THE ROAD LEADING TO THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE ROAD TO OUR SALVATION

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

THE ROAD LEADING TO THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE ROAD TO OUR SALVATION

“What shall we offer Thee, O Christ, Who for our sake
has appeared on earth as man? Every creature made by Thee
offers Thee thanks. The Angels offer Thee a hymn; the heavens
a star; the Magi, gifts; the shepherds, their wonder; the earth,
its cave; the wilderness, the manger; and we offer Thee a
Virgin Mother, O Pre-eternal God, have mercy upon us.”
[Vespers Sticheron of the Nativity by Anatolios]

When we, Orthodox Christians, examine closely our liturgical tradition, we discover to our delight, that all our mystical divine services and feast day celebrations lead the Orthodox faithful to our Lord, God, and Savior. The sacred hymns and the scriptural readings, prayers, fasting, Mysteries (Sacraments), ceremonies and rituals, etc. are means of revealing to the individual believer the reason for the specific spiritual preparation required of us. Our Holy Church is deliberately teaching us not only how we should worship God and how often but to truly understand that everything leads to Christ our Redeemer and His promise to inherit the Kingdom of heaven. One goal or objective and one destination, that of His Kingdom.

We all appreciate our rich liturgical tradition and we are edified by it, however, its purpose is not simply to please us or our senses but to deliver a specific message to us. Through our mystical divine services we are inspired not only to come to know Christ, but to also live Christ daily. To strengthen our personal or individual relationship with Him, to become one with Him. The Holy Apostle says it best, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” [Galatians 2:20]. It signifies a total transformation where a believer’s old self, marked by sin, is considered “dead” and replaced by the life of Christ dwelling within them, leading to a life guided by Christ’s love and actions rather than personal desires or passions; essentially, a complete surrender to Christ’s presence and a new identity in Him. Through our faith in Him we strive to unite with Him, Christ’s life becomes our life through our personal faith and Holy Baptism.

“I have been crucified with Christ” means our sinful “passions and desires” have been crucified. This is not the crucifixion of human nature, but of “the flesh” [Gk. ‘σάρκα], the corruption into which humanity has fallen. We understand that the crucifixion must be willingly and freely accepted, just as Christ freely accepted His death. Living “in the flesh” is contrasted with living “in the faith.” Just as living “in the flesh” involves the whole person, body and soul, so living “in the faith” involves the whole person.

Everything that our Orthodox Church teaches, our worship, our sacraments, our celebrations and/or ceremonies, our feast and holy days, are offered to the faithful not to induce the people to attend the services conducted but to unite them to Christ. There is the tendency,however, to want to please the believers and to offer them a momentary “spiritual” gratification through the overall performance of the service conducted, i.e., the beautiful place of worship, the chanting of the cantors or choir, the fragrance of the burning incense, the pleasing voice of the priest and his colorful vestments, etc. but that defeats the primary purpose of being there which is to meet Christ the Savior. To feel His presence! Jesus says it clearly, “When two or three are gathered together in My name, I AM THERE IN THE MIDST OF THEM” [Matthew 18:20]. God is with us! He is present! We are there for Him! To see Him, To meet with Him, to worship Him, to glorify Him, to please Him. Jesus is with His followers even when they are gathered in a small group, as long as they are united in faith and prayer. The verse referred to, emphasizes the importance of coming together, of communal worship and the power of prayer when done together.

The Orthodox faithful are assembled together not only to worship but to participate in the Mystery (Sacrament) of the Eucharist. The Eucharist in which the bread and wine of offering are changed by the Holy Spirit, and then the believers receive communion of them for a most intimate union with Christ and eternal life. To receive communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord is the essential, necessary, saving, and consoling obligation of every Christian. This is evident from the words of our Savior which He uttered when giving the promise regarding the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” [John 6:53-54]. Christ’s body was crucified and His blood shed on the Cross. We receive the benefits of Christ’s Sacrifice by coming to Him in faith, and by communion with Him: we “eat” His “flesh” and “drink His blood.” Saint John Chrysostomos teaches we must not understand the sacrament carnally, that is, according to the laws of physical nature, but SPIRITUALLY, perceiving a true but MYSTICAL PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE EUCHARIST.

Just before the Divine Liturgy commences we offer the Great Doxology:

Glory to Thee, Who has shown us the light!
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace good
will to men.
We praise Thee, we bless
Thee, we worship Thee,
we glorify Thee, we give
thanks to Thee for Thy great glory:

O Lord, heavenly King,
God the Father Almighty;
O Lord, the Only-begotten Son,
and the Holy Spirit.

O Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father,
that takest away the sins
of the world, have mercy on us.

Thou that takest away the sins of
the world, receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest on the right hand
of the Father, have mercy on us.

For Thou alone are Holy,
Thou alone art Lord, Jesus Christ,
In the glory of God the Father. Amen.

For every day will I bless Thee,
and praise Thy name forever and
ever.
Vouchsafe, O Lord to keep us this
day without sin.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord,,
God of our fathers,
and praised and glorified is
Thy Name forever. Amen.

Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be
upon us, as we have set our hope
in Thee.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord,
teach me Thy statutes,
Blessed art Thou, O Master,
teach me Thy commandments.

Blessed art Thou, O Holy One,
enlighten me with Thy
precepts.

O Lord, Thou hast been our refuge
from generation to generation.
I said: Lord, have mercy on me!
Heal my soul, for I have sinned
against Thee!

O Lord, I flee unto Thee!
Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou
art my God.
For with Thee is the fountain of life,
and in Thy Light
shall we see light.

Continue Thy mercy unto
those who know Thee.

Holy God, Holy Mighty,
Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. [3]

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever
and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty,
Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

[Then the Divine Liturgy begins immediately]

_______
“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George