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ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΣ
Articles (20)
Translation from the article:
Στεργίου Ν. Σάκκου, Ἡ Ἐκκλησία σχολεῖο Χριστοῦ, περιοδ. "Ἀπολύτρωσις" 63 (2008) 228-230.
(Stergios N. Sakkos, University Profssor [Read CV])
Church is God’s holy family. Its members enjoy the caring love of Father God. They are the appointed heirs of His priceless wealth. They rejoice the bond they share with their first brother, the God-Man Jesus Christ, and their fellow Christians. Church is, also, a holy army. All believers obey the law and orders of “Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:2). All of them should make good use of the spiritual weapons, which are given to them, to fight bravely the spiritual God-assigned war and proceed to victory. But first of all, they must learn and experience Church as Christ’s school and then obtain the wealth of God’s family.
Jesus Christ walked on earth as the unique and eternal teacher (Mt 23:8). Teachers, in this world, teach the scientific truths. Science actually improves life, if is applied in a spirit of love (1 Cor 13), and as an ancient philosopher said: if it doesn’t ignore virtue. Also, science contributes to a professional development and success in an earthly career. Christ as a teacher reveals eternal truths that offer freedom, sanctification, salvation and glory and finally lead to a spiritual restoration and eternal improvement. Jesus Christ is the Teacher of truth, the unique “Professor” and the Leader who opens the way and guides people to experience this truth in everyday life.
In the school of Church the book is the Bible, the Holy Scripture: Old and New Testament. The writings of the holy Fathers enable us to have the best understanding of it. They studied and interpreted God’s words and they had a deep experience of them. Fathers were distinguished as Lord’s competent followers and enlightened guides of Christians. The wisdom of their spirit and the holiness of their life made them stand out as a strong fort where every heresy and divergence were crushed.
Lord called “disciples” His first followers. But we know that besides the twelve disciples, there was also a group of seventy men and one even wider. While leaving this world He ordered His disciples to teach people of all nations. “Go and teach all nations……” (Mt 28:19). So, one of the most common names of Christians, used in the Acts of the Apostles, is “disciples”.
Saint Paul calls the Christian faith and Church, “grace” (Rom 5:2, Tit 2:11) and considers it to be a school, God’s educational institution. He writes to his disciple Titus “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Tit 2:11-12). According to the Apostle Paul the duty of Church is to train people in the following important lessons: to stay away from any dogmatic ungodliness and from any worldly lusts. At the same time, they should live in harmony with themselves “soberly”, with other people “righteously” and with God “godly".
The believer should study the Holy Scriptures “from an early age” (2 Tim 3:14) throughout his life so that he can learn and apply these lessons as his guide. Learning is a lifelong skill. Applying this to himself, saint Ignatius in an elderly age, while heading for his martyrdom, wrote: “Now I start being Christ’s disciple” (Rom 5).
Indeed, our whole life is not long enough to study and comprehend the divine truths of His Revelation. This knowledge will be fulfilled and completed in the Triumphant Church. At that time, the Holy Spirit will reveal the whole truth. We will be able to see our Lord’s face and we will experience His knowledge, since He will turn us into those who share His glory “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4). However, until that moment we should thoroughly study God’s Holy Scriptures and learn about His will. This study first leads to self-knowledge and then opens the way to God-knowledge and man-knowledge. The Lord offers us the unique privilege to be “God’s students” (Is 54:13) through the Bible that is our safe guide. This kind of studying inspires prophet Habakkuk, when on his guardhouse he is trying through all his senses, to listen to God “what he will say unto me” (Hab 2:1).
God speaks to every pious soul. After His Incarnation his voice is clear. Saint Paul writes that Jesus Christ is not only “teacher and professor” but, also, becomes the content of the lesson for the Christians (Eph 4:20). This lesson, in the life of church, is offered through the Holy Scripture and through the Sacrament of the Holy Communion. The first teaches the faithful, the second sanctifies him. The Holy Scripture offers people the opportunity to prepare themselves, Holy Communion makes them perfect.
