, St Joachim
to accept offerings from you as from a true Israelite! accepted this accusation as if it were from the very
For you are childless due to some kind of heavy sin! Mouth of our Lord God, and together with St Anna,
Therefore, you have not received the Blessing of God!” they departed from the Temple.
12. 28 T H S U NDAY A FTER P ENTECOST -10 T H OF S T L U KE - T HE B OWE D W OMAN - C ONCEPTI ON OF S T A NNA & S T J OACHIM – 9 D ECEMBER 2018
With a contrite heart St Joachim saw himself as being Lord our God has granted you the desire of your
unworthy not only of being in the vicinity of the Holy Prayer... for you will conceive and give birth to a
Temple of God in Jerusalem, but also of returning to Most Blessed Daughter, to whom all will bend their
his home with his Righteous and Beloved wife, St knees and Bless, and who will bear the Salvation of
Anna. the world. Her name will be Mary.”
So he took his flocks and withdrew into the wilderness Overjoyed by the Heavenly Annunciation, St Anna quickly
where he spent the next 40 days, Fasting and hastened to Jerusalem to pour out before the Lord in
Repenting his sins with ceaseless tears and Prayers for His Sacred Temple her profoundest Thanksgiving and
Mercy and Forgiveness from God. Joy that overflowed her heart.
He besought the Lord our God to forgive him all his sins – Archangel Gabriel had also announced the joyful
especially those of which he was unaware - and to Proclamation to St Joachim, who was weeping and
remove his dishonour in Israel, by Blessing him and St praying in the wilderness.
Anna – even though they were of an advanced age St Gabriel commanded St Joachim to immediately go to
and barren - with the birth of a healthy infant. Jerusalem, and there, before the doors of the Temple
The inexpressible sorrow of St Anna overwhelmed her, of God the rejoicing spouses met, with one voice
when she heard about the accusations of their Glorified and Thanked our Lord God again and
unworthiness due to their childlessness, which had again, for He had seen their Humility and their Purity
been expressed in the Presence of God and the other of heart.
sons of Israel on that Great Feast Day of the Lord. They vowed to dedicate their promised Child to God –
She was judged and condemned by others for her whether male or female.
infertility, which was regarded as a sin of all Israelite Shortly after having returned to their home, St Anna and
wives who failed to produce healthy offspring – St Joachim conceived in her womb “...the Divine Rod,
regarding them as being unworthy to see the Light of which will sprout the Mysterious Flower of Christ, the
God since they were deprived of God’s greatest Creator of all.”
Blessing. And every year, on this Great Feast Day, we gladly chant:
Having confined herself to her house, St Anna Fasted and “Come, this Joyful Day, all the Heavenly Hosts and all
Repented with tears and Prayers, crying out and the ages of mankind! With the Angelic Choirs let us
beseeching our Lord, day and night, imploring Him - celebrate the Glorious Conception of the Theotokos! O
not for her sake, but for the sake of the Piety of her Patriarchs, celebrate the Mother of all Kings! O
Righteous Spouse, to relieve them from the curse of Prophets, celebrate the One Whom You Prophesied! O
childlessness, and to Bless the Fruit of her womb. Forefathers, celebrate the One who from You is the
Alone in the garden, in the shade of a laurel tree, St Anna Mother of God! O Elders, celebrate the Ancestors of
saw a bird’s nest, and the parent birds feeding their God! O Ancestors of God, celebrate the Maiden of
nestlings, and as she watched, she contemplated how God! O Virgins, celebrate the Ever Virgin! O Faithful,
everything in Creation gives birth to their offspring; celebrate the Roots of Faith! O Priests, celebrate the
how everything lives by the Grace of God - the birds of All-Dedicated Temple of God! O Saints of all Nations,
the sky, the animals of the forest and all the celebrate the Wine of Your Assemblies! O Angelic
vegetation upon the Earth that grows and increases, Hosts, celebrate the One who gave Birth to the Master
yet she was deprived of the joy of motherhood - the of all Creation and the Saviour of our soul!
Most Special Blessing of God.
St Anna prayed even more fervently to the Lord our God, ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP
until He heard her, and sent His Archangel, Gabriel, SERGEI BULGAKOV
the Bearer of Good Tidings to her, telling her: “... the HTTP://ORTHOCHRISTIAN.COM/43675.HTML
28 T H S U NDAY A FTER P ENTECOST - 10 T H OF S T L U KE - T HE B OWED W OMAN - C ONCEPTI ON OF S T A N NA & S T J OACHIM – 9 D ECEMBER 201 8 13.
and live in Perfect Union according to the Lord our True Repentance means our genuine and sincere
God’s Will. willingness to COMPLETELY TRANSFORM OUR ENTIRE BEING –
St Nicetas Stitatos explained that “... to know yourself BODY AND SOUL - so we can become more like God.
means that you must guard yourself diligently from When we constantly practise the Jesus Prayer and other
everything external to you. Spiritual Disciplines, and as we STRIVE FAITHFULLY FOR
It means respite from worldly concerns and cross- SPIRITUAL PERFECTION BY LIVING EACH AND EVERY MOMENT IN
examination of the conscience CHRIST OUR LORD, we will soon experience the Divine
This is True Humility that teaches us to be inwardly Grace of the Holy Spirit Who enables us and helps us
humble and makes our heart contrite. to fulfil our Sacred Tasks and Labours.
If you do not know yourself, you cannot know what Furthermore, our mind will become much quieter and
Humility is. serene, and in this Holy Quietness we will acquire the
To know ourselves is the Goal of the practise of Holy ability to clearly observe and examine our most inner
Virtue." (PHILOKALIA, VOLUME 4, PP 116-117) being in order to instantly Repent our sins and correct
The key is to have a sincere desire to change – to our errors.
transform ourselves – in order to become more like Knowing the infinite Love of God, we will no longer fear
God Himself. our hidden sins but rather seek them out, expose them
First, we have to believe that we have the potential to to the Light of Divine Truth and thereby eradicate
Live a more Virtuous Life than we do at present. them by beseeching God's help to Transform us
Next, we must be willing to carefully and objectively completely.
observe and correct our deplorable Spiritual
Condition. ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP
WE MUST HAVE THE STRONGEST DESIRE TO CHANGE OURSELVES FATHER DEACON CHARLES JOINER
COMPLETELY – HOWEVER NECESSARY – WHICH IS THE MEANING GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF ST GEORGE
OF REPENTANCE (METANOIA). GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA
CHARACTERISTIC ATTRIBUTES & POWER OF THE SOUL - ELDER JOSEPH OF VATOPEDI, MOUNT ATHOS
According to Holy Scripture, the most significant trait of Our Lord God has granted us Wondrous Gifts which,
our human soul is its Likeness to the Divine Being – our according to St Peter, “...the Angels long to look into.”
Lord God. (1 PETER 1:12).
This concept that human nature was created “...in the According to the Teachings of our Godly-minded Holy
Image and Likeness..” of God indicates the highest Fathers, there are four forces of our soul - Prudence,
value given to any being whom God has created. Wisdom, Valour and Justice.
At no stage of the Creation did our Lord God the Creator, These forces act through the so called “...tripartite part of
express His satisfaction, except during the creation of the soul...” – that is the rational, the emotional and the
man, which strangely enough, did not happen by part that concerns desires (Επιθυμητικό).
Command like the other beings for which “... He The task of Prudence is to incite the emotional part; the
spoke, and they came to be.” (PSALM.33:9). task of Self Discipline or Wisdom is to incite the
Neither did man’s abode come into being by Divine rational part towards Watchfulness and sound
Command since “...the Lord God planted a Garden judgment, and the task of Justice is to rouse the
in Eden, in the East.” (GENESIS 2: 8) ‘desire’-part towards Virtue, while the task of valour is
Therefore, the most crucial Trait of our human soul is to regulate the five senses to perform rationally.
God’s Breath - that is, its Likeness to our Creator.
This means that our immortal soul is able to assimilate TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK: Γέροντος Ιωσήφ Βατοπαιδινού, Συζητήσεις
the Divine Attributes. στον Άθωνα, Ψυχοφελή Βατοπαιδινά 13, Ιερά Μεγίστη Μονή
The Eternal Word and Only Begotten Son of God has said Βατοπαιδίου, Έκδοσις Α’, Άγιον Όρος 2003, by Olga Konari
so after His Incarnation by calling us “... Friends and Kokkinou
Brothers and Heirs of His Father and Co-Heirs with HTTP://PEMPTOUSIA.COM
Him.”
What else is mightier or far more valuable than to
become existentially Kin with God?
ST JOHN KLIMAKOS & THE SIX STAGES OF TEMPTATION AND SIN
How does a passion become “second nature” for us? In With the attack of a thought, it turns out, there is no stage
his “Word on Chastity,” St John Klimakos enumerated of interaction!
the “classic” steps of an impure thought taking root in Indeed, there is no consent nor Struggle.
our soul: The attack of a thought immediately reaches the stage of
1. the assault of a sinful thought (the thought appears in captivity and passion “...without word or image...” that
our field of vision as a tempting word or visual is, without the “...classic” assault of the thought.
image); Through Repentance the Discerning Fathers were able to
2. interaction (we focus our attention on the thought); expose the insidious incursion of the thought, “...to
3. consent (we agree with the thought and receive perceive such subtlety of thought...” and overcome
enjoyment from it); its harmful effects by the Grace of God.
4. struggle (we fight against the sinful thought “on equal Thus, St John Klimakos examined the stages of the
footing”); enrooting of an impure thought in the soul and told of
5. captivity (the thought wins, we have no strength to a more subtle Unseen Warfare that an attacking
resist the sin); thought wages against experienced Hesychasts,
6. passion (the thought takes root in our soul and presenting itself also as an impure thought, only
becomes our “second nature.” exceedingly subtle and swift.
To these famous stages of an impure thought taking root,
St John added an example from the Life of “...the http://orthochristian.com/100934.html
more precise and discerning Fathers.” WISDOM OF OUR HOLY FATHERS OF MOUNT ATHOS
Where the Gift of Spiritual Discernment appears, the Holy We must CONSTANTLY RENEW OUR DETERMINATION TO LIVE BY
Fathers perceived another method whereby an CHRIST’S COMMANDMENTS, we must PRAY FOR HIS HELP, we
impure passion attacks experienced Ascetics. must HUMBLE OURSELVES when we stray, we must ACCEPT
This type of attack they called “the assault of a thought.” THE FACT THAT WE ARE WEAK AND NOT BECOME EXASPERATED
that occurs “...without passage of time, without word WITH OURSELVES.
or image. It, instantaneously introduces the passion We are incapable of conquering, so why demand of
to the victim… It manifests itself in the soul by a ourselves that which OUR LORD ALONE CAN GRANT? Why
simple remembrance with which the soul has no bemoan the fact that we are unable to rise above
time to dally, since it is independent of time, ourselves? SUCH DEMANDS FOR SPIRITUAL PERFECTION
unconnected with any image.” REVEAL OUR PRIDE.
Enumerating the stages of a sinful thought’s taking root, St Let us WAIT FOR ALL THINGS FROM OUR ONE LORD GOD, and USE
John noted that the stage of Struggle may be absent. OUR FAILURES AND SINFULNESS TO FERVENTLY HUMBLE
OURSELVES.
14. 28 T H S U NDAY A FTER P ENTECOST -10 T H OF S T L U KE - T HE B OWE D W OMAN - C ONCEPTI ON OF S T A NNA & S T J OACHIM – 9 D ECEMBER 2018
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and
unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious
Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one
another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
12 December 2018
St Spyridon of Trimythous
FOREFEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD
Also the Feast of St John of Zichnon - St Therapon the Abbot of Monza Monastery – St Alexander the
Hieromartyr of Jerusalem – St Synetos of Rome – St John the Abbot of Zedazeni Monastery, Georgia
15 December 2018
St Eleutherios of Illyria, Bishop & Hieromartyr
FOREFEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD
Also the Feast of St Anthea, mother of St Eleftherios & St Caribos the Eparch of Illyria – St Paul of
Latros – St Stephen the Confessor & Archbishop of Surrentium (Sourozh) – St Tryphon the Abbot &
St Jonah, his Disciple, of Pechenga (Kolsk) – St Pardos the Hermit of Palestine – St Hilarion,
Archbishop of Vereiya – St Nektarios of Bitel
The Feast of the Holy Forefathers of Christ According to the Flesh: St Aaron the Priest, St Benjamin the Righteous, St Deborah
the Righteous, St Ezra the Righteous, St Isaac the Righteous, St Jacob the Righteous, St Judith, St Miriam, St Nathan the
Holy Prophet of God, St Nehemiah the Holy Prophet of God, St Noah the Righteous, St Rebecca the Righteous, St Sarah, St
Solomon the Righteous, & St Susanna – St Daniel the Holy Prophet of God & the Three Holy Youths: St Ananias/Shadrach,
St Azarias/Abednego & St Mishael/Meshach – St Daniel the Confessor of Spain & Egypt – St Dionysios of Aegina – St
Avvakoum the Deacon, of Serbia – St Paisios the Abbot & New Holy Monk-Martyr of the Annunciation Monastery,
Trnava, Serbia
20. 29TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-11TH ST LUKE – GREAT BANQUET – HOLY FOREFATHERS -- 16 DECEMBER 2018
Alas! EACH OF US HAS ONLY A SPECIFIC MEASURE OF LIFESPAN IN WILL AND LOVE OF GOD IN FAVOUR OF THEIR OWN
WHICH TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR ETERNITY . EARTHLY, SELFISH DESIRES.
IF WE DO NOT BECOME WORTHY CITIZENS FOR HIS ETERNAL ST THEOPHYLACT more generally associated the excuses
KINGDOM OF LOVE, PEACE AND JOY N O W - WE CANNOT with THOSE WHO ARE DEVOTED TO ALL EARTHLY MATTERS –
ESPECIALLY PERTAINING TO OUR FIVE SENSES –to all
EXPECT TO RECEIVE HIS GREAT MERCY AND ABUNDANT
fleshly pleasures – i.e physical indulgence.
BLESSINGS FOREVER!
Those in the “streets and lanes” indicate the GENTILES
ST AMBROSE SAW THE THREE EXCUSES THAT REJECTED GOD’S
AND PAGANS WHO ACCEPTED CHRIST after the faithless
DIVINE INVITATION AS REPRESENTING
Hebrews rejected Him, AND THOSE WHO ARE PRESENTLY
THE GENTILE,
OUTSIDE THE CHURCH who often replace those from
THE PAGAN,
within His Holy Church who have rejected their
THE OLD COVENANT HEBREW AND THE
Holy Baptism and Vows of Allegiance to Christ.
