DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS

+ + + The Nativity in the Flesh of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ + + +

2nd Vigil Nativity of Christ: Numbers 24:2-3, 5-9, 17-18                         Epistle: Galatians 4:4-7

Gospel: St. Matthew 2:1-12

 

The Gift: Galatians 4:4-7, especially vs. 7: “Thus you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” [tr. Paul Nadim Tarazi]  The Son of God Himself entered the flow of history “when the fullness of the time had come” (vs. 4), where He remains to this day - God’s amazing and singular gift to mankind.  We have reasons for being abundantly thankful: for our creation, our preservation in life, and for the multitude of blessings which He daily bestows upon us.  Yet, nothing can compare with the Gift Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ - the Gift of Great Wonder, the ineffable, Personal, Self-giving God come from Above, “the Orient on High.”  Given and received, Christ, the Gift Who changes each person who embraces Him as God and King.  The change He makes is glorious, illuminating, perfecting, elevating, and life-giving in every respect.  What more can be said?  Let us be joyful and praise Him in His glory!

Through the Gift, we have been given grace to discern the bonds of insidious slavery that entwine our lives, alter our consciousness, inhibit us from realizing our God-intended purpose and potential, and mock our claims to be persons made in the image of God.  Look well and see that our chattel slavery accomplishes these evils upon us, for we are sold and forced into a living death of subjugation.  Being slaves takes away our inner core as persons however we may fight against our oppressor, resist his encroachments, or rebel against his chains.

Do not flinch from beholding the slavery of which we speak.  It is common to all.  Death wreaks these things upon us.  Death mocks us, laughs at our dignity, degrades our loves, our dreams, and our achievements.  Worms reveal all the beautiful, rapturous experiences as fleeting, transient, and terminal.  What do the humanizing experiences of artistry and graciousness mean in face of the grave?  They all will be taken away, even our tears and protest.  St. Nikolai of Zica warns us: “Men remember many things, but there is one thing that they can never remember, however often it is repeated: that they enter this world with nothing, and leave it with nothing.”

Do not despair, Beloved of the Lord.  You and I have the Gift Who has once and for all altered the conditions of this living death.  “The Son, born of the Father before the ages without change, hath been incarnate in these last days of the Virgin, without seed.”  He hath elevated the state of this mournful existence.  Even though, by all appearances, we remain in slavery, the Son of the Virgin has raised us to the heights with Himself: “God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into [our] hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!” (vs. 6). Today the Spirit indwells us, prays in us, enlightens our spirits, leads us into all truth, holds up the Gift before us and reveals Him to us.  Now, in the midst of death’s slavery, the Spirit of God our Savior has become our Life-Giver.

Today, through Christ, we are no longer slaves, but sons and heirs of eternal God.  Today we are His children, sharing in Christ’s Sonship with the Father.  God is our Father, a relationship received in the Mystery of our Baptism and renewed in the Holy Gifts of the Lord’s own Body and Blood.  Death’s ownership over us is severed.  “Death hath no more dominion over Him” (Rom. 6:9), nor over all who have received God’s Precious and Holy Gift.  Today we have the true freedom which the undying and immortal God gives.  Let us decide once again to whom we shall surrender ourselves.  He has given us the power to say ‘No’ to sin.  “For sin shall not have dominion over you” (Rom. 6:14).  Let us receive the Gift, the gracious Life-Giver Who humbled Himself and embraced our estate, and let us refuse the claims of the slave master.

Incline, O glorious Benefactor, to the praise of Thy servants, abolishing the boasting of the proud adversary.  And help us who sing to Thee to overcome sin, and confirm us on the unshakable foundation of faith.

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