Without the Sacraments of the Orthodox Church, Christianity loses its power of salvation, because it disregards Lord’s death and Resurrection. It is reduced to just a theory, a philosophy alienated from people’s life. However, without studying and comprehending the Holy Scriptures, the faithful stays in the dark and underestimates the Sacraments to mere ritual actions. The writer of the third gospel, Luke, presents four levels for Jesus Christ’s students. These are cited below:
♦ A simple woman of the crowd, who listens to Lord’s teaching, is inspired and excited (Lk 11: 27).
♦ Lazarus’ sister, Maria “which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word” (Lk 10:39) She listens to His words. She is full of zeal.
♦ Maria’s older sister, Martha. She sacrifices her personal pleasure in order to serve the Teacher and his company (Lk 10:40). This kind of learning involves sacrifice.
♦ The last one is Lord’s Mother, who is His excellent student, the one and only after Him. Virgin Mary did not simply admire and just study. She did not confine herself to a mere act of sacrifice but she offered her whole heart and soul (Lk 1:38) to bear Him “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
Every Christian can place himself in one of these levels. It is obvious that if we want a Church that moves forward and fulfills its mission of salvation and redemption, it has to function as a school as well. Therefore, we should all, since we are students of this school, respond to our tasks.
Copyright © 2021 by Orthodox Christian Association «ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΕΛΠΙΣ» ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΤΑ. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Translation from the book:
Στεργίου Ν. Σάκκου, ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ἡ ἀναστάσιμη ἡμέρα,
ἐκδ. «ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΕΛΠΙΣ»
ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΤΑ, ἔκδ. 4η, Θεσ/νίκη 2020, σσ. 27-32
(Stergios N. Sakkos [Read CV],
SUNDAY: The Day of Resurrection, pp. 27-32)
Part 3
Sunday: its gifts to believers
Sunday is by itself God’s free gift and offering to His children. We might think that God orders to dedicate a day to His worship, but in fact God gives us His day to be blessed and sanctified. Sunday provides us with its valuable treasures, which fill us with spiritual wealth. This offer is multiplied and covers almost every aspect of human life.
In terms of history, it attests the most fundamental fact in our faith: Christ’s Resurrection and it is indeed an everlasting monument of the Resurrection and constant evidence that Christ has risen.
In terms of theology, the Sacrament of the Eucharist in the Orthodox Church brings God on earth with his body and blood.
In terms of ecclesiology, it helps us realize the notion of Church as a whole body: the visible part and the invisible, through the worship and preaching to the congregation.
Spiritually, it increases and renews our faith as it gives us the chance to be fed with the flesh of God, to quench our thirst with His divine words, to talk to Him through prayers, to live in his holy family by communicating with the other members of the Church.
Ethically, it helps us abstain from sin throughout the week. The sanctifying power that Sunday offers, as well as our pious desire to accept its blessings again and again, allow us not to fall victims to our desires.
Psychologically, it is a celebration, a happy break from the six-day labor, which every tired person comes across weekly.
Moreover, socially it helps to develop our relationships in the most wonderful way. People with numerous diversities (political-educational-financial) with only one common point, the same faith, with the same petitions meet in a peaceful congregation around the same table. We visit each other joyfully, but at the same time we take part in the pain, the poverty and the misery of our fellow humans. Is there another day, indeed, which has the social features we find on Sunday?
These are not the only presents that Sunday offers. We could enumerate many more but the list would not be exhausted. That is because what is offered by Sunday is multiplied, as it spreads in the life of every believer. So, something amazing takes place: Sunday is not just an extraordinary day during which we get the power to live through the rest of the days, but its grace penetrates throughout the week. Therefore, every time we open our arms to embrace Sunday fully, we move upwards in the scale of our relationship with God and this is certainly not diminished during the rest of the days, but we stay there the whole week, since our heart beats on the rhythm of Sunday. Next Sunday we move one step forward and stay there during the whole week and then we go on in the same way.
