By Beth DeCristofaro
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your
loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he
shall be a son to me. Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before
me; your throne shall stand firm forever.
(2 Samuel 7:14, 16)
Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit,
prophesied, saying … In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high
shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of
death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:67, 79)
Piety
Nativity Sermon
This Nativity night bestowed peace on the whole world;
So let no one threaten;
So let no one threaten;
This is the night of the Most Gentle One – Let no one be cruel;
This is the night of the Humble One – Let no one be proud.
Now is the day of joy – Let us not revenge;
Now is the day of Good Will – Let us not be mean.
In this Day of Peace – Let us not be conquered by anger.
Today the Bountiful impoverished Himself for our sake;
So, rich one, invite the poor to your table.
So, rich one, invite the poor to your table.
Today we receive a Gift for which we did not ask;
So let us give alms to those who implore and beg us.
So let us give alms to those who implore and beg us.
This present Day cast open the heavenly doors to our prayers;
Let us open our door to those who ask our forgiveness.
Let us open our door to those who ask our forgiveness.
Today the DIVINE BEING took upon Himself the seal of our humanity,
In order for humanity to be decorated by the Seal of DIVINITY.
In order for humanity to be decorated by the Seal of DIVINITY.
- St. Isaac Syrian[i]
- Alternately
attributed to St. Ephraim the Syrian[ii]
Study
God let David know
that it was not his job to build a temple.
Instead, God built a divinely touched lineage for David. Continuing in that lineage, we as Spiritual
sons and daughters now are asked by our Spiritual Father to build a temple
within ourselves for the Spirit with whom Jesus the Christ has grace us. And we are asked to honor any person created
by that same generous God no matter who he or she might be. In order for humanity to be decorated by the
Seal of Divinity we must open our doors to bestow mercy, joy, forgiveness,
generosity to all even Syrians, Muslims, Republicans or Democrats, poor and
rich, holy or annoying. The Sons and
Daughters have already inherited, we don’t get to choose.
Action
Take opportunities to
offer the ordinary joys of loving generously today. How might we expand our loving as we await
the Birth, a Birth already alive in our hearts?
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