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Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas)
Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ
December 25 -
"Meet Christ at the Nativity"
By St. John Maximovitch
The Church now calls us to meet Christ, Who comes from heaven.
What can we do in
 order to meet Him like the Magi, and not like
Herod? “Ye that desire life, keep your tongue from evil and your
lips from speaking guile. Turn away from evil and do good; seek
peace and pursue it.” It tends to be hard to do this; we are
weak when it comes to everything good.
But the Son of God even came for this: in order to strengthen
us. Not for naught was He born in Bethlehem, which signifies
“the house of bread.” He feeds us with heavenly food, His flesh.
“God, the Lord and Creator of all, as a babe in the flesh, is
worshipped in a poor manger, crying out: Eat My body and through
faith be made steadfast.”
These words of the divine Babe are directed to us. Let us
hearken to His call! Let us follow the Magi; let us hasten with
the shepherds! Our Churches are now that cave of Bethlehem. Not
illusory, but in reality does He, Who is now being born in His
most pure flesh, rest in them. Let us worship Him; let us offer
as a gift our thoughts and desires; let us confess our sins, and
let us taste of His immaculate Body and precious Blood.
Whoever did not do this earlier, let him at least accomplish it
now, when the star of Bethlehem is already shining! Our minds
will be enlightened and the heart will hear: “Glory to God in
the Highest, and on earth peace, good will among men!”
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
I
behold a strange, most glorious mystery! Heaven-the cave! The
cherubic throne-the Virgin! The manger-the place where Christ
lay, the uncontainable God, Whom we magnify in song!
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