However, we are in danger of losing this invaluable day, because we do not appreciate it and we leave it exposed to be violated by sacrilegious people. Sunday, like every divine issue, is targeted by every power opposed to God threatening to replace or extinguish it. This attack against Sunday is, indeed, an attempt against God. Since God can’t be discounted the only thing to be achieved for humans is to hurt themselves, both spiritually and physically. If we lose Sunday, we lose our Lord and consequently we lose ourselves because this day we surrender ourselves to Him and take them back sanctified, transformed and resurrected.
Every Sunday is an Easter and a Resurrection. When we experience it and wait for it in this way, we can celebrate Easter every week and every Easter we can rejoice a unique Sunday. With this kind of experiences, our life is brightened and Sunday becomes the most desirable day. “This is the chosen and Holy Day, the first of the Sabbaths, the Queen and the Sovereign, the Feast of Feasts, and the Festival of Festivals” that makes our life beautiful and refreshes our soul. It is the day that our Lord offers us to be happy and rejoice with Him.
Copyright © 2021 by Orthodox Christian Association «ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΕΛΠΙΣ» ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΤΑ. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Translation from the book:
Στεργίου Ν. Σάκκου, ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ἡ ἀναστάσιμη ἡμέρα,
ἐκδ. «ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΕΛΠΙΣ»
ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΤΑ, ἔκδ. 4η, Θεσ/νίκη 2020, σσ. 17-24
(Stergios N. Sakkos [Read CV],
SUNDAY: The Day of Resurrection, pp. 17-24)
Part 2
Sunday: its theology
God came and walked on earth. He left His footprints on several places and some of these are:
• The stable in Bethlehem, where He was born in a manger,
• the lake in Galilee, where He walked and chose His first disciples,
• the hillsides and plains that heard His voice teaching the crowds,
• the mount of Transfiguration that saw His divinity shining like the sun,
• the garden of Gesthemane, where He shed tears of anguish,
• the place of Golgotha, where He shed His blood,
• his empty tomb.
The whole Palestine, which He crossed “doing good and healing” (Acts 10,38), is the Holy Land that reminds us of Godman's visit. We can go to this Holy Land if we wish and kneel on the sacred ground. However, we can also find this Holy Land in every Church because there we can enter Christ's life through the Holy Sacraments:
♦ In the Prothesis (Preparation table) we see Bethlehem,
♦ in the Holy Altar we stare at Golgotha,
♦ in the baptismal font we see the river Jordan,
♦ from the oil lamp of the sanctuary we take the light of the Resurrection.
On the other hand, during His lifetime lots of divine signs took place:
◊ Epiphany, when God Father showed His Son and the Holy Spirit rested on Him in the form of a dove,
◊ the Passion, when Jesus was gradually led to His crucifixion and death,
◊ the Resurrection, that filled with light and happiness the hearts of the faithful,
◊ the Ascension, which glorified human nature,
◊ the Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit laid the foundation of the Church.
All those supernatural events that brought salvation to the suffering human beings are the religious celebrations of our Church that keep, through the grace of the Sacraments, alive the presence of Christ among us. So, the faithful, no matter of the age we live in, can:
√ Meet our Lord Jesus Christ, the Godman,
√ become his disciples,
√ walk with Him,
√ listen to His words,
√ see His miracles,
√ live His Resurrection,
√ commune Him.
All the above, that is, the Holy Land and the sacred celebrations, are offered in a way that only God could cοnceive and attain, in the day of Sunday. On Sunday and during the Divine Liturgy, being its essential feature, we gather in church where our Lord comes physically through the Holy Eucharist. Sunday helps us to take part in His life from the manger to the empty tomb. There, in the Church, in front of the holy altar and among the angels and saints we embrace God’s space and our soul rests, because it senses the divine eternity. At the same time we enter in God’s time through the Holy Communion where Christ is present in the bread of Prothesis, on the altar and in the Holy Chalice. Then our soul, full of eternity, rejoices. Sunday offers a spiritual space without borders and a limitless time. It brings God both in our life and heart... Sunday offers an always present experience of God’s love, which is expressed and realized tangibly in the Divine Liturgy.