HERETIC.
“...many are Called...” - GOD HAS CALLED ALL MANKIND TO
➤ The “...piece of ground...” – refers to ALL WHO ARE
HIS HOLY SERVICE YET VERY FEW RESPOND SINCERELY AND
DEVOTED TO THEIR EARTHLY WEALTH –
FAITHFULLY, because most people use all the
➤ The “five yoke of oxen” represent A PREFERENCE AND
excuses that Satan can invent, to avoid and
ENSLAVEMENT TO MAN’S INTERPRETATION OF THE FIVE OLD
alienate themselves from God.
COVENANT BOOKS OF LAW IN ORDER TO REJECT GOD’S NEW
COVENANT OF SALVATION.
➤ The excuse of having “ married a wife,” is the
HERETICAL ESPOUSAL OF ERROR BY THOSE WHO REJECT THE
29TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – BEFORE THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST – 11TH SUNDAY OF ST LUKE – THE GREAT DIVINE BANQUET
✞ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the ENTIRE WORLD, IN HONOUR OF HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, OUR
Holy Spirit. LORD JESUS CHRIST, for IN THESE LAST TIMES TOWARDS THE
Dearly Beloved, how many of us would not accept an END OF THIS WORLD, HE WAS RESURRECTED FOR OUR SAKE,
Invitation to partake of Something EXTREMELY UNIQUE after having fulfilled His Divine Mission, and having
AND EVER LASTING, WHICH GRANTS US EVERYTHING WE COULD suffered beatings and scourgings, before His
POSSIBLY NEED AND EVEN MORE THAN WE COULD DREAM OF? execution by crucifixion.
How many of us would make every excuse imaginable so NOW HE OFFERS US HIS ETERNAL NOURISHMENT OF THE HOLY
as to reject such a much desired Invitation? EUCHARIST – His Most Precious Body and Blood, as “...
Certainly, if we fully understand the Eternal Implications the Bread of Heaven...” THAT GRANTS US EVERLASTING
of that Divine Invitation, most of us would immediately LIFE.
accept it, with much Joy and Thanksgiving! THE BELOVED WORD AND SON OF GOD, IN HIS TRANSFIGURATION,
We would make every effort to ensure that we ARRIVE IN SHONE UPON US AND ENDURED DEATH FOR OUR SAKE, now HE
GOOD TIME, BEING PROPERLY PREPARED AND ENTER THE OFFERS US HIMSELF AS OUR SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT, having
BANQUETING HALL WITH MUCH RESPECTFUL EAGERNESS AND instituted the Holy Eucharist at His Last Supper.
HOPEFUL ANTICIPATION FOR WHAT WAS TO FOLLOW! Thus it is not only the physical Elements of the Holy
We would most certainly accept the Divine Invitation - Eucharist that we partake of, but WE ARE ALSO CALLED TO
NOT ONLY IN THE ANTICIPATION OF THE GREAT BANQUET AND FEAST UPON HIS DIVINE WORD THROUGH HIS DIVINE TRUTH –
ALL IT HAD TO OFFER US - BUT ALSO IN THE JOYFUL HIS TEACHINGS AND COMMANDMENTS.
ANTICIPATION OF MEETING OUR DIVINE HOST WHOM WE HAVE The Great Banquet that was prepared in honour of Christ
YEARNED FOR AND LOVED, since our early childhood or our Lord was CORRECTLY REFERRED TO AS “...A GREAT
since we have become Faithful Disciples of Christ. SUPPER...” FOR AT EVERY DIVINE LITURGY THIS IS WHAT WE
Today’s Sacred Lesson concerns a Parable of our Lord CELEBRATE AND PARTAKE OF.
Jesus Christ Who Calls – or Invites – all mankind to The Lord our God has truly prepared for us the full
enter His Divine Kingdom of Love. enjoyment of Eternal Spiritual Sweetness with Him in
HE OFFERS EVERY ONE OF US THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY WE WILL His Divine Kingdom of Love.
EVER RECEIVE, for He Invites us to the Great Banquet of Our Lord Jesus Christ is Himself “...the Servant...” for by
Almighty God – TO REJOICE TOGETHER WITH OUR TRIUNE Nature He is both Eternal God the Only Begotten Son
LORD GOD IN HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM FOREVER! of God as well as being “Man” by His Incarnation,
YET SO MANY OF US DARE TO MAKE ANY EXCUSE NOT TO ACCEPT whereby He voluntarily took on the form of “...a
THAT MOST DESIRABLE INVITATION – TO AVOID ATTENDING THE Servant...” WHO IS SENT TO FULFIL A SACRED MISSION BY GOD
DIVINE LITURGY AND PARTAKING OF THAT GREAT BANQUET OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
THE HOLY EUCHARIST, WHICH GRANTS US SO MUCH MORE THAN Our Lord Jesus was sent by our Heavenly Father to serve
WE CAN EVER IMAGINE! us at “Supper time” - AT THE END TIME, WHEN EVERYTHING
The first Divine Invitations were presented to our Lord’s HAD BEEN PREPARED BY GOD, “...for now all things are
Chosen People of Israel, but THEY ALL REJECTED IT BY ready!”
MAKING VARIOUS EXCUSES, WHICH HAD DEEPER CONNOTATIONS. Our Lord Jesus Christ has been sacrificed for mankind’s
Our Lord knows us all far better than we know ourselves, Eternal Salvation, and HE HAS RESURRECTED OUR HUMAN
so HE DENOUNCED THE INSENSITIVITY AND SPIRITUAL NATURE FROM THE BONDS OF DEATH TO AN ETERNAL LIFE OF
BLINDNESS OF HIS PRIVILEGED GUESTS – HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE – TRANSFORMATION.
who were had rejected His Divine Invitation. HE IS OUR PASCHAL LAMB AND THE CAUSE FOR OUR CELEBRATION
HIS INVITED GUESTS NOW INCLUDE THOSE OF US WHO WERE OF THE DIVINE LITURGY.
BAPTISED AND CHRISMATED AS HIS NEW ISRAEL – His Chosen OUR HEAVENLY FATHER HAS PREPARED ONCE AND FOR ALL, THE
People who have thus became THE ADOPTED CHILDREN GOOD THINGS BESTOWED UPON US THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS
OF GOD, ACCORDING TO THE NEW COVENANT. CHRIST – the Forgiveness of our sins, the Power and
When we reject His Divine Invitation to His Great Banquet, Energy of the Holy Spirit, and the Glory of being
WE SHOW OURSELVES TO BE UNWORTHY AND UNGRATEFUL, AND adopted as Children/Heirs of God.
BECAUSE OF OUR OWN SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS WE CONDEMN AND To all these Marvellous and Eternal Blessings, OUR LORD
DENY OURSELVES TRUE LIFE in the Heavenly Kingdom of JESUS CHRIST HAS CALLED US THROUGH HIS DIVINE TRUTH –
Love. His Teachings and Commandments – our Holy
However, AS SOON AS WE REALISE OUR FAILURE TO FULFIL THE Tradition of His Written and Verbal Teachings.
WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE CAN - AND MUST - REPENT OUR LOVING, COMPASSIONATE AND LOVING LORD WANTS TO
AND CONFESS OUR SINS, SO THAT WE ARE QUICKLY RESTORED TO GRANT US EVERYTHING WE COULD POSSIBLY NEED OR HOPE FOR
SPIRITUAL LIFE AND UNITY WITH THE LORD OUR GOD AND EACH yet we make every excuse possible to reject them.
OTHER. THE THREE EXCUSES THAT HE MENTIONED ARE IMMENSELY
The “...certain Man...” is an oblique reference to GOD OUR SIGNIFICANT.
HEAVENLY FATHER, for whenever He wishes to express 1. ‘I have bought a piece of land...’ denotes OUR
His Great Mercy in Holy Scripture, He is cited as “Man.” OBSESSION WITH WORLDLY POSSESSIONS, PRIDE AND
According to our Divine Saviour’s Parable, THE CREATOR OF COMPETITIVE JEALOUSLY THAT COMES FROM THESE
THE UNIVERSE AND THE FATHER OF GLORY PREPARED “... a MATERIAL ASSETS, which are A HINDRANCE TO OUR
Great Supper...” or A GREAT FESTAL BANQUET FOR THE
29TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST - 1TH ST LUKE – GREAT BANQUET – HOLY FOREFATHERS - 16 DECEMBER 21
HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE that is essential to St Isaac the Syrian believe that WHENEVER SUCH PASSIONS
accepting the magnitude of the Divine Invitation. HAVE BEEN HALTED AND CORRECTED, THE TEMPTATION OF “THE
2. “...I have bought five yoke of oxen...” signify OUR FIVE WORLD” FAILS TO DECEIVE US.
SENSES – SIGHT, HEARING, TASTE, SMELL AND TOUCH – The Saints became “... dead to the world...” when they
whereby WE ARE STIMULATED AND TEMPTED WITH lived according to the “... mind of the heart...” rather
EXTERNAL ASPECTS THAT HAVE NO SPIRITUAL BENEFIT. than according to the “... mind of the flesh.”
They tempt us with the DESIRES AND DEMANDS OF THE TO LIVE IN CHRIST, WE MUST REGULARLY EXAMINE OURSELVES TO
FLESH THAT OVERWHELM OUR SOUL and which LURE US SEEK OUT DEEP-SEATED PASSIONS that hold us back so that
AWAY FROM GOD AND HIS GOOD THINGS. EVERYTHING we may be Cured of their effects, WHICH PREVENT OUR
THAT IS SENSUAL AND MATERIAL CAN CAUSE US TO NEGLECT GOOD SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND PROGRESS.
OR IGNORE THE MOST IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL SENSES THAT THEREBY WE COME TO KNOW OUR PERSONAL WEAKNESSES OVER
MAINTAIN AND NURTURE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WHICH WE WILL SUBSEQUENTLY BE MORE WATCHFUL, and able
3. “...I have married a wife ...” represents those who take to quickly correct.
GREAT PLEASURE IN ALL THE SENSUOUS DELIGHTS OF THE Our Lord God also invited “...the poor and the maimed
FLESH – ESPECIALLY THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH THAT ENTICE and the lame and the blind...” to teach us that any
AND SEDUCE US into committing fornication (if degree of poverty, destitution, physical disfigurement,
unmarried in the Sight of God) or adultery (if blemish or weakness does not exclude anyone from
lawfully married), which HINDERS MANY FROM OUR His Kingdom of Heaven.
HEALTHY SPIRITUAL LIFE AND CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH Our Divine Saviour also teaches us about THE PARADOXICAL
GOD AND ONE ANOTHER. EFFECT OF BEING HUMBLED BY ANY TYPE OF MISFORTUNE,
WE MUST ALL BE VERY CAREFUL TO AVOID FALLING INTO THE SIN OF PERSECUTION, AILMENT OR DEBILITATING SICKNESS, OR BY
SELF-JUSTIFICATION AND EXCUSES that keep us from VOLUNTARILY HUMBLING OURSELVES DUE TO OUR LOVE FOR GOD
fulfilling our Sacred Commitments that are vital to our AND OUR FELLOW SINNERS, since “...in weakness we are
Salvation and Eternal Life. strong...” as WE LACK THE INCENTIVE TO SIN OR REBEL
According to St Isaac the Syrian, UNLESS WE UNDERSTAND THE AGAINST THE WILL OF GOD.
MEANING OF “...the world...” WE WILL NEVER KNOW HOW Consequently, we become Spiritually “...poor and
MUCH OF OUR BODY AND SOUL IS DISTANCED FROM THE LORD dead...” to the “world.”
OUR GOD AND HOW MUCH WE ARE SHACKLED BY THE DEMANDS A LACK OF ATTACHMENT TO MATERIAL POSSESSIONS - being
OF THIS FALLEN WORLD! ‘poor’ - FACILITATES A WHOLEHEARTED RESPONSE TO GOD’S
THE TERM “WORLD” OR “WORLDLY” is used by our Holy Fathers GIFT OF MERCY AND LOVE.
to DESCRIBE THE PASSIONS THAT LEAD US AWAY FROM GOD AND THE VERY LACK OF THE NEED OF RESOURCES becomes a Blessing,
SPIRITUAL LIFE. since it FREES US TO FOCUS ON AND TO ACCEPT THE ENRICHING
These passions consist of AN OBSESSION WITH WEALTH AND GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION, as well as being A SPIRITUAL
MATERIAL PASSIONS, PHYSICAL PLEASURES including EXERCISE OF OUR DEPENDENCE ON GOD’S GREAT MERCY AND
fornication, adultery and promiscuity; THE DESIRE FOR ABUNDANT PROVIDENCE - a good test of our Faith.
PRAISES, GLORY AND CREDIT, from which springs envy and May we all BECOME FAR MORE RECEPTIVE AND QUICKER TO HEAR
jealousy, hatred, maliciousness and revenge; THE AND TO RESPOND TO THE VOICE OF GOD CALLING US as THERE
WIELDING OF POWER; PRIDE in the trappings of AUTHORITY; IS NOTHING OF TRUE VALUE NOR BENEFIT OF THIS FALLEN
GRANDEUR and OSTENTATION; ANY OBSESSION WITH OUR BODY WORLD TO DISTRACT US FROM THE WILL OF GOD AND THE TRUE
such as AN OBSESSION WITH APPEARANCE, WEIGHT, AGING OR WAY OF LIFE.
DISFIGUREMENT...
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP
HTTP://MODEOFLIFE.ORG
22. 29TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-11TH ST LUKE – GREAT BANQUET – HOLY FOREFATHERS -- 16 DECEMBER 2018
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever,
and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and
Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit
ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
30TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY– HOLY ANCESTORS- 23 DECEMBER 2018 23
GOD COULD BE ESTABLISHED ACCORDING TO THE DIVINE WILL OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR’S ONE ULTIMATE, PERFECT BLOOD
OF ALMIGHTY GOD. SACRIFICIAL OFFERING FULFILS WHAT ALL THE OLD COVENANT
THE FAITH OF THE OLD COVENANT SAINTS WAS TRULY AMAZING, for SACRIFICES WERE UNABLE TO DO,
THEY DID NOT HAVE ALL THE SPIRITUAL BENEFITS AND THE SINS OF THE OLD COVENANT SAINTS WERE ALSO FORGIVEN BY
KNOWLEDGE THAT WE ENJOY TODAY, which confirms and GOD and thus THEY WERE ABLE TO ENTER OUR LORD GOD’S
even proves Divine Truth. DIVINE PRESENCE AS THEY HAD BEEN PROMISED BY HIM –
THEIR FAITH WAS STEADFAST AND UNWAVERING, DESPITE THEIR “...that apart from us, they should not be made
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND TERRIBLE PERSECUTION THEY Perfect.”
