December 07 Kandili Article
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
“FOR UNTO US A CHILD WAS BORN…”
Life is a continuous series of cycles. Within the annual cycle, Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior is just around the corner. Within the linear dimension of time where yesterday is the past, today is the present, and tomorrow is the future, these cycles provide for us a sense of the eternal. When this day of our Lord’s Nativity—Christmas—comes this year for example, we of course celebrate that historical event of some two thousands years go. In the midst of this historical celebration, the eternal truth of the incarnation of our Lord, God becoming man, is realized again and again, year in and year out. The day of the historical remembrance becomes one with the day itself. It is for this reason that many of the hymns for our major feast days begin with the word “today”. The kontakion of Christmas is:
“Today, the Virgin bears Him who is transcendent, and the earth presents the cave to Him who is beyond reach. Angels, along with shepherds glorify Him. The Magi make their way to Him by a star. For a new child has been born for us, the God before all ages.”
The eternal truth of God’s great love for us is historically accomplished in the birth of our Lord Jesus. This event of the past becomes alive in us in the present every time we remember it. This of course occurs in the annual celebration of Christmas on the one hand, but also every time we in the Church Community or even personally recall this awesome act of God’s love and grace.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Our God is Emmanuel (God with us). Our God is Jesus (God saves).
Our God is Christ (the Anointed one). Our God is the simple humble infant in the manger in the cave. In His great love for us, “God so loved the worlds that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). Our Lord Jesus, God the Son, submitted to the will of the Father and of His own will came into the world, became one of us and taking our sins on this shoulders, died for us and in His resurrection offers us a path of reconciliation with God. As you read this allow the eternal truth revealed in this historical event be alive in you this very moment. As you experience a beautiful sunrise, a glorious mountain vista, a supreme act of kindness by another person allow the eternal presence of God to be alive within you. And finally as we celebrate the incredible Feast of Christmas, our Lord’s Nativity again this year, let the eternal moment of God’s presence become alive within us so that the Divine and the human are one in God’s grace. Have a blessed and graced filled celebration of our Lord’s Nativity. Merry Christmas! Christ is born! Glorify Him!
Fr. Lou