It is, also, a living memorial of the past, a kind of a historical witness. It is a one and only witness in the course of humanity that constantly testifies the redemptive work of the resurrected Christ until this day.
Also, Sunday is a prophecy of the future, as the enlightened Fathers of our Church have remarked. The present world is included in the seven days of the week, which are constantly recycled till this world comes to an end. Sunday is considered to be the eighth day, which succeeds the seventh, and prophesies the future life, inaugurated by Christ’s resurrection. This eighth day is the sweet eternity of God’s kingdom. It starts now in Christ’s Church and expands farther after this earthly time. Sunday allows us to have this experience in advance.
When God started the creation of the world by bringing light in the abyss it was the first day of time. “And there was evening and there was morning, one day” (Ge 1,5). It was also the first day of the week when Christ started reforming mankind by defeating death in Hades, “But on the first day of the week” (Lk 24,1). So, on Sunday the faithful celebrate both the birthday of the creation and the revival of humanity by Jesus Christ, while we experience in advance the future world of eternity, the heavenly rebirth.
When we talk about the theological meaning of Sunday, we present the great truths of our faith. Sunday is:
• The first day of the world’s creation,
• the day of the Resurrection and man’s re-creation,
• the apocalyptic day of the future eternity,
• the day of Divine Liturgy in our church life.
Thinking of Sunday we feel, indeed, the need:
◊ To thank God for the world He offered us,
◊ to praise Him for His Church and His Resurrection and,
◊ to have an ever ending expectation for His blessed kingdom.
The existence of Sunday in the worldly calendar constitutes a visit of God Himself, Who by approaching us breaks the earthly boundaries and opens the way to heaven, the way that leads to His Presence.
To be continued
Copyright © 2021 by Orthodox Christian Association «ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΕΛΠΙΣ» ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΤΑ. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Translation from the article:
Εὐαγγέλου Ἀλ. Δάκα, Ὁ ἀληθινός χριστιανός, περιοδ. "Ἀπολύτρωσις" 76 (2021) 4-5.
(Evangelos Al. Dakas, PhD in Theology and Philologist)
In the face of a new year, like the one that just dawned, it is imperative that we do a proper and honest self-examination. What did we achieve in the year that ended? What do we have in our hands? What did we lose? What do we expect for the year ahead? And of course, if we are to measure ourselves by the various criteria of this world, much more must we measure ourselves by the criteria of our faith. Do we truly believe? Are we true Christians? What relationship do we have with Holy God?
These questions may seem provocative to some. We have learned to take our Christian identity for granted and therefore they’re perhaps incomprehensible to us. However, the Word of God advises: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves (2 Cor 13,5). It does not say "you have tried" but "try". It’s in present tense which means duration. That is, not to examine ourselves once, but continuously and completely. It is not enough that we were once connected with Christ. The important thing is that our connection is maintained active "until death" (Rev 2,10). “Everything is judged by its end”, says our wise folk.
Unfortunately, the pandemic that broke out recently revealed that many of the faithful have a distorted relationship with the Lord. We do not approach him as he wants us to, but as we think we should. And the consequences, of course, are painful. Why does this happen? The causes are many and perhaps a simple member of the Church may bear a small percentage of responsibility for this situation. However, I would not like to deal with this issue now. In the limited space we have at our disposal, I think there is an urgent need to study something else, more basic: to review in some way, in the light of the recent crisis, what makes a true Christian and what is his quality and his limits. Therefore, according to "which once and for all was handed over to the faithful" (Jude 3), that is, the teaching of the Gospel:
• A true Christian first and foremost loves God the Savior, as revealed in the Bible and in the apostolic tradition of the Orthodox Church. He does not worship other gods, not even his passions and desires. He is not a slave of his obsessions and doesn’t follow various perceptions about God. He only follows the Lord’s teachings and not human creations.