WERE FORCED TO ENDURE. BECAUSE THE LOCUS OF LIFE IS OUR BLOOD – OUR MORTAL LIFE – WE
THEIR FAITH WAS FIRMLY SEATED DEEP WITHIN THEIR SOUL – THAT OFFER IT TO GOD WHO IS LIFE, and thereby WE ESTABLISH A
MARVELLOUS, NATURAL FAITH IN GOD WITH WHICH WE WERE NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM BY LIVING IN CHRIST JESUS
CREATED. Whom we have “put on” during our Holy Baptism.
THEIR ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD OUR GOD ENABLED Consequently, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S INCARNATION AND
THEM TO ACHIEVE INCREDIBLE VICTORIES over those who EVERYTHING THAT HE ACCOMPLISHED FOR US IN HIS FLESH
sought to destroy them, which clearly proves that GOD REDEEMED THE OLD COVENANT SAINTS OF THE OLD ISRAEL AS
LOVES US AND IS ALWAYS WITH US – DELIVERING US from the WELL AS US WHO ARE THE NEW COVENANT ISRAEL – i.e. ALL
evil one, granting us everything we need in good THOSE WHO BY THEIR FAITHFUL STRUGGLES AND LABOURS
times and in times of adversity. PARTICIPATE IN HIS GLORIOUS RESURRECTION AND HIS
THIS TESTIFIES TO THE GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OLD ETERNAL, HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF AGAPE.
COVENANT SAINTS AND OUR ALMIGHTY LORD GOD, WHO St Paul reminds us that THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT – those who
MAKES EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FOR US – even restoring life to have gone before us – IS THE GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES,
those who had been killed. who continue to pray for us, who guide us and watch
HOWEVER, THESE ANCIENT SAINTS COULD NOT ENTER PARADISE over us, encouraging and supporting us every step of
UNTIL OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAD ACCOMPLISHED HIS the Way along the Narrow Path of Righteousness that
EARTHLY MISSION AND HAD HARROWED HADES after His leads us to Eternal Life.
Crucifixion and Death on the Cross. THIS SHORT PREPARATORY LIFESPAN IS not a fast sprint but A
THEY RESTED IN A SECTION OF HADES to which our Lord Jesus MARATHON that takes all our concerted effort to
Christ referred as being “in the Bosom of Abraham.” complete successfully and victoriously.
AFTER DEATH, ALL THE SOULS WENT TO HADES, but THE RIGHTEOUS AS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WE MUST
WERE SEPARATED FROM THE WICKED, and were AWARE OF FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON HIM - striving to fulfil His Divine
EACH OTHERS’ STATE as revealed by Christ when He Truth in all aspects of our daily life, to the best of our
spoke of the Rich Man and Poor Lazaros. ability.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST MATTHEW 1 : 1 - 25
THE GENEALOGY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE FLESH
The Book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
Abraham begot Isaac; Isaac begot Jacob and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.
Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar; Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab;
Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.
Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab; Boaz begot Obed by Ruth; Obed begot Jesse and Jesse begot David the King.
David the King begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah; Solomon begot Rehoboam; Rehoboam begot
Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.
Asa begot Jehoshaphat; Jehoshaphat begot Joran, and Joran begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz,
and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh; Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.
Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. After they were taken to
Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud; Abiud begot Eliakim,
and Eliakim begot Azor. Azor begot Zadok; Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar;
Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.
Jacob begot Joseph the (Betrothed) Husband of Mary (Miriam) of Whom was born Jesus Who is called Christ.
All the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; from David until the captivity in Babylon were
fourteen generations. And from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
The Birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His Mother, Mary, was Betrothed to Joseph, before they came together,
she was found with Child of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a Just man, and not wanting to make her a
public example, was minded to put her away secretly. While he considered these things, behold! an Angel of the
Lord appeared to him, saying: “Joseph, son of David: do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. That which is
Conceived in Her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bring forth a Son, and Thou shalt name Him ‘ Jesus.’ He will Save
His People from their sins.”
All this was done so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: “Behold, the
Virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name ,Immanuel,’” which is translated: “God
with us.”
Having been woken from sleep Joseph did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his Wife, and did
not know Her until She had brought forth Her Firstborn Son. And he called His Name ‘Jesus.’
The name “Jesus” or “Joshua” means “O Lord Save us,” ✶✶ Instead, the Vision that St John the Baptist experienced
which REFERS TO OUR LORD’S DIVINE ROLE AS THE SAVIOUR OF revealed the Absolute Truth that THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS
ALL MANKIND. ALWAYS BEEN WITH CHRIST.
The title “Christ” means “Anointed One,” or “Messiah,” ✶✶✶ ALTHOUGH ONLY GOD THE SON (the Second Divine Person of
which means THE ONE WHO IS FILLED WITH THE HOLY the Holy Trinity – the Godhead) WAS INCARNATED (became
SPIRIT. Man and thus physical and visible to us) GOD THE FATHER AND
J O H N 1 : 3 3 : St John the Baptist and Forerunner to GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WORK IN PERFECT HARMONY IN OUR
Christ said: “I did not know Him, but He Who sent LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR OUR ETERNAL SALVATION.
me to Baptise with water said to me: ‘Upon Whom THE HOLY TRINITY ALWAYS WORKS IN PERFECT UNISON AS ONE
you see the (Holy) Spirit descending, and GOD.
remaining on Him, is He Who Baptises with the OUR LORD WAS INCARNATE AS A HEBREW, FROM THE LINEAGE OF ST
Holy Spirit.’” ABRAHAM, the Father or Patriarch of all Hebrews, and
✶✶The fact that the Holy Spirit remained upon Christ our of St David, Israel’s greatest King and Prototype of our
Saviour was a Divine Sign that HE POSSESSES THE HOLY Royal Messiah.
SPIRIT IN HIS FULLNESS FROM ALL ETERNITY – i.e. THERE HAS The Genealogy of Christ according to the Holy Gospel of
NEVER BEEN A MOMENT WHEN THE SON OF GOD WAS NOT St Matthew reveals that THE SON OF GOD IDENTIFIES SO
UNITED WITH GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR TOGETHER WITH GOD DEEPLY WITH OUR HUMAN NATURE that He took it upon
THE FATHER THEY ARE CO-ETERNAL. Himself and has become part of it FOR THE SAKE OF OUR
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST DID NOT RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AT HIS SALVATION.
BAPTISM by St John the Baptist. The Ancestry (according to His Incarnation) of our Lord Jesus
Christ includes Righteous and wicked people, faithful
24. 30TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY– HOLY ANCESTORS- 23 DECEMBER 2018
Kings and murderers, Jews and Gentiles, royalty and HER AGED UNCLE WHO WAS ACTUALLY HER LEGAL GUARDIAN
peasants – A COMPLETE CROSS-SECTION OF HUMANITY. AND PROTECTOR OF HER VOW OF CHASTITY.
ST MATTHEW’S GENEALOGY OF CHRIST DESCENDS FROM ST ✶✶✶The term “of whom” is feminine in Greek, REFERRING
ABRAHAM in whom God Promised to Bless all Tribes of ONLY TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. SO OUR LORD IS SHOWN
the Earth, which was fulfilled in his greatest TO HAVE BEEN BORN ONLY OF HER AND NOT BEGOTTEN OF ST
Descendent, Jesus Christ. JOSEPH THE BETROTHED.
ST LUKE, on the contrary, LISTED HIS GENEALOGY IN ASCENDING THE ANCESTORS WERE ARRANGED IN THREE GROUPS OF FOURTEEN
ORDER – FROM CHRIST ALL THE WAY BACK TO ADAM. (LUKE 3 : 23 GENERATIONS since fourteen is the numerical
– 38) equivalent of the consonants in the name “David,”
G E N E S I S 1 2 : 3 – God said to Abram: “... I will Bless underlining Christ’s descent from St David.
those who Bless Thee and curse those who curse IT ALSO SHOWS THE DIVISION OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HEBREWS,
Thee; and in Thee all the Tribes of the earth shall being under Judges until St David, under Kings until
be Blessed.” Babylon and under Priests until Christ.
✶✶THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE THROUGH HIS HOLY PROPHETS and He THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED CONSISTED OF
spoke through St Moses the Holy Prophet of God who A MERCIFUL NATURE THAT TRANSCENDED THE DEMANDS OF THE
wrote this Holy Book of Genesis. LAW.
G A L A T I A N S 3 : 8 - St Paul explained to the Galatians: “... H O S E A 6 : 6 “... I desire Mercy not sacrifice, and the
the Scripture, foreseeing that God would Justify Knowledge of God more than Whole Burnt
the Gentiles by Faith, preached the Gospel to Offerings...”
Abraham beforehand, saying: ‘In Thee all the St Joseph’s natural Compassion and Mercy was evident
Nations shall be Blessed.’ from his unwillingness to expose the young Virgin’s
So it was that THE HOLY SPIRIT PREACHED THE HOLY GOSPEL OF assumed sin, even though he was obliged by Mosaic
CHRIST CENTURIES BEFORE TO ST ABRAHAM, the ancient Law to do so.
Patriarch of the Old Covenant Israel. THE TERM “HUSBAND” AND “WIFE” APPLIED TO ALL BETROTHED
Furthermore, THE “ANGEL OF THE LORD” Whom St Abraham COUPLES EVEN BEFORE THE MARRIAGE HAD BEEN SANCTIFIED BY
beheld in a Vision was no created being – He WAS GOD AND CONSUMMATED.
TRULY THE SON AND WORD OF GOD. THE HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH REFERS TO ST JOSEPH AS “THE
St Athanasios the Great taught that OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BETROTHED,” EMPHASISING THE TRUTH OF THE ALL HOLY AND
THE SON AND WORD OF GOD, WAS REFERRED TO AS “AN ANGEL ALL PURE, EVER VIRGINITY OF THE BLESSED THEOTOKOS (which
(MESSENGER OF GOD) BECAUSE HE ALONE REVEALS THE FATHER.” would have been marvelled at and definitely confirmed by the
In other words, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST REVEALS GOD THE astounded Midwives who attended to the young Virgin before,
FATHER TO US AS A GOD OF INFINITE LOVE AND MERCY WHO, during and after the Nativity of Christ.)
BEING ABSOLUTE GOODNESS, TRUTH AND LOVE, IS INCAPABLE E S T H E R 2 : 7 Mordecai of the Tribe of Benjamin “ ...
OF ANYTHING EVIL, CRUEL OR DESTRUCTIVE (which are the had raised the daughter of Abigail, his father’s
inventions of the evil one who typifies hatred, everything wicked, brother, and her name was Esther; and when her
deceitful and destructive.) parents died, he brought her up to be his wife,
G E N E S I S 2 8 : 1 4 - The Lord God told St Jacob: “... your and she was beautiful.”
seed shall be like the dust of the Earth; you shall Mordecai’s relation to Esther was that of both Guardian
spread abroad to the West and to the East, to the and Betrothed ‘husband’ - A NECESSARY SOCIAL AND
North and to the South; and in you and in your LEGAL ARRANGEMENT, WHICH WAS NOT UNUSUAL AT THE TIME.
seed all the Tribes of the earth shall be Blessed.” This was similar to the special Relationship between St
Jewish genealogy normally included only male relatives Joseph the Betrothed and his very young niece, the
so THE MENTION OF FEMALE RELATIVES such as Tamar, Ever Virgin Mary, in which THERE WAS NO SEXUAL
Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba WAS MOST UNUSUAL, RELATIONSHIP, as demonstrated as well by Esther’s
especially since each of them was either a gentile or Virginity and Chastity.
a sinful Hebrew. AN ANGEL OR MESSENGER OF GOD DISPELLED ST JOSEPH’S FALSE
✶✶ Hence, THE INCLUSION OF THESE WOMEN CONFIRMED THE ASSUMPTIONS by announcing THE UTTERLY UNREASONABLE
GRACIOUS MERCY OF GOD AND PREFIGURED THE CALLING OF AND ILLOGICAL BUT DIVINE AND ABSOLUTE TRUTH: THE
GENTILES into the Church of Christ. VIRGIN’S CONCEPTION WAS BY THE WILL OF GOD – BY THE
IT ALSO EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF WOMEN IN GOD’S POWER AND ENERGY OF THE LIFE-GIVING HOLY SPIRIT.
ETERNAL PLAN OF SALVATION AND ANTICIPATED THE VERY BEING BORN OF THE VIRGIN PROVED CHRIST’S DIVINITY and ONLY A
SPECIAL PLACE OF THE EVER BLESSED AND ALL HOLY VIRGIN DIVINE REVELATION BY GOD COULD SERVE AS ADEQUATE
THEOTOKOS IN HIS DIVINE PLAN. EVIDENCE OF SUCH A UNIQUE MIRACLE.
By means of Anointing by St Samuel the Holy Prophet of St Matthew repeatedly used the expression: “...that it
God, St David the Psalmist was consecrated King of might be fulfilled which was spoken...” which
Israel and through his Psalms, St David was revealed underscores THE DIVINE INTERVENTION OF GOD
as a great and Holy Prophet of God. THROUGHOUT HUMAN HISTORY and which demonstrates
Consequently, ST DAVID THE PSALMIST, KING AND HOLY THE CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS
PROPHET FORESHADOWED THE ROYAL AND PROPHETIC NATURE WITH GOD, INDICATING THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. (PSALM 109) CREATION.
In addition, as a wicked adulterer and murderer, ST THE DIVINE CONCEPTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FULFILLED
DAVID IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SINCERE CONTRITION, THE PROPHECY OF ST ISAIAH THAT SPECIFICALLY A VIRGIN –
REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS, which encourages not a “young woman!” – WOULD CONCEIVE AND BEAR A
us - for EVEN THE WORST OF SINNERS IS GRANTED THE SON WHO WAS NOT A NEW PERSON COMING INTO EXISTENCE
POSSIBILITY OF REGENERATION OR RESTORATION BY THE DIVINE BUT WHO IS THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD WHO USED HER WOMB
GRACE OF OUR MOST LOVING AND MERCIFUL GOD THROUGH AS HIS THRONE!
