December: Day 26: Teaching 2: The Second Day of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ

December: Day 26: Teaching 2:
The Second Day of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ
 
(Instructive Lessons From the Gospel Account of the Magi Who Came to Worship the Newborn Savior of the World)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ was unknown and humble: His cradle was a manger, His dwelling a cave in the field, and then a simple house. Nevertheless, the glory of the wondrous Infant God was not hidden from a select few; thus, after the shepherds of Bethlehem, the Magi, or wise men of the East, guided by a star, hasten to venerate the newborn King of the Jews. Many centuries have passed since then, and the glory of Christ the Savior has embraced the entire world: He is worshiped by both wise men and simple men, both East and West, and all lands and peoples of the earth. But in the presence of countless worshipers of the Lord Jesus Christ, among whom we, brethren, are counted, let us not overlook the first — the few — of whom the Gospel itself tells us: the Magi. The Eastern sages truly set an example for all of us of how proper worship can be offered to Christ God, born of the Virgin.

II. a) The Magi mentioned in the Gospel, who dwelt on the wisdom of observing and studying the movements of the heavenly bodies, once noticed the appearance of an extraordinary star in the sky. This served as a clear sign to them that now, in the land of Judea, in accordance with an ancient prophecy (Numbers 24:17), a star from Jacob would shine forth, and the long-awaited Savior of the world would be born among the Jews. The Magi hastened to Jerusalem. Then, when they left Jerusalem, the star led them to Bethlehem and rested over the very place where the Infant God was: the Magi joyfully bowed down to Him. Thus, observing and studying the movements of the heavenly bodies led the Eastern sages to learn of the birth of the Divine Redeemer and to bow down to the Lord of heaven and earth — the Lord Jesus Christ!

Brethren, can not the entire visible world tell us the same thing at all times? "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 18:2), says the divinely inspired Prophet-King, who loved to contemplate the Lord in the works of His hands. 

"Heaven, earth, and sea," says Saint Gregory the Theologian, "in a word, the entire visible world is a great and glorious book, eloquently preaching to all people, speaking all languages, about the omnipotence, wisdom, and goodness of the Creator God; this book can be read by both the literate and the illiterate; it is accessible to both the young and the old; from it all peoples who have healthy feelings and are attentive to the works of God can know God. God revealed Himself first in creation even before the Scriptures: He preceded sending man a visible nature, even when He only intended to send prophets, so that a mortal, being a student of nature, might more readily believe the prophecy, and thus sooner agree to recognize the Divine attributes clearly manifested in the external world."

"And I, like the prophet Moses, have seen God!" exclaimed a wise man and natural scientist. "Examining His creations, I saw Him as if passing before me, and I was struck with amazement; I recognized only a few traces of His progress in the world, and everywhere, even in the smallest things, what fullness of power and wisdom, what incomprehensible perfection!" Some great scientists, such as Newton, Copernicus, and others, could not pronounce the name of God without standing and removing their hats at the sound of this sacred name. May we, too, imitate them.

b) Another characteristic of the journey undertaken by the Eastern wise men to worship the Lord Jesus Christ is their firm determination to go and worship the newborn King of the Jews, unhindered by any obstacles that would be entirely natural, by human standards. And these obstacles were not few: the Magi undertake the journey to worship the Savior solely because of the appearance in the sky of an extraordinary star, which, to their philosophizing minds, seemed an unmistakable sign of the coming into the world of the King and Savior of the world; they leave their native Eastern land and journey to a foreign land, undeterred by the very route, which was long for them and unsafe for anyone in those parts and at that time. Having overcome all obstacles and dangers, they reached Jerusalem and then Bethlehem, where they worshiped the Infant God and brought Him their gifts.

Does our faith in Christ the Savior encounter no fewer obstacles, brethren? For one of us, faith wavers under the doubt brought into the soul by proud knowledge; for another, it is overshadowed by a multitude of superstitions born of ignorance. One forgets heaven and eternity because he is rich and happy on earth, while another falls into despondency and despair because, oppressed by dire need, he sees no way out of his helpless condition. One is constantly tormented day and night by a particular passion, such as ambition; another by envy; another by greed; and yet another by a different passion, for instance, sensuality. But who can count all the temptations of life? "There is no good for people on earth that is not mixed with evil," reflects Saint Gregory the Theologian, "there are many paths in this life, and sorrows are encountered at every step." All this is true. But be strong, faithful Christian soul, in all the temptations of worldly life, and in both happiness and misfortune, do not lean to either side, but always hold to one thing – faith in Christ the Lord. Worship and serve Him alone in all the paths of your life. The Magi faced no fewer obstacles than you when they went to the land of Judea, yet they did not abandon their intention and desire, and were deemed worthy to worship Christ God rmanifested in the flesh.

c) Finally, one more peculiarity in the life of the Magi who came to worship Christ the Savior: they not only "fell down and worshipped Him," but also, having opened their treasures, brought Him gifts - "gold, frankincense, and myrrh" (Matt. 2:11). The Magi thus express their reverence for the Lord not only by outward worship of Him, but, in accordance with the ancient commandment of God: "no one should appear before the face of the Lord empty-handed," without anything (Deut. 16:16), they bring Him what was most precious to them, and what was considered worthy of worship. Thus, they bring the Savior "gold, as to the King of the ages" (for it is the customary tribute of all subjects to their king); "frankincense, as to the God of all" (since the burning of incense has been used from time immemorial in services and prayers offered to the Lord); “myrrh, as to an immortal dead man” (because anointing the body with myrrh was the last honor given to every dead person).

Like the Magi, worshiping the Savior and believing in Him, are we, brethren, capable of such or any other sacrifices pleasing to the Almighty? We profess the Orthodox Christian faith; but when its good demands our assistance and defense in word and deed, as well as the protection of the honor and dignity of its servants — the shepherds of the Church — do we dare to do so at the expense of our own interests or the flattering opinions of the world? We know that our neighbors, according to the teaching of the holy faith of Christ, are our brethren in Christ, but are any of us prepared to help them in need and sorrow, to forgive their enemies and offenders at the first bow of humility and Christian love, to protect the honor of our neighbors by refraining from slander and condemnation? We respect the Gospel law and revere its faithful followers, but not everyone is willing to suppress this or that passion for the sake of Christian law. Briefly: we all consider ourselves believers in Christ and worship Him; but not everyone is capable of sacrificing themselves for the glory of the Christian faith. The Magi did not act thus: bowing with faith before the Divine Infant, they brought Him precious and meaningful sacrifices from their treasures. A plant without leaves and fruit is dead, and our Christian feasts will also be dead if we do not enliven them with God-pleasing sacrifices. Let us listen to what Saint Ephraim the Syrian teaches us on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ: "On this day the Lord came to His servants: let those in authority also condescend to their subjects. On this day, for our sake, the All-Rich One became poor: let the rich make the poor a sharer of his surplus. On this day, we have received a gift from above: let us, too, give alms to the poor. This day has opened the heavenly door to our prayers: let us, too, open our door to those who have offended us and beg for forgiveness!"

III. Brethren! Come, let us with all our hearts and with all our souls "worship and fall down before Christ! Save us, O Son of God, born of the Virgin, who sing to You: Alleluia!" Amen.

 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.