• The true Christian humbly obeys the commandments of God and thus in this way he expresses his love. Humbly means that he never aims at the Pharisaic self-satisfaction and the glory of himself. That he has as a motto of his life "remain in obscurity" and tries to hide himself so that the Lord can reveal himself through him. A true Christian does not sacrifice God for his own benefit but instead his benefit for the sake of God.
• A true Christian is not trapped in this world. He knows very well that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil 3,20) and that “for here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come” (Heb 13,14). Therefore, he does not depend on the earthly goods nor does he despair when he loses them. He only seeks the necessities and does not seek lots of things because he knows that these are nailing us to the ground and this is a great threat to spirituality.
• A true Christian does not pursue a miracle nor does he demand one nor does he consider it as given. He knows that the Lord gives as many miracles as He wants and when He wants, that He mainly gives them to support the unbelievers and not the believers, and that to believe that He "owes" you a miracle is simply arrogance.
• A true Christian loves his fellow man as he loves himself. He sees in him the image of God regardless of origin, religion, social status or gender. Ηe stands before him with respect and willingness to support him in everything. He is able to sacrifice for him anything of his own, even his own life, if need be. He does not reject him for his fall and does not judge him. He hates sin, but not the sinner.
• A true Christian does not take revenge, only forgives. And even when he is harmed and endures injustice, he continues to keep his arms open for all. He does not ask for anything in return for his love, nor does he expect anything in return. He overcomes evil with good, he blesses, he does not curse, he does not threaten. And when he needs to be steadfast, he is not abusive, but always has in front of him as a rule the salvation of his brother.
• Finally, a true Christian possesses the truth, but never tries to impose it. He absolutely respects the opinion of the other person and discusses with him, as much as it depends on him, peacefully. He does not become vindictive or offensive, and always acknowledges his mistakes and omissions. The true believer does not boast of knowing the truth, but tries to help the other person to understand, without offending his freedom or dignity at all.
In conclusion, a true Christian has nothing to do with religiosity or fanaticism. On the one hand, he fights for his spiritual training and does not resort to simple excuses that remind us of idolatry, while on the other hand, if necessary, he sacrifices himself for his faith; and he does not kill others to "defend" it.
A true Christian is, in other words, a true imitator of Christ.
Copyright © 2021 by Orthodox Christian Association «ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΕΛΠΙΣ» ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΤΑ. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Translation from the book:
Στεργίου Ν. Σάκκου, ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ἡ ἀναστάσιμη ἡμέρα,
ἐκδ. «ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΕΛΠΙΣ»
ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΤΑ, ἔκδ. 4η, Θεσ/νίκη 2020, σσ. 5-14
(Stergios N. Sakkos [Read CV],
SUNDAY: The Day of Resurrection, pp. 5-14)
Introduction
By John Chrysostomos, PG 51,265. “About Charity”
Death was abolished on Sunday. The curse was erased. The sin was cleared. The gates of hades were torn apart. Devil was chained up. The ever-lasting war stopped and God reconciled with all people. Men came back to their previous or rather to a much more noble condition. The sun saw that wonderful and strange sight: men becoming immortal. So, if people have a feast and a formal celebration of their birthday –in honour of this exceptional event – it is even more important for us to honour Sunday. It is the day which can be certainly considered as the birthday of all human nature. Indeed, we were lost and found; we were dead and regained life; we were enemies and came to reconciliation. Therefore it is appropriate to honour Sunday only in a spiritual way: not with festivities, dancing, drinking and getting drunk but by helping generously our poor brothers.
Part 1
Sunday: its history
Sunday: this word sounds so sweet in our ears and heart! It can touch even the most corrupt. It brings to our mind the most beautiful and tender moments of our life. It is wrapped in a festive glow and embellished with the happy meetings with the dearest ones. Most of all, it is wreathed in valuable, divine gifts; it is itself a divine gift to humans.
When mentioning Sunday we refer to Lord Himself, to the Church, the Gospels, God’s plan for man’s salvation. We trace its history and theology in the Holy Scripture since the beginning of God’s history.