OUR WILLING AND HEARTFELT REPENTANCE-CONFESSION. BOTH THE MYSTERIOUS VIRGINAL CONCEPTION BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
✶ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED IS NAMED AS OUR LORD JESUS’ AND THE NAME “IMMANUEL” – MEANING “GOD WITH US” –
IMMEDIATE PREDECESSOR since according to the Old DECLARES AND CONFIRMS THE DIVINITY – THE DIVINE NATURE –
Covenant, Marriage Laws confer Hereditary Rights on OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.
adopted as well as biological children. Finally: when ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD
(St Joseph was in fact the elderly uncle and Divinely Chosen Protector “... took to him his wife, and did not know Her until
and Guardian of Theotokos and Christ.) She had brought forth Her Firstborn Son...” IT DID NOT
THE EVER BLESSED VIRGIN MARY WAS ALSO DESCENDED FROM KING MEAN THAT THE BETROTHAL OR MARRIAGE WAS EVER
DAVID, as was her aunt Salome, (the sister of St Anna and CONSUMMATED.
the late wife of St Joseph the Betrothed, mother of St James, St NOR DOES THE EXPRESSION “FIRSTBORN SON” MEAN THAT OUR ALL
Joses, St Jude, St Salome, and St Mary who are mentioned in the HOLY LADY EVER BORE ANY OTHER CHILDREN for She kept
Holy Gospels as Apostles and Myrrhbearers) since, according her Most Sacred Vow of Chastity until She reposed in
to Hebrew Laws of the time, BETROTHALS WERE ARRANGED Peace many years later.
FROM WITHIN THE SAME TRIBE. In Holy Scripture the word “until” which is sometimes
✶✶✶For the same reason, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD, translated as “to,” is often used to express a situation
THE TEMPLE PRIESTS HAD CONSENTED TO HER BETROTHAL TO that actually continues after the event:
30TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY– HOLY ANCESTORS- 23 DECEMBER 2018 25
M A T T H E W 2 8 : 2 0 – Christ instructed His Apostles to go OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION,
forth into the world: AND THEREFORE THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD.
1. to make the people His Faithful Disciples, Christ was the first to be physically Resurrected - so He returned to
2. to Teach the everything He has taught and revealed show – to confirm, to ratify - that Divine Truth to His Faithful
to us Apostles and Disciples for 40 days before His Glorious Ascension
3. to Baptise all Nations in the Name of our Triune God – returning to His former invisible State and Majestic Position,
4. and “... to observe all Things that I have seated at the Right Hand Side of God the Father – the Most
Honourable position as Co-Equal, Co-Eternal and Co-Essential.
commanded you; mp
He ends by telling us : “... I Am with you always, even TO
the end of the Age.” In the Orthodox Holy Icons of the Nativity of Christ, His
This does not mean that we are separated from Christ at swaddling clothes are depicted as burial wrappings,
the end of the world for HE IS ALWAYS – ETERNALLY - affirming THAT ONE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING WAS TO ENDURE
PRESENT - GOD IS NEVER ABSENT, no matter where or AND CONQUER DEATH.
how we are! ISAIAH 1:3 OUR INFANT LORD JESUS CHRIST’S MANGER WAS IN
G E N E S I S 8 : 7 - Noah “... sent out a Raven, which kept A CAVE WHERE DOMESTIC ANIMALS WERE STABLED AT NIGHT
going to and fro, UNTIL the waters dried up from THUS FULFILLING THE PROPHECY OF ST ISAIAH: “The ox
the Earth.” knows its Owner and the donkey its Master’s
D E U T E R O N O M Y 3 4 : 6 – When Moses has died God “... crib.” ()
buried him in a valley in the Land of Moab, ACCORDING TO OLD COVENANT LAW, THE FATHER NAMES HIS
opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave TO CHILD.
this day.” Thus, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER, HIS
THE TERM “FIRSTBORN SON,” DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE BLESSED ARCHANGEL, ST GABRIEL, TOLD ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED
VIRGIN HAD OTHER CHILDREN, but only that no child was WHAT TO NAME HIS ALL PURE WARD’S CHILD.
born to Her before our Lord Jesus Christ. LIKEWISE, WAS ST ZACHARIAH THE HIGH PRIEST INFORMED OF THE
Traditionally, THE FIRSTBORN SON WAS THE PRIMARY HEIR AND NAME OF HIS SON, ST JOHN THE BAPTIST AND FORERUNNER TO
RECIPIENT OF BLESSINGS. CHRIST.
30TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – SUNDAY BEFORE THE NATIVITY – THE HOLY ANCESTORS
✞ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the MENTIONED IN HOLY SCRIPTURE, WHO WAS HIGHLY REGARDED
BY THE FAITHFUL PEOPLE OF THE OLD COVENANT.
Holy Spirit.
Dearly Beloved, on this Sunday before the Nativity of our Solomon was the son of DAVID AND BATHSHEBA, WHOSE
RELATIONSHIP AND CIRCUMSTANCES ARE THE MOST WELL-
Divine Saviour, Jesus Christ, we hear again that first
KNOWN of the three families mentioned in the
chapter of the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew.
The second half of today’s Sacred Gospel Lesson Genealogy of our Divine Saviour’s Ever Blessed
concerns THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE NATIVITY Mother.
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
ALTHOUGH KING DAVID HAD MANY WIVES, (which was
As familiar as it is, we seem to skip over the first half of the customary in ancient times) WHEN HE SAW BATHSHEBA,
prescribed Reading, which concerns THE GENEALOGY bathing on a rooftop, HE BECAME SO OBSESSED WITH HER, HE
SENT HER HUSBAND INTO BATTLE TO ENSURE THAT HE WAS
OF OUR LORD ACCORDING TO HIS INCARNATION.
KILLED, AFTER WHICH HE FATHERED AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD.
ST MATTHEW’S ACCOUNT OF HIS GENEALOGY DIFFERS FROM THAT
OF ST LUKE, for IT BEGINS WITH ST ABRAHAM, THE ANCIENT
The events and relationships that are recorded in Holy
PATRIARCH OF THE HEBREW NATION OF ISRAEL, and moves Scripture are not all as respectful and honourable as
through the various generations, emphasizing St one might imagine.
David, the Psalmist, King and Prophet of God, who KING SOLOMON THE WISE, THE BUILDER OF THE GREAT TEMPLE IN
ruled over the Golden Age of the Israelites. JERUSALEM, CAME FROM THE UNLAWFUL MARRIAGE OF KING
ST MATTHEW WROTE HIS GOSPEL WITH THE JEWISH PEOPLE AS HIS DAVID AND BATHSHEBA.
PRIMARY AUDIENCE, thus he highlighted the important
We might wonder why would these sordid stories were
figures in their historical narrative, beginning with ST included in the Genealogy of the Messiah - why not
ABRAHAM, THE FIRST BLESSED MAN OF GOD, WHO WAS CHOSEN just record the fact that “...Salmon begat Boaz; Boaz
TO FATHER THE NATION FROM WHICH THE GREAT MESSIAH
begat Obed...”? Why not hide “the imperfections in the
WOULD BE BORN, and St David, the greatest King of
tapestry”?
Israel, whose Inspired Psalms are read and We know that THE ELDERLY ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED IS NOT
THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BUT HE
contemplated every day throughout all ages.
AND THE ALL PURE, HOLY THEOTOKOS SHARED THIS LINEAGE,
It would be proper and expected that the Messiah would
have such a Lineage. (having been of the same Tribe, according to Mosaic
On the contrary, ST LUKE, STARTED HIS GENEALOGY WITH ADAM, Law.)
so by CONNECTING THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST TO THE The Nativity of our Lord - the Union of God and mankind -
HUMANITY OF ADAM AND ALL PEOPLE, he wrote for a much
draws near.
wider audience, which included the Gentiles – the OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS TRULY GOD, THE SECOND PERSON OF
THE HOLY TRINITY, ETERNALLY EXISTING BEFORE ALL AGES, CO-
non-Judaic pagans and all Nations of the world.
It is noteworthy that ST MATTHEW INCLUDED THREE WOMEN IN ESSENTIAL WITH GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
HIS GENEALOGY OF CHRIST. Normally, JEWISH LINEAGES
OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR IS TRULY MAN – He is truly Born from the
WERE STRICTLY PATRIARCHAL - only male relatives were
ashes and clay with which He Himself created
listed. Even more interesting is the fact that NONE OF mankind!
THESE THREE WOMEN WERE ASSOCIATED WITH IDEAL
THERE IS NOTHING OF CREATED MATTER THAT GOD CANNOT
SITUATIONS.
SANCTIFY BY HIS ALL-POWERFUL TOUCH.
Boaz was the son of Salmon and RAHAB, who WAS A Consequently, THERE IS NOTHING SO SORDID NOR AWFUL THAT
CANNOT BE MADE TO FULFILL HIS GOOD WILL.
CANAANITE GENTILE PROSTITUTE OF JERICHO. She had
helped two Israelite spies to escape so that they could HUMAN NATURE WAS ASSUMED INTO THE PERSON OF OUR LORD
report details of Jericho’s military capabilities. SHE JESUS CHRIST, WHICH HE THUS SANCTIFIED.
RECOGNIZED AND REVERED THE TRUE, LIVING GOD OF THE
It does not matter what sin we have fallen into - RAHAB
SHOWS US FAITHFULNESS AND REPENTANCE. It does not
ISRAELITES, AND HAD HELPED THEM AS AN ACT OF FAITH AND
PENITENCE. matter who we are - RUTH BECAME A PARAGON OF VIRTUE
FROM A DESPISED NATION. It does not matter what is done
Obed was the son of Boaz and RUTH, who WAS A MOABITE
WOMAN, WHOSE PEOPLE WERE SHUNNED BY THE ISRAELITES
to us - BATHSHEBA’S SON, SOLOMON, HAS BECOME
SYNONYMOUS WITH WISDOM.
BECAUSE THEY REGARDED THEM AS BEING “UNCLEAN” due to
the “incestuous” relationship of their Forefather, Lot, EVERYTHING INEFFABLY ACCOMPLISHES THE WILL OF GOD, for “...
Abraham’s nephew. every Saint has a past; every sinner has a future.”
Whether this sordid story recorded in Genesis is fact or THROUGH CHRIST WHO SANCTIFIES ALL OF US, WE HAVE THE
POSSIBILITY OF BECOMING SAINTS!
legend, the Israelites had a very low view of the
Moabites. Amen.
Nevertheless, RUTH HAD CONVERTED TO JUDAISM, AND WAS ONE FATHER THEOPHAN MACKEY
OF THE MOST CARING, DEDICATED AND LOVING WOMEN HTTPS://WWW.UOCOFUSA.ORG/NEWS_141223_1.HTML
26. 30TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY– HOLY ANCESTORS- 23 DECEMBER 2018
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and
unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious
Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one
another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
25 December 2018
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST 25 DECEMBER 2018 27
the Earth, which was fulfilled in his greatest HAVE BEEN BORN ONLY OF HER AND NOT BEGOTTEN OF ST
Descendent, Jesus Christ. JOSEPH THE BETROTHED.
ST LUKE, on the contrary, LISTED HIS GENEALOGY IN ASCENDING THE ANCESTORS WERE ARRANGED IN THREE GROUPS OF FOURTEEN
ORDER – FROM CHRIST ALL THE WAY BACK TO ADAM. (LUKE 3 : 23 GENERATIONS since fourteen is the numerical
– 38) equivalent of the consonants in the name “David,”
G E N E S I S 1 2 : 3 – God said to Abram: “... I will Bless underlining Christ’s descent from St David.
those who Bless Thee and curse those who curse IT ALSO SHOWS THE DIVISION OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HEBREWS,
Thee; and in Thee all the Tribes of the earth shall be being under Judges until St David, under Kings until
Blessed.” Babylon and under Priests until Christ.
THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE THROUGH HIS HOLY PROPHETS and He THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED CONSISTED OF
spoke through St Moses the Holy Prophet of God who A MERCIFUL NATURE THAT TRANSCENDED THE DEMANDS OF THE
wrote this Holy Book of Genesis. LAW.
G A L A T I A N S 3 : 8 - St Paul explained to the Galatians: “... H O S E A 6 : 6 “... I desire Mercy not sacrifice, and the
the Scripture, foreseeing that God would Justify the Knowledge of God more than Whole Burnt
Gentiles by Faith, preached the Gospel to Abraham Offerings...”
beforehand, saying: ‘In Thee all the Nations shall be St Joseph’s natural Compassion and Mercy was evident
Blessed.’ from his unwillingness to expose the young Virgin’s
So it was that THE HOLY SPIRIT PREACHED THE HOLY GOSPEL OF assumed sin, even though he was obliged by Mosaic
CHRIST CENTURIES BEFORE TO ST ABRAHAM, the ancient Law to do so.
Patriarch of the Old Covenant Israel. THE TERM “HUSBAND” AND “WIFE” APPLIED TO ALL BETROTHED
Furthermore, THE “ANGEL OF THE LORD” Whom St Abraham COUPLES EVEN BEFORE THE MARRIAGE HAD BEEN SANCTIFIED BY
beheld in a Vision was no created being – He WAS GOD AND CONSUMMATED.
TRULY THE SON AND WORD OF GOD. THE HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH REFERS TO ST JOSEPH AS “THE
St Athanasios the Great taught that OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BETROTHED,” EMPHASISING THE TRUTH OF THE ALL HOLY AND
THE SON AND WORD OF GOD, WAS REFERRED TO AS “AN ANGEL ALL PURE, EVER VIRGINITY OF THE BLESSED THEOTOKOS (which
(MESSENGER OF GOD) BECAUSE HE ALONE REVEALS THE FATHER.” would have been marvelled at and definitely confirmed by
In other words, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST REVEALS GOD THE the astounded Midwives who attended to the young Virgin
FATHER TO US AS A GOD OF INFINITE LOVE AND MERCY WHO, before, during and after the Nativity of Christ.)
BEING ABSOLUTE GOODNESS, TRUTH AND LOVE, IS INCAPABLE E S T H E R 2 : 7 Mordecai of the Tribe of Benjamin “ ...
