Homily Three on the Nativity of Christ (St. John of Kronstadt)

Homily Three on the Nativity of Christ 

By St. John of Kronstadt

“For this reason God came down to earth, 
that He might raise us up to heaven.”
(Akathist to the Theotokos, Kontakion 8)

In these words of a church hymn the purpose is indicated for which God the Word came to earth in the flesh: namely, that He might once again raise to heaven man, who was created for heaven and who fell and was slain by sin, enslaved by earthly passions — on the just condition that man, having realized his extreme delusion and the ruinous nature of the path he chose, should turn with all his heart to God from whom he fell away, repent with all his heart, renounce worldly attachments, love God, and live on earth in a heavenly manner, insofar as this is possible with the help of divine grace. Such is the purpose of the coming of God to earth in the flesh which we celebrate today. He came to turn away from us the utmost dishonor of sin and passions, by which we enslaved ourselves of our own will; to deliver us from destructive bondage to the devil, from the righteous curse and eternal death; to regenerate us by the grace of Baptism, to adopt us as sons, and to grant us the Holy Spirit, by whose help we might live on earth in a manner worthy of our high calling as children of God.

And the divine intentions, the divine plans concerning our rebirth, sanctification, and renewal, have been accomplished among men — that is, in a multitude of saved people who heeded the voice of God calling them to salvation and walked the saving path. An innumerable host of holy saints justified by their lives the divine plan for the salvation of mankind. “Wisdom is justified by her children” (Matt. 11:19). This wondrous divine plan of salvation is being accomplished even now in all who are obedient to the loving voice of God, calling them to salvation and to the eternal inheritance prepared for them in heaven. The Lord founded His Church on earth, to which He entrusted heavenly, saving doctrine, His saving mysteries; He gave His teachers and shepherds, to whom He entrusted the guidance of redeemed humanity toward heaven.

But how many understand and accept this wise and at the same time simple plan of our salvation? How many accept the means granted by God for their salvation? How many renounce worldly attachments that darken and bind the soul? How many cherish the name of Christians and children of God? How many think about the heavenly inheritance prepared for them by the goodness of the Heavenly Father for the sake of His Only-begotten Son? We see that modern man has fallen exceedingly low, has wholly immersed himself in sensuality, has bound himself entirely with worldly passions and sensual pleasures, has distorted the order of life appointed by the Creator, and thus not only does not follow the divine plan of our salvation, but, insofar as it concerns him, destroys it. Such, too, will be the fruits of a reckless life. A man who tramples upon God’s gifts with such recklessness and audacity deprives himself of all God’s promises and gifts.

Look attentively at the life of modern man, how unnatural it is, not to mention devoid of grace, how unchristian it is conducted. Look at how he has distorted even sensual pleasures themselves. For the sake of smell and taste, and partly for breathing itself, he has invented and incessantly burns a pungent and odorous smoke—offering it, as it were, a constant censer to the demon living in the flesh — contaminating the air of his home and the outside air with this smoke, and above all, becoming saturated with this stench himself — and here you have a constant coarsening of his feelings and his heart; the smoke constantly consumed cannot but affect the delicacy of the heart's feeling: it imparts to it fleshiness, coarseness, sensuality. The belly has become an idol; many keep no fasts at all, considering them burdensome; feasting and drunkenness have become constant phenomena; money has become positively a modern idol, and for its easy acquisition people do not disdain any means, however ignoble or dishonest they may be. All thoughts, cares, amusements, including games — in a word, pleasures, pursuits, intentions, enterprises, even education — are directed toward the earth. Of heaven, of the heavenly calling, of heavenly teaching and life, in many homes there is not even a mention. Man has become wholly earth, wholly dust! And yet God came down to earth precisely in order to raise man up to heaven. “Adam, where are you?” (Gen. 3:9). Christian man, where are you? How deeply you have fallen! Into what darkness you have voluntarily entered! Arise, come out into God’s light, recognize your divine nobility, your heavenly calling, return to God, cast away sensuality that kills the spirit, begin to live according to the spirit of virtue, mortify the passions of the flesh, repent and unite yourself with God, that He may raise you up to heaven and seat you with Himself upon the throne of His Kingdom.

In speaking of the earthly, impassioned, unworthy direction of people’s lives, I do not lose sight of the many bright aspects in the lives of many Christians and of virtues truly Christian; but these constitute a weak minority. May God grant that this minority may surpass the majority. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.