When the six days of creation were over, God “rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done” (Ge 2,2). That is, He stopped the work of creation on the seventh day. But He did not stop working, because as Jesus Christ His Son, attests “My father is working still, and I am working” (Jn 5,17). He continued and goes on working, ruling and preserving the world. This ruling and preservation of the world is an act not inferior than that of the creation. His repose and rest means this ceaseless divine providence.
He built a beautiful house for us to enjoy: the universe. He created us with His love and then He rested. He stepped back and since then He is pleased and happy to take care of us and endow the world with His presence in various ways.
On the seventh day which He blessed and considered as sacred, He started communicating with His creatures. He made a distinction between that one and the rest of the days. He established it as the day of His worship and ordered His chosen people “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work” (Ex 20, 8-10). As the seventh day denotes for God His constant care and providence for us, in the same way the day of Sabbath implies for His people the exclusive service and worship of God. Lord created everything for man, but He created man for himself. So, He asks man to dedicate a day of rest from his daily duties in order to study God’s will and offer his love to others to be able to meet God. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps 45(46),10) the psalmist suggests. This is the first aim of people’s resting and celebrating Sunday: undisturbed communication with God.
Unfortunately, soon after the creation of the world and the blessing of Sabbath, the transgression of the first men caused a breach to the relationship between humans and their Creator. Although the Law tried to keep open the road which leads from earth to heaven, the seed of sin which (circulated in) ran through human race, always raised an obstacle between the Creator and His creature. However, the bond between man and God was maintained. The covenant was preserved until the salvation was established that is, the new order our Lord Jesus Christ brought on earth. With His work and sacrifice a new cosmogony took place, a new world was created, the spiritual one: His Church. As after the first creation of the world, God rested and that signifies His loving care of the world, so Christ’s Resurrection, which sealed the second creation of the Church, determines a new relationship of familiarity between God and people.
On “The first day of the week” (Lk 24,1), Christ resurrected and our human nature was resurrected with Him. God blessed that day and turned it into a new Sabbath, which replaced the old one. This keeps all the old attributes while gaining new graces. Nobody has seen God creating or resting, so the old Sabbath was established through orders. The new one was founded on the fact of Christ’s resurrection and it is testified by history. The old Sabbath demanded sacrifices and offerings to God. The new one offers Lord’s sacrifice and He nurtures us with it. In Christ’s new creation we have a new day now. It is as if heaven opened and a fragrant flower appeared, as if a precious jewel was given to our hands, as if we were offered the most expensive gift by Lord. In order to consider(estimate) it as something special and not like everything else on earth, like an ordinary day, He wrote His name on it: Sunday (in Greek Kiriaki means the day of Kirios =Lord). Lord marked His day as we do, when we write our name on our own things to identify them, and then He donated it to us.
To be continued
Copyright © 2021 by Orthodox Christian Association «ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΕΛΠΙΣ» ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΤΑ. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS IN FIVE QUESTIONS
Γράφτηκε από Super UserTranslation from the article:
Στεργίου Ν. Σάκκου, Τά πέντε ἐρωτήματα.
(Stergios N. Sakkos, University Professor [Read CV])
Christmas is coming and lots of Christians desire to have a deep experience of this great mystery, God’s Incarnation. People usually think of Jesus’ birth as an old, romantic story. Consequently, they do not benefit from it in order to make spiritual progress. There are some questions through which we can discover the only truth in the Holy Bible. These will help us to be fully informed about the Incarnation.
The first question is: Who was born?
- The Person who all the nations waited for. “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death upon them hath the light shined” (Is 9:2).
- When man lost paradise and was sent to exile, he was given a promise about a Savior. He kept that promise in his mind. Since then, all people had been searching for Him in thousands of ways up to that night, when they recognized Him in the newborn child.
- All the prophets of Israel testify with their prophecies that the boy who was born is the Messiah, Emmanuel. God himself came among men. David’s Psalms and Isaiah’s visions are fulfilled in this person who the Holy Spirit declared to be the greatest Prophet, King and High Priest.