OF ANYTHING EVIL, CRUEL OR DESTRUCTIVE (which are the had raised the daughter of Abigail, his father’s
inventions of the evil one who typifies hatred, everything wicked, brother, and her name was Esther; and when her
deceitful and destructive.) parents died, he brought her up to be his wife, and
G E N E S I S 2 8 : 1 4 - The Lord God told St Jacob: “... your she was beautiful.”
seed shall be like the dust of the Earth; you shall MORDECAI’S RELATION TO ESTHER WAS THAT OF BOTH GUARDIAN
spread abroad to the West and to the East, to the AND BETROTHED ‘HUSBAND’ - A NECESSARY SOCIAL AND LEGAL
North and to the South; and in Thee and in Thy seed ARRANGEMENT, WHICH WAS NOT UNUSUAL AT THE TIME.
all the Tribes of the earth shall be Blessed.” This was similar to the special Relationship between St
Jewish genealogy normally included only male relatives Joseph the Betrothed and his very young niece, the
so THE MENTION OF FEMALE RELATIVES such as Tamar, Ever Virgin Mary, in which THERE WAS NO SEXUAL
Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba WAS MOST UNUSUAL, RELATIONSHIP, as demonstrated as well by Esther’s
especially since each of them was either a gentile or Virginity and Chastity.
a sinful Hebrew. AN ANGEL OR MESSENGER OF GOD DISPELLED ST JOSEPH’S FALSE
Hence, THE INCLUSION OF THESE WOMEN CONFIRMED THE ASSUMPTIONS by announcing THE UTTERLY UNREASONABLE
GRACIOUS MERCY OF GOD AND PREFIGURED THE CALLING OF AND ILLOGICAL BUT DIVINE AND ABSOLUTE TRUTH: THE
GENTILES into the Church of Christ. VIRGIN’S CONCEPTION WAS BY THE WILL OF GOD – BY THE
IT ALSO EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF WOMEN IN GOD’S POWER AND ENERGY OF THE LIFE-GIVING HOLY SPIRIT.
ETERNAL PLAN OF SALVATION AND ANTICIPATED THE VERY BEING BORN OF THE VIRGIN PROVED CHRIST’S DIVINITY and ONLY A
SPECIAL PLACE OF THE EVER BLESSED AND ALL HOLY VIRGIN DIVINE REVELATION BY GOD COULD SERVE AS ADEQUATE
THEOTOKOS IN HIS DIVINE PLAN. EVIDENCE OF SUCH A UNIQUE MIRACLE.
By means of Anointing by St Samuel the Holy Prophet of St Matthew repeatedly used the expression: “...that it
God, St David the Psalmist was consecrated King of might be fulfilled which was spoken...” which
Israel and through his Psalms, St David was revealed underscores THE DIVINE INTERVENTION OF GOD
as a great and Holy Prophet of God. THROUGHOUT HUMAN HISTORY and which demonstrates
Consequently, ST DAVID THE PSALMIST, KING AND HOLY THE CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS
PROPHET FORESHADOWED THE ROYAL AND PROPHETIC NATURE WITH GOD, INDICATING THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. (PSALM 109) CREATION.
In addition, as a wicked adulterer and murderer, ST THE DIVINE CONCEPTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FULFILLED
DAVID IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SINCERE CONTRITION, THE PROPHECY OF ST ISAIAH THAT SPECIFICALLY A VIRGIN –
REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS, which encourages not a “young woman!” – WOULD CONCEIVE AND BEAR A
us - for EVEN THE WORST OF SINNERS IS GRANTED THE SON WHO WAS NOT A NEW PERSON COMING INTO EXISTENCE
POSSIBILITY OF REGENERATION OR RESTORATION BY THE DIVINE BUT WHO IS THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD WHO USED HER WOMB
GRACE OF OUR MOST LOVING AND MERCIFUL GOD THROUGH AS HIS THRONE!
OUR WILLING AND HEARTFELT REPENTANCE-CONFESSION. BOTH THE MYSTERIOUS VIRGINAL CONCEPTION BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED IS NAMED AS OUR LORD JESUS’ AND THE NAME “IMMANUEL” – MEANING “GOD WITH US” –
IMMEDIATE PREDECESSOR since according to the Old DECLARES AND CONFIRMS THE DIVINITY – THE DIVINE NATURE –
Covenant, Marriage Laws confer Hereditary Rights on OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.
adopted as well as biological children. Finally: when ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD
(St Joseph was in fact the elderly uncle and Divinely Chosen “... took to him his wife, and did not know Her until
Protector and Guardian of Theotokos and Christ.) She had brought forth Her Firstborn Son...” IT DID NOT
THE EVER BLESSED VIRGIN MARY WAS ALSO DESCENDED FROM KING MEAN THAT THE BETROTHAL OR MARRIAGE WAS EVER
DAVID, as was her aunt Salome, (the sister of St Anna and CONSUMMATED.
the late wife of St Joseph the Betrothed, mother of St James, NOR DOES THE EXPRESSION “FIRSTBORN SON” MEAN THAT OUR ALL
St Joses, St Jude, St Salome, and St Mary who are mentioned HOLY LADY EVER BORE ANY OTHER CHILDREN for She kept
in the Holy Gospels as Apostles and Myrrhbearers) since, her Most Sacred Vow of Chastity until She reposed in
according to Hebrew Laws of the time, BETROTHALS Peace many years later.
WERE ARRANGED FROM WITHIN THE SAME TRIBE. In Holy Scripture the word “until” which is sometimes
For the same reason, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD, THE translated as “to,” is often used to express a situation
TEMPLE PRIESTS HAD CONSENTED TO HER BETROTHAL TO HER that actually continues after the event:
AGED UNCLE WHO WAS ACTUALLY HER LEGAL GUARDIAN AND M A T T H E W 2 8 : 2 0 – Christ instructed His Apostles to go
PROTECTOR OF HER VOW OF CHASTITY. forth into the world:
The term “of whom” is feminine in Greek, REFERRING ONLY 5. to make the people His Faithful Disciples,
TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. SO OUR LORD IS SHOWN TO
28. THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST 25 DECEMBER 2018
6. to Teach the everything He has taught and revealed Christ was the first to be physically Resurrected - so He returned to
to us show – to confirm, to ratify - that Divine Truth to His Faithful
7. to Baptise all Nations in the Name of our Triune God Apostles and Disciples for 40 days before His Glorious
8. and “... to observe all Things that I have Ascension – returning to His former invisible State and Majestic
commanded you; Position, seated at the Right Hand Side of God the Father –
He ends by telling us : “... I Am with you always, even TO the Most Honourable position as Co-Equal, Co-Eternal and
the end of the Age.” Co-Essential. mp
This does not mean that we are separated from Christ at
In the Orthodox Holy Icons of the Nativity of Christ, His
the end of the world for HE IS ALWAYS – ETERNALLY -
swaddling clothes are depicted as burial wrappings,
PRESENT - GOD IS NEVER ABSENT, no matter where or
affirming THAT ONE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING WAS TO ENDURE
how we are!
AND CONQUER DEATH.
G E N E S I S 8 : 7 - Noah “... sent out a Raven, which kept
ISAIAH 1:3 OUR INFANT LORD JESUS CHRIST’S MANGER WAS IN
going to and fro, UNTIL the waters dried up from the
A CAVE WHERE DOMESTIC ANIMALS WERE STABLED AT NIGHT
Earth.”
THUS FULFILLING THE PROPHECY OF ST ISAIAH: “The ox
D E U T E R O N O M Y 3 4 : 6 – When Moses has died God “...
knows its Owner and the donkey its Master’s crib.” ()
buried him in a valley in the Land of Moab, opposite
ACCORDING TO OLD COVENANT LAW, THE FATHER NAMES HIS
Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave TO this day.”
CHILD.
THE TERM “FIRSTBORN SON,” DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE BLESSED
THUS, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER, HIS
VIRGIN HAD OTHER CHILDREN, but only that no child was
ARCHANGEL, ST GABRIEL, TOLD ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED
born to Her before our Lord Jesus Christ.
WHAT TO NAME HIS ALL PURE WARD’S CHILD.
Traditionally, THE FIRSTBORN SON WAS THE PRIMARY HEIR AND
Likewise, was St Zachariah the High Priest informed of the
RECIPIENT OF BLESSINGS.
name of his son, St John the Baptist and Forerunner to
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION,
Christ.
AND THEREFORE THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD.
PROKEIMENON- PSALM 65 – TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
All the world will worship Thee and Glorify Thee. Let them sing to Thy Name.
Glorify the Lord with Triumphal Hymns, all you lands
THE EPISTLE OF ST PAUL TO THE GALATIANS 4 : 4 – 7
OUR ADOPTION THROUGH BAPTISM AS CHILDREN & HEIRS OF GOD
Brethren, when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, Born of a Woman, Born under the Law, to Redeem those
who were under the Law, so that we might receive Adoption as Sons. For, as we are Sons, God has sent the Spirit of
His Son into our heart, crying: “Abba! Father!” Therefore we are no longer slaves but Sons. If Sons, also Heirs of God
through Christ.
✶ “His Son" refers to CHRIST AS GOD BY NATURE – THE SON OF WE CANNOT BECOME MEMBERS OF THE GODHEAD BY NATURE
GOD. because WE ARE HUMAN BY NATURE. BUT WE DO BECOME
THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD, IS "...Born of a woman...," AND SO MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY BY HIS GRACE.
THE MOST BLESSED MARY IS RIGHTLY CALLED “THEOTOKOS” - Through our Divine Adoption (Holy Baptism and
MOTHER OF GOD OR BEARER OF GOD. Chrismation) WE BECOME EVERYTHING GOD IS, EXCEPT IN
✶ SINCE JESUS CHRIST WAS "BORN UNDER THE LAW" HE COULD NATURE – WE REMAIN HUMAN BEINGS.
REDEEM THOSE WHO WERE ALSO UNDER THE LAW – HIS FELLOW However, THIS IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY OUR PERMANENT STATE
HEBREWS, ACCORDING TO THE FLESH. DUE TO OF OUR DESIRE FOR WORLDLY THINGS [ I.E. THINGS OF THE
God "...Redeems those who were under the Law..." IN FLESH, THE PASSIONS] – and that CONCUPISCENCE PREVENTS US
ORDER TO FULFIL HIS PROMISE TO ABRAHAM. FROM ATTAINING THEOSIS – SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.
GOD PAID THE RANSOM, AS IT WERE, TO HIMSELF, ACCORDING TO IT TAKES DEDICATION AND EFFORT ON OUR PART TO ATTAIN
HIS OWN VOW. SPIRITUAL PERFECTION, DEIFICATION OR THEOSIS – LIKENESS
ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT OWE ANYTHING AND HE CERTAINLY DOES TO GOD!
NOT OWE US SALVATION ! WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, but IT
JESUS CHRIST FULFILLED THE LAW AS AN INFANT BY BEING DEPENDS ON OUR LOVE AND OBEDIENCE TO ALMIGHTY GOD
CIRCUMCISED on the eighth day and HE WAS PRESENTED IN AND HIS COMMANDMENTS.
THE TEMPLE 40 DAYS AFTER HIS BIRTH. Because WE ARE GIVEN "NEW LIFE" our Adoption by God is
Both of these Events are remembered in the Liturgical also referred to as "New Birth" – WE ARE SPIRITUALLY
Cycle of the Orthodox Church. REBORN – RENEWED IN CHRIST!
THE HOLY CEREMONIES OF “THE EIGHT DAY BLESSING” OF THE EVERY TIME WE PARTAKE OF THE HOLY MYSTERIES OF REPENTANCE
NEWBORN AND THE “40 DAY CHURCHING OF THE MOTHER” ARE CONFESSION AND EUCHARIST, WE ENJOY A REAFFIRMATION OF
PERFORMED TO THIS DAY IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH. OUR ADOPTION AND THEREFORE OUR NEW LIFE IN OUR LORD
After these special Services, THE HOLY MYSTERY OF BAPTISM AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.
AND CHRISMATION IS CELEBRATED A FEW MONTHS LATER. THE ONGOING GROWTH INTO ADOPTION, BEING "AN HEIR OF GOD,"
✶ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - THE SON OF GOD IS GOD – DIVINE - IS CALLED DEIFICATION. this means that WE ARE BECOMING
BY NATURE. BY THE GRACE OF GOD WHAT HE IS BY NATURE.
WE BECOME SONS (OR DAUGHTERS) OF GOD BY ADOPTION WHEN WE ✶ EACH DIVINE PERSON OF THE HOLY TRINITY: "SPIRIT, SON AND
ARE BAPTISED IN THE NAME OF THE TRIUNE GOD – THE HOLY FATHER" IS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION.
TRINITY. therefore TO BECOME SONS OF GOD BY GRACE, ONE MUST
BELIEVE IN AND KNOW THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY
SPIRIT.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST MATTHEW 2 : 1 – 12
After our Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold! Magi from the East went to
Jerusalem, saying: "Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? We have seen His Star in the East and have
come to worship Him." Having heard, Herod the King was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And he gathered
all the Chief Priests and Scribes of the people together to question them as to where the Christ was to be born. They
told him: "In Bethlehem of Judea.” For thus it is written by the Prophet: “...And you, O Bethlehem, in the Land of
Judah, are not the least among the Rulers of Judah. Out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people
Israel.” Then Herod, when he had secretly called the Magi, determined from them what time the Star had
appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem saying: "Go, search carefully for the Child. When you have found Him,
bring back word to me, so that I may go and worship Him also." When they had heard the King, they departed.
And behold! The Star that they had seen in the East went before them, until it stood over where the Child was.
Beholding the Star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great Joy. And when they had entered the house, they saw the
young Child with Mary His Mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures,
they presented gifts to Him - gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being Divinely warned in a dream that they
should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST 25 DECEMBER 2018 29
✶ ST MATTHEW AND ST LUKE PLACED THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST IN to Me the One to be Ruler of Israel, Whose goings
THE REIGN OF KING HEROD THE GREAT WHO WAS THE KING OF forth were from the beginning, even from Eternity.”
JUDEA 37 – 4 BC ✞JESUS CHRIST IS OUR TRUE HIGH PRIEST
Herod was under Roman rule and although he was a P S A L M 1 0 9 : 4 - “The Lord swore, and will not repent:
great builder, he was a dreadfully cruel ruler. Thou art a Priest forever according to the Order of
DUE TO HIS IGNORANCE OF THE MESSIAH - AND INDEED OF Melchezedek.”
ANYTHING CONCERNING GOD - as well as his obsessive Seated at the Right Hand of God the Father, OUR DIVINE
fear of being deposed, HEROD SUMMONED THE HEBREW AND ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST RULES AND REIGNS OVER ALL
LEADERS TO ENLIGHTEN HIM, and instructed the Magi to THINGS, INCLUDING HIS ENEMIES, AND LEADS HIS HOLY
report back to him. CHURCH IN HEAVENLY WORSHIP OF THE ALMIGHTY HOLY
An ancient Prophecy of St Jacob indicated that THE TRINITY.
MESSIAH WOULD APPEAR WHEN A GENTILE KING RULED – i.e. H E B R E W S 4 : 1 4 “Seeing then that we have a Great
not of the Hebrew Tribe of Judah. High Priest Who has passed through the Heavens –
G E N E S I S 4 9 : 1 0 – “The Sceptre shall not depart from Jesus the Son of God – let us hold fast our
Judah, nor a Lawgiver from his loins, until Shiloh Confession.”
comes; and to Him shall be the Expectation of the The expression “passed through the Heavens” refers to
Nations...” THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH IS SEEN IN
This Prophecy relates to Christ in numerous ways since THE CONTEXT OF THE SON OF GOD IS SEATED AT THE HIGHEST
HE WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD AND HE IS THE DIVINE PLACE OF HONOUR – EQUALLY DIVINE - AT THE RIGHT HAND OF
LAWGIVER BECAUSE EVERY LAW OR COMMANDMENT OF GOD GOD THE FATHER.
THE FATHER WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US, INCLUDING THE OUR ALMIGHTY LORD AND CREATOR HAS ACCOMPLISHED HIS
MOSAIC LAW, IS GIVEN IN AND THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS DIVINE WORK ON EARTH AND HAS ENTERED INTO HIS SABBATH
CHRIST. REST.
As HEROD WAS A GENTILE WHO NAMED HIMSELF “KING OF JUDEA,” L U K E 8 : 1 5 - God reveals His Truth to those “... who,
the Coming of the Messiah – God’s Christ – was having heard the Word with a noble and good
certainly at hand. heart, keep it and bear Fruit with Patience.”
L U K E 1 : 2 0 - The Angel of God told St Zacharias: Christ warned us against believing for a short while and
“Behold! You will be mute and unable to speak until then returning to our sinful, ungodly ways.
the day these Things take place, because you did HAVING BEEN TAUGHT GOD’S TRUTH, WHICH WE THEN REJECT, WE
not believe my words which shall be fulfilled in their CONDEMN OURSELVES for we cannot plead “ignorance!”
own time.” THE CHIEF PRIESTS OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM WERE THE
ST ZACHARIAS WAS DISCIPLINED FOR HIS LACK OF FAITH, yet this POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF THE HEBREWS,
also served as proof that ARCHANGEL GABRIEL’S including the High Priest, who alone could enter the
ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE ALWAYS GOD’S TRUTH. Holiest Place of all YET THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THE
Furthermore THE SILENCING OF THE HIGH PRIEST REVEALED A MESSIAH HAD ALREADY BEEN BORN. (HEBREWS 9:7)
DEEPER MYSTERY. THE SCRIBES - important officials - KNEW THAT THE MESSIAH
✶ THE MESSIAH WAS expected to fulfil three crucial roles WAS TO BE BORN AND WHERE HE WOULD BE BORN, HOWEVER,
held by various people of the Old Covenant: PROPHET, THEY HAD NO DIVINE REVELATION THAT HE HAD ALREADY
PRIEST AND KING. ONLY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FULFILLED ARRIVED.
ALL THREE HOLY OFFICES PERFECTLY: St Matthew, who wrote for Jewish Christians, cited the
✞ CHRIST JESUS IS THE TRUE PROPHET Gentile Magi as the first worshippers of our Lord Jesus
D E U T E R O N O M Y 1 8 : 1 5 – 1 8 – “The Lord your God Christ.
will raise up for you a Prophet like Me from your St Luke, who wrote for Gentile Christians, cited the Jewish
Brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you poor – the Righteous Shepherds from surrounding
asked from the Lord your God .... I will raise up for fields - as the first worshippers. (LUKE 2:8-17)
them a Prophet like you from among their Brethren, ✶ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S DIVINE MISSION TO THE GENTILES WAS
and I will put My Word in His Mouth, and He shall ANTICIPATED BY THE "WISE MEN" OR MAGI, who journeyed
speak to them all I command Him...’” all the way "from the East" – outside Israel, from Persia
IT WAS FIRST NECESSARY FOR THE HEBREWS TO BE TESTED SO AS TO and elsewhere.
FEAR THE LORD AND NOT TO SIN, for they WERE TOO THEY WERE ERUDITE SCHOLARS of the time and in the Old
SPIRITUALLY IMPERCEPTIVE TO HEAR ABOUT ANOTHER PROPHET. Testament, BALAAM WAS ONE OF THEIR GENTILE
Consequently, THEY FAILED THE TEST AND DIED IN THE DESERT PREDECESSORS WHO ALSO ANTICIPATED THE MESSIAH. ( READ
BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO OBEY MOSES. NUMBERS 23; 24]
FORTY YEARS LATER HE SPOKE TO THEM CONCERNING THE GREAT THE WORSHIP OF OUR LORD BY THE MAGI IS SYMBOLIC OF THE
PROPHET TO COME, USING THE WORDS OF GOD FROM THEIR CHURCH, THE TRUE ISRAEL, WHEREBY MEMBERSHIP IS
MEETING ON MOUNT SINAI. DETERMINED BY FAITH AND NOT BY ETHNIC LINEAGE.
THE NEW GENERATION WAS READY TO HEAR THE PROPHECY and N U M B E R S 2 4 : 1 7 Barlaam prophesied: “I will show Him,
learnt that He would be similar to St Moses, BECAUSE but not now; I Bless Him, but He is not near. A Star
THE SHORT-TERM PROPHECIES OF MOSES HAD ALL OCCURRED, shall rise out of Jacob; And a Man shall rise out of
HIS LONG-TERM PROPHECIES THEREFORE WERE TO BE BELIEVED. Israel. He shall break in pieces the rulers of Moab
THIS WAS THE MARK OF A TRUE PROPHET OF GOD and the same and plunder all the sons of Seth.”
would apply to THE GREAT PROPHET WHO WOULD TELL THEM THE "STAR" SIGNIFIED THE EXTRAORDINARY IMPORTANCE OF THE
ALL THAT GOD THE FATHER COMMANDED HIM. (By the Will of NATIVITY OF THE CHRIST CHILD. In ancient times an
God the Father, through God the Son...) unusually bright star signified a God or a Deified
That indicated that HE IS THE WORD OF GOD MADE FLESH – King.
INCARNATE - FOR NO OTHER PROPHET, INCLUDING MOSES, CHRIST IS THE STAR AND THE MAN WHO ROSE FROM THE DEAD –
WOULD EVER SPEAK IN SUCH A MANNER. “...out of Jacob...” and “... out of Israel.”
While all previous Prophets were ordinary human beings, THE MAGI KNEW THIS PROPHESY, and when they saw His Star,
THE GREAT PROPHET WOULD BE GOD INCARNATE. they faithfully followed it all the way to Him.
So it was that St Isaiah foretold how THE PEOPLE WOULD BE BEING BORN UNDER THIS WONDROUS STAR fulfilled the
TAUGHT DIRECTLY BY GOD HIMSELF. prophecy of the Psalms and SHOWS ALL CREATION
✞ JESUS CHRIST IS OUR TRUE KING PARTICIPATING IN THE INCARNATION of the Son of God.
I S A I A H 9 : 6 – “Great shall be His Government, and P S A L M 1 0 9 : 3 – “... with Thee is the beginning in the
of His Peace there shall be no end. His Peace shall Day of Thy Power, in the brightness of Thy Saints; I
be upon the Throne of David and over His Kingdom, have Begotten Thee from the Womb before the
to order and establish It with Righteousness and morning star...”
Judgement, from that time forward, and unto Ages Psalm 109 is a Prophecy concerning THE MELCHIZEDEK
of Ages. The Zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall perform PRIESTHOOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, which explains
this.” the True Meaning of the Nativity.
M I C A H 5 : 1 “ . . . O Bethlehem, House of Ephrathah, CHRIST IS THE “SON OF DAVID” ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, AND
although you are fewest in number among the ALSO THE LORD OF KING DAVID ACCORDING TO HIS DIVINITY.
thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth
30. THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST 25 DECEMBER 2018
P S A L M 1 8 : 2 – “The Heavens declare the Glory of Just as our Lord God healed the waters of Jericho, so THE
God; the firmament shows the Creation of His INCARNATE SON OF GOD BRINGS RENEWAL OR REGENERATION
Hands...” TO ALL DAMAGED CREATION.
Psalm 18 reveals God the Word – “the End” – becoming J E R E M I A H 3 6 : 1 0 “... thus said the Lord: “When 70
Man in the Womb of the Most Holy Mother of God. For years are about to be fulfilled in Babylon, I will visit
on His Nativity, ALL CREATION BORE WITNESS TO THE GLORY you and confirm My Words to you, to return your
OF GOD REVEALED IN HIS INCARNATION. people to this place.”
In His Birth from the Womb of the Blessed Virgin, CHRIST St Jeremiah spoke historically for THERE WAS A RETURN OF
WAS LIKENED TO THE SUN RISING FROM THE EAST, TO A EXILES UNDER CYRUS AFTER 70 YEARS, and
BRIDEGROOM COMING FROM HIS CHAMBER, AND TO A STRONG Mystically for CHRIST CHOSE 70 MEN AS HERALDS OF HIS HOLY
ATHLETE READY TO RUN A GREAT RACE, BRINGING SALVATION GOSPEL. THEY LIVED A GODLY LIFE OF OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST,
OF THE WORLD. SUFFERED MARTYRDOM AND SPREAD THE KINGDOM OF GOD,
P S A L M 1 4 8 : 3 “Praise the Lord from the Heavens; WHICH IS OUR TRUE RETURN FROM SPIRITUAL EXILE IN THE
praise Him in the Highest; praise Him, all you His FALLEN WORLD.
Angels; praise Him, all your His Hosts; Praise Him, J E R E M I A H 3 6 : 1 4 : “I will appear to you...” is a
sun and moon; Praise Him all you stars and Light...” Prophecy of the Incarnation of God the Son when GOD
Psalms 148 – 150 are THE PRAISES – LAUDS – which form the APPEARED TO US FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS FLESH – IN HIS
conclusion to the Psalter, and which EXHORT ALL HUMAN, VISIBLE NATURE.
CREATION TO PRAISE THE MOST BLESSED HOLY TRINITY. The Hebrew Shepherds were the first to worship and
The climax of the Psalter is when ALL HUMANITY AND adore Christ, having done so shortly after His Birth, at
CREATION – EVERYWHERE AND IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES – ARE the dark cave as OUR SAVIOUR WAS SENT INITIALLY FOR
CALLED UPON TO MAKE THIS DOXOLOGY TO GOD THE FATHER, “OLD COVENANT ISRAEL.”
AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT – OUR ONE, TRUE AND THE MAGI - THE “FIRST FRUITS OF THE GENTILES” - arrived in
LIVING GOD ALMIGHTY. Bethlehem much later, after the Holy Family had
THE NATIVITY STAR WAS A SIGN OF THE MESSIAH HIMSELF, moved into a house, WORSHIPPED GOD AS “THE NEW
SIGNIFYING THE LIGHT HE WAS TO SHED UPON THE WHOLE COVENANT ISRAEL.”
WORLD, THROUGHOUT TIME. THE MAGI HONOURED CHRIST AS OUR GREATEST AND ONLY KING
2 K I N G S 2 2 – The water of Jericho was unusable until WITH SIGNIFICANT AND COSTLY GIFTS:
Elisha quoted God Who said: "’... I have healed these “Gold is for the King of Ages. Frankincense is for the
waters; from them there shall no longer be death or God of All. Myrrh is offered to the Immortal One Who
barrenness...’ So the water was healed by the word shall be three days dead.” (COMPLINE HYMN OF THE NATIVITY OF
Elisha spoke, and so it remains to this day.” CHRIST)
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST 25 DECEMBER 2018 31
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and
unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious
Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one
another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
26 December 2018
Synaxis of our Ever Blessed, All Pure Lady, Theotokos
2ND DAY OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST
Also the Feast of St Euthymios, Bishop of Hieromartyr of Sardis – St Constantine of Synnada – St
Evarestos of Studion Monastery – St Nikodemos of Tishmana, Macedonia – St Constantine the
Russian Hieromartyr of Lavra, Mount Athos - St Isaac II of Optina Monastery
27 December 2018
St Stephen, Archdeacon & Protomartyr
THIRD DAY OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD
Also the Feast of St Theodore Graptos (the Scribe) (& “the Branded) Confessor – St Theodore of
Constantinople - The Wonder-working, All Merciful Kykko Icon of the Ever Blessed Virgin
Theotokos
34. 3RD DAY OF THE NATIVITY– ST STEPHEN, ARCHDEACON & PROTOMARTYR- 27 DECEMBER 2018
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of
the Holy Spirit, gazed into Heaven and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right Hand of God, and said:
“Behold! I see the Heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right Hand of God!”
Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran to him with one accord; and they cast him out of the
city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
And they stoned Stephen as he called on God, saying: “O Lord Jesus: receive my soul!” Then he knelt down and cried
out with a loud voice: “O Lord, do not charge them with this sin!” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
“Freedmen” were HEBREWS WHO HAD BEEN FORMERLY HELD J O H N 2 : 1 9 - “Destroy this Temple, and in Three
CAPTIVE UNDER THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES, often due to Days I will Raise It up!” thereby referring to His
their rebellion against their oppressors. own Incarnate Body.
Although they could not argue against the Divinely L U K E 2 1 : 6 & 2 0 - “These things that you see – the
Inspired Wisdom and Knowledge of St Stephen, THEY days will come in which not one stone shall be
PLOTTED AGAINST HIM FOR BEING A FAITHFUL DISCIPLE OF JESUS left upon another, that shall not be thrown down!
CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR. ... when you see Jerusalem surrounded by
In order to hide from the Light of Truth, whereby they armies, then know that its desolation is near!” -
would have no justifiable cause, THEY USED OTHERS which was OUR LORD’S DIVINE PROPHECY OF THE TOTAL
TO ACCUSE ST STEPHEN OF “BLASPHEMY” against Moses – DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE AND THE CITY OF JERUSALEM,
the Old Covenant Laws – and God. WHICH WAS FULFILLED IN THE YEAR 70 when the Romans
These charges were brought against St Stephen because, acted against the rebellion of the Hebrews.
IN CHRIST, THE OLD COVENANT LITURGY AND LAW WERE THOSE WHO BECAME ONE WITH CHRIST SHINE WITH A DIVINE
FULFILLED, AND, ACCORDING TO GOD’S NEW COVENANT, THEY RADIANCE that was clearly evident to those who
WERE CHANGED AND TRANSFORMED. (HEBREWS 7:12) saw that St Stephen’s face, which looked like “...the
To those who did not believe in Christ nor accept the New face of an Angel!”
Covenant of God, those changes and Transformation This is A PREVIEW OF THE BLISSFUL GLORY that all Faithful
were regarded as being blasphemous. Disciples of Christ will share in the Age to come.
THE CHARGE THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WOULD DESTROY THE (2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 & EXODUS 34:29-35)
TEMPLE HAD BEEN LEVELLED AGAINST HIM AT HIS UNJUST, ST STEPHEN did not answer the High Priest directly, but
UNLAWFUL TRIAL BY FALSE WITNESSES who had been USED THE CHARGES AS THE CONTEXT FOR HIS PREACHING OF
instigated and paid by the Spiritually Blind leaders of THE DIVINE TRUTH OF CHRIST
the Judeans. (MATTHEW 26 :61) As with St Peter’s Sermon on the Day of Pentecost, ST
THEY USED THE MISINTERPRETATIONS OF TWO QUOTATIONS OF STEPHEN PREACHED OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BASED ON THE
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST in order to falsely accuse OLD COVENANT SCRIPTURE, showing how THE JUDEANS
Him: CONSISTENTLY MISSED THE DIVINE PURPOSE of God’s
dealings with them, DUE TO THEIR HARD HEARTEDNESS AND
SPIRITUAL STUBBORNNESS AND BLINDNESS.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST MATTHEW 21: 33 – 42
DISRESPECT & MISTREATMENT OF GOD’S MESSENGERS
At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ spoke this Parable: “There was a certain Man Who planted a Vineyard and set a
Hedge around it, dug a Winepress in it, and built a Tower. And He leased it to Vinedressers, and went into a far
country. When harvest time drew near, He sent His servants to the Vinedressers, that they might receive the Fruit.
And the Vinedressers took His Servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.
“Again He sent other Servants - more than the first - and they did likewise to them. Then, last of all, He sent His Son
to them, saying: ‘They will respect My Son.”
“When the Vinedressers beheld the Son, they said among themselves: ‘This is the Heir. Come, let us kill Him, and
seize His Inheritance!’ “And they took Him, and cast Him out of the Vineyard, and killed Him.
“Therefore, when the Owner of the Vineyard comes, what will He do to those Vinedressers?”
(The Priests and the Elders) said to Him: “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease His Vineyard to other
Vinedressers who will render unto Him the Fruits in their seasons.”
Jesus said to them: “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “...the Stone that the Builders rejected has become the
Chief Cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is Marvellous in our eyes!’”
The “Man” signifies OUR LORD GOD THE FATHER. WITH GOD, WHO ACCEPTED OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AS
The “Vineyard” signifies THE PEOPLE OF GOD. OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR, AND HIS TEACHINGS AND
The “Vinedressers” signify THE LEADERS OF ISRAEL (the COMMANDMENTS AS DIVINE TRUTH, which they would
Chosen People of God of the Old Covenant) who Labour and Struggle to fulfil and obey.
were ENTRUSTED TO GUIDE, TO CARE AND TO PREPARE “The Stone” that was rejected is s the essential
GOD’S PEOPLE FOR THE COMING OF OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR. “Cornerstone”, Who is OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO
The “Servants” signify THE HOLY PROPHETS OF GOD who FOUNDED AND ESTABLISHED HIS HOLY CHURCH OF THE NEW
were SENT TO CORRECT THE ERRORS OF THE PEOPLE AND COVENANT ON EARTH.
TO GUIDE THEM BACK TO THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ✶ Our Lord added the following warning to the self-
ACCORDING TO DIVINE WILL. Most of them were killed righteous Priests, Elders and Scribes who were
by those who refused to Obey the Will of God and plotting and scheming against Him: “... Whoever
those who rejected Him. falls on that Stone will be broken; but on
“The Son” is, of course, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST Who is the whomever It falls, it will grind him to powder!”
Eternal Only Begotten Son of God the Father, and According to St John Chrysostom, this quotation
the Second Person of the Holy Trinity – of the One illustrated the TWO WAYS OF DESTRUCTION:
Godhead. a. Those who stumble and fall on the Stone, are
When the Wicked Vinedressers cast the Son out of His those who SUFFER THE EFFECTS OF THEIR SINS WHILE
Vineyard and killed Him, this is understood on two STILL LIVING this short preparatory life (but who,
levels: through Repentance-Confession, can still be
a. OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS TO BE EXECUTED BY Saved.)
CRUCIFIXION OUTSIDE THE CITY GATES OF JERUSALEM. b. Those on whom the Stone falls are THOSE WHO
b. THE EXECUTORS OF CHRIST WERE FOREIGN SOLDIERS OF THE REMAIN UNREPENTANT and who will become
OPPRESSIVE, OCCUPYING ROMAN EMPIRE who were ‘powder’ in the Final Judgement – i.e. THEY WILL
not members of His own Vineyard – not of His SUFFER THE MOST DIRE OF CONSEQUENCES – ETERNAL
Chosen People. DEATH AND EXILE INTO OUTER DARKNESS!
The Son’s “Inheritance” signifies ALL HIS FAITHFUL ✶ THE HEBREW PRIESTS AND ELDERS WHO CHALLENGED THE DIVINE
DISCIPLES THROUGHOUT TIME, AND HIS HEAVENLY AUTHORITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, CONVICTED
KINGDOM, of which we will be Co-Heirs as God’s THEMSELVES BY USING THEIR OWN PRINCIPLES WHEN THEY
Adopted Children. ANSWERED HIS QUESTION AT THE END OF HIS PARABLE OF
“Other Vinedressers” signify those GENTILES OR NON- THE WICKED VINEDRESSERS
HEBREWS – THE “NEW ISRAEL” OF THE NEW COVENANT
3RD DAY OF THE NATIVITY– ST STEPHEN, ARCHDEACON & PROTOMARTYR- 27 DECEMBER 2018 35.
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most
Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let
us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
36. 31AP – SUNDAY AFTER NATIVITY OF CHRIST – BEFORE THEOPHANY –30 DECEMBER 2018
ST PAUL, WHOM GOD CALLED IN MERCY, RECEIVED DIVINE GRACE “James” refers to ST JAMES THE JUST, THE FIRST BISHOP OF
FROM ST ANANIAS’ HANDS AND THE BLESSED WATERS OF HOLY JERUSALEM AND AUTHOR OF THE EPISTLE OF ST JAMES.
BAPTISM. THE TERM “BROTHER” IS ALSO A REFERENCE TO A COUSIN OR CLOSE
The words “... separated me from my mother’s womb...” MALE RELATIVE.
refer not to St Paul’s physical birth but to GOD’S DIVINE ST JAMES WAS THE ELDEST SON OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED AND
CALL TO APOSTOLIC MINISTRY BEFORE HE WAS BORN. HIS LATE WIFE, SALOME (a sister of St Anna, the mother of
As with St Paul, GOD’S INTENTIONS FOR PEOPLE MAY LIE HIDDEN the Blessed Virgin) and therefore a COUSIN TO
FOR MANY YEARS. THEOTOKOS AND OUR LORD.
As a True Apostle of Christ, ST PAUL SUBMITTED HIMSELF TO THE ST JAMES’ DEEP LOVE FOR AND DEVOTION TO OUR LORD JESUS
CHURCH AND HER HOLY APOSTLES RATHER THAN ELEVATING SINCE HIS BIRTH, ARE BELIEVED TO BE THE REASON FOR HIS
HIMSELF. HONOURABLE TITLE OF BEING OUR LORD’S BROTHER.
St Paul knew that his ENCOUNTER WITH OUR LORD JESUS According to some, he was the only one of St Joseph’s
CHRIST, HIS INSTRUCTION IN THE HOLY GOSPEL AND HIS CALL sons who was quite willing to share his inheritance
TO APOSTLESHIP WERE HIGHLY UNUSUAL. with Christ.
IN ALL PRIVATE REVELATIONS, THE ONLY OTHER WITNESS IS In accordance with Mosaic Law, adopted children were
ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF. supposed to have equal rights to inheritance, but
However, ST PAUL KNEW THAT HE HAD TO TEACH THE SAME HOLY often this proved problematic due to human greed or
GOSPEL AS THE OTHER APOSTLES OF CHRIST. other motivations
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST MATTHEW 2 : 13 – 23
THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT – SLAUGHTER OF THE 14,000 INNOCENTS
When the Magi had departed, behold! an Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: “Arise, take the
Child and His Mother, and flee to Egypt. And stay there until I bring Thee word. Herod will seek the Child – to
destroy Him.”
Arising, he took the Child and His Mother by night, and departed for Egypt, and remained there until the death of
Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: “Out of Egypt I Called
My Son.”
Then Herod - when he saw that he was deceived by the Magi - was exceedingly angry. And he sent forth and put to
death all the male children in Bethlehem and in all its districts - from two years old and under, according to the
time that he had determined from the Magi. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet, saying:
“... A voice was heard in Ramah, of lamentation, weeping and much mourning - Rachel weeping for her
Children, and refusing to be comforted, for they are no more.”
After Herod had died, behold! an Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying: “Arise! Take the
Child, and His Mother, and go to the Land of Israel. Those are dead who sought the Child’s Life.”
He arose, took the Child and His Mother, and entered the Land of Israel. Hearing that Archelaus was reigning over
Judea, instead of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he turned aside into the
region of Galilee, and they went to dwell in a city called ‘Nazareth,’ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by
the Prophets: “...He shall be called a ‘Nazarene.’”
ALL THE TIME THAT OUR LORD WAS PRESENT IN HIS INCARNATION In his Prophecy, St Jeremiah beheld RACHEL WEEPING
ON EARTH, HE WAS WATCHED OVER BY THE ANGELIC HOSTS OF BITTERLY IN HER GRAVE - OVERWHELMED BY HER COMPASSION
ALMIGHTY GOD. AND SORROW FOR HER DESCENDENTS who were being
So, obviously, when they heard the secret plotting of exiled.
Herod for the murder of all male infants of Bethlehem Once again, DURING THE BRUTAL EXECUTION OF THE 14,000
and the surrounding region, who were two years of HOLY INNOCENTS OF BETHLEHEM, ST RACHEL WEPT WITH
age or younger, ONE OF THE HOLY ANGELS OF GOD WHO INTENSE SORROW FOR ALL HER BELOVED CHILDREN thereby
KEPT WATCH OVER THE HOLY FAMILY, WARNED ST JOSEPH THE showing that all the RIGHTEOUS SOULS, SAINTS AND HOLY
BETROTHED – the legal Guardian, Protector and MARTYRS REPOSING IN PARADISE ARE CLEARLY AWARE AND
Stepfather of our Lady Theotokos and Christ - of the HAVE COMPASSION FOR THOSE STILL STRUGGLING IN THIS
impending disaster, and HE, BEING WISE AND RIGHTEOUS, EXISTENCE.
IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED AND OBEYED. THE 14,000 HOLY INNOCENTS OF BETHLEHEM ARE CERTAINLY
Egypt is where the Nation of Israel once took refuge, SANCTIFIED, BLESSED MEMBERS OF OUR VENERATED HOLY
and as St Joseph the ancient Patriarch of the Old MARTYRS, for they, too, perished for the sake of Christ
Covenant had once saved God’s Chosen People our Saviour.
by leading them to Egypt in difficult times, so now, JEREMIAH 38:16-17 Just as St Rachel was told that
too, St Joseph the Betrothed sought refuge in Egypt HER CHILDREN WOULD RETURN FROM EXILE in Babylon, so
during the persecution of Herod and the terrible TOO, WOULD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS HOLY
slaughter of the 14,000 Holy Innocents, thereby FAMILY return from exile in Egypt.
saving our Saviour and Founder of the New According to historical records, HEROD THE GREAT DIED IN 4
Covenant Israel. BC.
THE GIFT OF GOLD THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE NEW BORN THE DATE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S BIRTH on which our
“KING OF THE AGES” BY THE THREE MAGI who had current “Year of the Lord” or “Anno Domini”(AD)
travelled from afar, following the unique Bright calendar is based, IS THUS OFF BY 4 OR 5 YEARS. (We
Star that had suddenly appeared from nowhere in should thus add 4 or 5 years to the current year – i.e. instead
the Heavens, PAID FOR THE HOLY FAMILY’S JOURNEY AND of 2015 – 2019/2020.)
ACCOMMODATION UNTIL THEIR SAFE RETURN. AUGUSTUS CEASAR BANISHED ARCHELAUS due to his unbridled
H O S E A 1 1 : 1 - “Out of Israel I Called My Son...” refers cruelty IN 6 AD.
initially to the Old Covenant Nation of Israel being THAT CRUELTY WAS DIVINELY REVEALED TO ST JOSEPH THE
led out of captivity in Egypt. BETROTHED, SO THAT HE THEN DETOURED TO NAZARETH,
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, THE TERM “SON,” REFERRED TO THE WHOLE instead of returning to Bethlehem.
NATION OF ISRAEL, WHEREAS ACCORDING TO OUR NEW NAZARETH FELL UNDER THE RULE OF ANOTHER MORE LENIENT SON
COVENANT, OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST FULFILLS OF HEROD THE GREAT, NAMED “HEROD ANTIPAS.”