- In addition to these, the angel who informed Joseph about the supernatural birth, gave the answer to our question: Jesus is the Messiah and “he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:21).
- Wise Men’s leading star declared that the Sun of Justice was born and all mankind would be reconciled with God.
- Much later, John the Baptist said pointing to Him: “He is God’s Lamb and will carry all men’s sins” (Jn 1:29).
- During Jesus’ baptism God’s voice was heard: “He is my beloved Son” (Mt 3:17).
- The fourth Gospel starts with these words: “In the beginning was the Word ... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us ... the only begotten of the Father ...”
- Jesus Himself gave the answer that irritated his enemies and astonished the crowds. “I am the Light, the Truth and the Life” (Jn 9:5, 14:6) “...without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:6).
The second question refers to the time of Jesus’ birth: When was he born?
- ·The Gospels give us exact and specific information about it. This birth took place “In the days of Herod, King of Judea...” (Lk 1:1) and when “Caesar Augustus” (Lk 2:1) was the emperor. But this is a limited human aspect of the time of the birth.
- Apostle Paul gives a theological answer. Jesus was born “when the time had fully come” (Gal 4:4). When it was the suitable time for the world to accept his Savior. It was the time when the sin gave its most corrupt fruit: a dying humanity. There was no time left for any delay. Just then God’s Grace offered the most fragrant flower: the humble, virgin, young girl.
The third question has to do with a very touching and sensitive issue concerning the divine birth. Where was he born?
- Jesus chose a well-known town, Bethlehem of Judea, where King David was also born. However, as Jn 1:11 says: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not”. He met hatred and rejection. There was no house or any decent place for the Messiah. A filthy stable, where animals lived, was His first house. He was put in a manger and on the straw they had for the animals.
- Bethlehem’s stable is the best picture to depict the spiritual condition of humanity at that age. The whole world had turned into a huge stable where people gave in their passions. That was the world where Jesus Christ was born.
The fourth question is: How was He born?
- ·The Holy Bible gives the answer that He was born from the Holy Spirit that dwelt in virgin Maria. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (Lk 1:35).
- The angel said to Joseph: “... that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 1:20).
- No man was involved in that birth. It is a supernatural mystery which transcends human logic.
- He did not descent from heaven in a spectacular way.
- God’s Incarnation followed the natural way as in any woman, that is, the baby remained in his mother’s womb for nine months. He came to life as an infant and passing through all the stages of human life, he grew up into an adult.
- We read in Lk 2:1 “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled”. The emperor ordered this census, because he wanted to learn the number of people under his rule. Jesus was born the night before the census. Messiah who came to give freedom to the world, was enrolled as a new slave. He chose to be one of the slaves of the Roman Emperor and as a result, He had to pay taxes to live and that was very humiliating for Him.
The fifth question is: Why was He born? What is the purpose of this divine plan? In the Apostolic preaching there is always an emphasis on this purpose.
- “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” ( 1 Jn 3:8).
- He was born to redeem us from our sins and therefore destroy death “The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put all things in subjection under his feet” (1 Cor 15:26-27).
- He was born to bring back those that had gone astray. “I have found my sheep which was lost”, “For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost” (Lk 15:6, 19:10).
- He was born to
- He was born so we can be his children again and call God our “father”. “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God” (Jn 1:12).
- He was born to unite humanity “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male or female for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28).
- He was born to give His own happiness and peace “my peace I give to you” Jn (14:27).
However, Jesus’ birth is not a past event. It is a personal fact for everyone. It is an event that is personally connected to each person.We need to look at these five questions, which we have already answered, in close relation to our own life.
- Who was born? My Redeemer.
- When was He born? When I welcomed him inside me.
- Where was He born?In my heart.
- How was He born? Through His Word and the Sacraments of the Orthodox Church.
- Why was He born? To help me find the way to eternity and live in paradise from now on. If the meaning and the message of Christmas is this for me, then:
- I will surely hear a host of angels singing within me “Glory in the highest”, because God, the Emmanuel, will visit my soul.
- My heart will be overwhelmed by a divine happiness.
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