THAT “CALLING” AS THE TRUE, ETERNAL, ONLY BEGOTTEN SON I S A I A H 1 1 : 1 & J U D G E S 1 3 : 5 - The source of the
OF GOD THE FATHER COMING OUT OF EGYPT. Prophecy concerning our Lord Jesus Christ being
E X O D U S 1 : 1 6 – 2 2 - THE HORRIFIC CRUELTY OF HEROD WAS “... called a ‘Nazarene,’” is unknown but has been
PREFIGURED BY PHARAOh, who – in an attempt to taken as a reference to the Rod (Neser) that is
destroy the power of Israel – ordered all their new mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, and to the
born sons to be murdered. Nazirite (Nazir) mentioned in the Book of Judges. (
J E R E M I A H 3 8 : 1 5 - The Old Testament Book of JOHN 1 : 46 St Matthew might also have been
Jeremiah recorded how the people of Jerusalem referring to various passages in which THE MESSIAH
were led away into exile. WAS DESPISED, SINCE NAZARETH DID NOT HAVE A GOOD
ON THEIR WAY INTO CAPTIVITY, THEY PASSED RAMAH, WHICH WAS REPUTATION, according to the words of St
NEARBY BETHLEHEM, WHERE RACHEL, THE WIFE OF ST JACOB, Bartholomew Nathaniel.
THE ANCIENT PATRIARCH, HAD BEEN BURIED.
. 31AP – SUNDAY AFTER NATIVITY OF CHRIST – BEFORE THEOPHANY –30 DECEMBER 2018 37.
31ST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – AFTER THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST – BEFORE THEOPHANY
✞ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the In all things, St Joseph the Betrothed provides us with an
Holy Spirit... exemplary image of Humility, Obedience,
Dearly Beloved, today is the Sunday After the Nativity of Righteousness, Faithfulness, Goodness, Kindness,
our Lord God and Divine Saviour, Jesus Christ, so we generosity, Compassion and Love.
Commemorate His Holy Righteous Relatives – St David He undertook his Sacred Duties wholeheartedly, for he
the King, Psalmist and Holy Prophet of God, St James unfailingly nurtured, protected, guided, taught and
‘the Brother of our Lord,’ and his Venerable Father, St assisted our Lord Jesus Christ and His All Pure Mother
Joseph the Betrothed who was the Divine Chosen in a manner that was so unique and loving that it
Guardian of our Lady Theotokos and Her Divine Son. behoves us to honour him with never silent Hymns
This is the only Commemoration of St Joseph the and to call upon him with fervent heart, to Intercede
Betrothed for although he played a most significant on our behalf with our Lord God Who no doubt
and Sacred Role in our Lord God’s earthly Mission, honours him who cared for and Loved Him so much
much of his Life is shrouded by silence. and without any hesitation nor doubt at all!
However, there are many things that our Holy Tradition The elderly St Joseph the Betrothed, with hands callused
reveals concerning this Most Honourable Holy by his lifelong labours as a respected carpenter,
Guardian, Protector and Nurturer of our Lord Jesus possessed a most refined and tender spirit, elevated
Christ and His Ever Blessed, All Pure and Ever Virgin by his erudite knowledge of Holy Scripture, and
Mother, St Mary the Theotokos. although he had nothing to do with the Divine
One of our Nativity Hymns exclaims: “O Joseph, tell Thou Conception and Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Glad Tidings to David, the Ancestor of God! For he was worthily regarded by the Judeans as the
having beheld a Virgin giving Birth, with the adoring Father of our Lord.
Shepherds Thou didst Glorify! with the Magi Thou He humbly, obediently and joyfully fulfilled all the duties
didst Worship! and by an Angel Thou wast required of him as a Protector and Guardian of the All
Instructed! Wherefore Entreat Christ our God to Save Pure, Ever Virgin Mary and Her Virgin Companions,
our soul!” .and, later, as an adoring father to Her Divine Child
At the time of his Betrothal to his young niece, the All Pure He named the Infant Christ “Jesus,” as he had been
and Ever Virgin Mary, St Joseph the Betrothed was at instructed.
least 80 years of age. On the 8th Day After His Nativity, St Joseph took our
According to St Epiphanios, out of all the men of their Lord Jesus and His Mother to the Priests to be
Royal Tribe of Judah, God chose St Joseph to be the circumcised according to the requirements of
Holy Virgin’s Guardian and Protector of Her Vow of Mosaic Law.
Chastity, due to his Righteous Honesty, Humility, Again, after 40 days, he took the Young Ever Virgin
Obedience and Faithfulness. and Her Divine Infant to the Temple in Jerusalem,
Their Betrothal, according to Mosaic Law, was arranged to Dedicate Him to Divine Serve and to make their
by the Priests and Elders of the Temple who were all humble offerings.
very much aware of the Holy Virgin’s Sacred Vow of Having been warned by the Angel of God of the
Chastity. impending Slaughter of the Holy Innocents St
The Israelites had a strictly Patriarchal way of life and Joseph immediately left everything and fled to the
all households were ruled by the Father of the family. safety of Egypt with the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary
Consequently, small children and females who were and her very young Son, accompanied by his
fatherless or widowed - who had no male relative to eldest son, St James.
protect them - were treated abominably and usually When an Angel of God appeared to St Joseph telling
cast out into the street to fend for themselves, being him that Herod had died, the Holy Family returned
victimised by the unmerciful, cruel and unscrupulous. to Israel but settled in Nazareth according to
Furthermore, an unmarried mother could be stoned to Angelic advice.
death for being “immoral,” no matter what the Continuing to labour as a carpenter, St Joseph taught
circumstances! our Lord Jesus everything he knew about their
St Jerome (4th Century) explained the three-fold Purpose work.
of St Joseph’s Betrothal to the Ever Virgin Mary: According to several sources, St Joseph the Betrothed
Quiet obscurity was assured for our Lord Jesus Christ lived for many years, all the while continuing his
until the appointed time of His Public Ministry labours until his Repose at the age of 110, shortly
It prevented any slander or accusations against the before our Lord Jesus Christ began His Public Minstry.
All Holy Theotokos. Before St Joseph took his final breath, he said to our Lord:
It provided a highly respected, trustworthy male “Hail, my Well-Beloved Son! Indeed, the agony and
relative as Guardian who would definitely protect fear of Death has encompassed me, but as soon as I
Her Sacred Vow of Chastity and provide a safe- heard Thy Voice, my soul is at rest. O Jesus of
haven for Mother and Child. Nazareth! O Jesus, my Saviour! O Jesus, the Deliverer
St Joseph was the aged widowed uncle of our Lady. He of my soul! O Jesus, my Protector! O Jesus! O Sweetest
had been married to Salome, a sister of St Anna, and Name in my mouth, ad in the mouths of all who Love
they had had seven children – St James, St Jude, St Thee!”
Simon, St Joses, St Salome, St Esther and St Lydia. As we celebrate the Nativity in the Flesh of our Lord and
The eldest son was St James “Adelphotheos,” who is also Saviour, Jesus Christ, let us reflect on how, due to His
Commemorated today. Love of mankind, our Lord descended from Heaven,
According to “The Life of the Virgin Mary.” “... God become impoverished so that we might become
Ordained the family (like that of St Joseph and Enriched!
Salome) as a vital aspect of mankind’s society.” He Emptied Himself, in order to take on the form of a
And what a Great Reward and Highest Honour for St Servant.
Joseph the Betrothed and all his children! Because He Loves us – all mankind – so much, He
His son, Jude, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Christ. Reconciled and Healed our human nature so that we
St James Adelphotheos, also know as “St James the might Partake of those Things of which “... eye hath
Just” became the First Bishop of Jerusalem., never seen, nor hath ever entered into the heart of
His daughter, Salome, was the mother of two Holy mankind!”
Apostles, nick-named ‘sons of thunder,’ St James The Nativity of Christ is a Great Feast of the Love of God,
and St John the Beloved, Theologian and for God so Loved the world, that He gave – as the
Evangelist – and was one of the eight Holy Myrrh- Greatest Divine Gift of all! – His Only Begotten Son...
bearers and witnesses to Christ’s Resurrection and Our Lord Jesus Christ is the True Answer to all our needs!
Ascension, He is the Solution to all our problems! He is the Life in
Furthermore, St Cleopas was a brother of St Joseph the our death! He is the Joy in our times of sorrow! He is
Betrothed, and was one of our Lord’s Seventy Holy the Strength in our weakness!
Apostles. Due to His infinite Love for us, He vested Himself with our
human flesh to see that which was lost.
38. 31AP – SUNDAY AFTER NATIVITY OF CHRIST – BEFORE THEOPHANY –30 DECEMBER 2018
Without our Lord Jesus Christ, we are lost! Our life is Let us Love one another by having sincere Mercy and
death! And our love remains enclosed within our own Compassion for each other so that our Lord God might
small, insignificant world! find us worthy of His Divine Love.
What is it that we are doing or can possibly do to repay Let us Love one another so that with one hear and one
that infinite Debt of Love? mouth we may Confess our Lord God – the Father,
Love can only be repaid by Love. So let us Love – not in and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, both now and unto
word but in deed – by Enthroning our Lord Jesus the Ages of Ages.
Christ on our heart and soul. Amen.
Let us Love one another – not in word but in deed –
through a Spirit of Kindness and Gentleness, setting https://sttikhonsmonastery.org/files/Homily-on-Joseph-
aside the Darkness of hatred, bitterness and sin, and Sunday-After-Nativity.pdf
rather choosing to follow the Path of Christ our Lord.
DO WE HAVE TO GET ALONG WITH EVERYONE?
Some people say, and believe that it is right for us all to who were Baptised as infants are raised in the Spirit of
“...get along with everyone...” - meaning that our the Teachings of Christ and His Holy Church.
behaviour should not cause other people to dislike us This is due to our free will whereby each of us has the
and that we should be ‘friends’ with everybody. freedom to choose our own course.
But do Christians who wish to have Christ in their life Consequently, there are people with whom we are “...at
really have this as their Aim? Peace...” - being of the same mind and the same
Saint Paul advises us: “...If it is possible, so far as it Faith - and others with whom we disagree - without
depends on you, live peaceably with all...” hinting being unfaithful to our Christian Faith and Spirit - by
that it is not actually possible to have peaceful disliking or disapproving of them.
relations with everyone, even though that is what we It is one thing to try to keep the Peace, even if we
would prefer. (ROMANS 12:18) disagree, and another to want to get along with
Saint Paul also urged us to “...agree with one another, everybody so that they have a good opinion of us or
live in Peace, and the God of Love and Peace will be to satisfy or please them no matter what the
with you.” (2 CORINTHIANS 13:11) circumstances!
Furthermore he encouraged us “... to have Peace among Certainly, such a self-serving attitude is an expression of
themselves...” (1 THESSALONIANS 5:13) vanity, which, according to our Holy Fathers, is a
Peace is certainly an important element that should exist Spiritual Sickness that usually results in upsets and
among people who have ‘...the same spirit...’, the tensions instead of Peace.
same outlook, the same Faith, the same view of life. There is an extrovert attitude and sociability involved that
But it is not the case with all those who live in close does not have a Spiritual Base because it is
contact with others. There will inevitably be hypocritical flattery that gratifies egos.
disagreements, different points of view, which, in the We must realise that if we want to indulge everyone else
end, cause us not to be “...of the same spirit.” in order to gain something in return, we will not
The effort of trying to agree with everyone, so that we ‘get benefit anyone concerned!
along with them’, demonstrates a hypocritical Most of us are fairly perceptive so we realise how shallow
disposition, which is not according to the Sacred Spirit and selfish attempts are when trying to please others.
our Lord Jesus Christ’s Teachings and Holy Gospel. Therefore, as soon as we recognize this temptation as
This is due to the fact that it is one thing to be peaceful merely due to our own conceit or self-serving desires -
and another to simply agree with everybody in order painful as it may be – we must immediately Repent,
to please them or for some type of personal desire. and subsequently avoid falling into that dangerous
Our Lord Jesus Christ made it quite clear that He had not trap again, for sincerity, truthfulness and honesty
come to bring ‘enforced peace’ to the Earth, but calms and gladdens us – giving us confidence in
discord, meaning the divisions that His Teaching each other - for we become trustworthy people who
would bring, since not everyone would accept them! are unafraid to Live in Christ no matter what the
(MATTHEW 10:34) circumstances.
It is obvious that society is neither based on the Holy
Gospels nor Life in Christ - nor is it true that all those FATHER ANDREAS AGATHOKLEOUS
HTTP://PEMPTOUSIA.COM/2018
THE ETERNAL, INSPIRED WISDOM OF OUR HOLY FATHERS
ELDER GAVRIIL TSAFOS ST THEOPHAN THE RECLUSE
“In the first years of being a Spiritual Guide, I used to tell When we pray in the morning as we should, our whole
people: ‘Lean on Christ!’ Now I tell them: ‘Cleave to day is Blessed. We must never be downcast over
Him!’” efforts that seem fruitless. We must remember how we
learnt to read and write – and all the other skills we
ST DIADOCHOS OF PHOTICE
acquired. The same is true of our Spiritual
When our soul is churned up by anger, befuddled by
Development. For the moment, it seems to be difficult
drink or bothered by terrible sorrow, our intellect
to defeat our bad thoughts but it does become easier
cannot retain the Remembrance of Christ, even if we
over time and with Spiritual Experience.
try to force it to do so. Because, darkened by the
cruelty of the passions, we lose our Spiritual Sensitivity. ST NEKTARIOS OF PENTAPOLIS
But if our soul is free of these passions, even if we We have weaknesses, passions and faults deeply rooted
forget the Name we desire for a short time, our within us, many of which are also inherited. These
intellect immediately recovers its vigour and takes a cannot be cut off by any spasmodic effort, nor by
strong hold on our much-desired and Redemptive worrying or stressing about them, but only by
Prey. Patience and Persistence, by Endurance, by
Watchfulness and Care. Excessive sorrow conceals
ELDER LEON
pride. That is why it is harmful and dangerous. It is
Temptations are not stronger than God’s Gifts! With the
often exacerbated by the devil to throw us off course.
Power of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Divine
Saviour Who grants us Strength, we can do anything! ELDER SOPHRONY OF ESSEX
But if our Faith is weak or lacking, a speck of dust will Many people speak about “Glorification” in the abstract.
seem like a mountain to us! What is important is that we should keep our Lord
Jesus Christ’s Commandments and Teachings, and in
ELDER EPHRAIM OF KATOUNAKIA
this Way we will arrive at Deification and the Light.
How very, very Sweet is our Lord Jesus Christ! He is full of
We are no longer susceptible to the passions after we
Love, full of Peace, full of Serenity, full of Rejoicing, full
acquire Theosis of our soul and body!
of Elation1 How very, very sweet is our Lord Jesus
Christ!
31AP – SUNDAY AFTER NATIVITY OF CHRIST – BEFORE THEOPHANY –30 DECEMBER 2018 39