The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. [ISAIAH 40. 7-8]
Reflections on life in the Christian Orthodox Faith
Several times this Nativity Fast I will be posting articles I wrote for our local weekly newspaper, The Fort RECORD. This one is from 2009.
Every Christmas I see it, and you probably have too - a sign that decries all the things that Christmas has become and urges people to "put Christ back into Christmas."
I must admit that it seems a pretty weak-kneed, wishy-washy and poor sort of a Christ Who would allow Himself to be displaced, or, even worse, would need our help getting back into the Feast which bears His Holy Name!
The truth is that Christ our God has never left Christmas.For all who will search for Him He is still unmistakenly present in "The Christmas Season." Because there is no place where He cannot be found.
Christ can be found in family gatherings where His name is never mentioned or His existence affirmed.He can be found in long and grouchy shopping lines among people carrying purchases that may well be forgotten (or at least broken) by Boxing Day.
Christ can be found in gifts (for He is, after all, "The First Christmas Gift!"). And He can be found in the places like shopping malls where Santas bounce children on their knees and send them off with a cheery (and sometimes weary) "Ho! Ho! Ho!"Christ can even be found in "The Winter Solstice" in the "Winter Holiday" and even in "X-mas!"
Why? - Because it's His will and purpose to be found, and no matter what Christmas has become or becomes, or what we weak willed and fickle folk try to make of it, Christ will never forsake or abandon the Feast which marks His entrance in the flesh into this world He created, and loved, and died for.
Next time you see a sign or hear the words, "Put Christ back into Christmas" smile a little and remember - He's always been in Christmas, He is today, and He always will be, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages!
Saturday evening I came down with a nasty bit of flu – or something. Whatever it was, it made it impossible for me even to be present in Church yesterday, let alone to stand in the Altar for the morning. So – my lead chanter, who happens to be my dear wife – led Readers Services, Orthros followed by Typica, while I lay sick in bed. I thank God for the prayers of the Faithful in our little Community.
Everyone needs a day off. And, for me, yesterday wasn’t it. Yesterday was a sick day – not a day of rest – although I did end up resting for most of the day.
Monday’s are my usual day off, and on this one I woke up this morning feeling much better. Much better. Thanks be to God.
Today at Orthros, the sound of the 1st Canon of the Nativity began to be heard in the singing of the Katavasias of the Canon, that is, the hiermoi of the Nine Odes with the Great Censing of the Temple at the Magnifications.
There is, for me, as sense of reality breaking in on my impoverished and often unreal life when we start singing this. For the past few weeks - yes, in Canada we don't have a third-Thursday in November Thanksgiving Day to get by before it starts - For weeks I've been hearing Christmas music, even some carols on the radio, and last week the music system in the Mall our little Orthodox Mission Community calls home began to play it. But when the Katavasias of the Canon sound, I suddenly know with certainty that Christmas really is coming - the Christmas that has as its centre Christ our true God and His birth in the Flesh. It's happening! And it's for real! Thanks be to God!
KATAVASIAS OF THE FIRST CANON OF CHRIST’S NATIVITY
IN TONE ONE
Ode 1. Christ is born, glorify Him. Christ is come from heaven, receive Him. Christ is on earth, be ye elevated. Sing to the Lord, all the earth; and ye nations, praise Him with joy; for He hath been glorified.
Ode 3. Let us cry unto the Son, born of the Father before the ages without transubstantiation, Christ God Who hath been incarnate in these last days of the Virgin, without seed, shouting, O Thou Who hath elevated our state, Thou art holy, O Lord.
Ode 4. O praised Christ, a stem hath come out of Jesse, and from it hast sprouted a Flower from a dense and shadowed mountain, O immaterial God, coming incarnate from the Virgin that hath not known man. Glory, therefore, to Thy might, O Lord.
Ode 5. Since Thou art the God of peace and the Father of mercies, O Lover of mankind, Thou didst send to us the great Messenger of Thy mind, granting us Thy peace. Therefore, have we been led aright to the light of divine knowledge, glorifying Thee as we come out of darkness.
Ode 6. The sea-monster did disgorge Jonah from its belly, as it received him safely like a fetus. As for the Word, when He dwelt in the Virgin, taking from her a body, He was born, preserving her without corruption, and without transubstantiation, preserving His Mother without harm.
Ode 7. The youths having grown together in true worship, despising the command of the infidel, were not dismayed by the threat of fire; but were singing as they stood in the midst of the flames: Blessed art Thou, God of our fathers.
Let us praise, bless, and worship the Lord.
Ode 8. Verily, the dewy furnace did shadow the sign of the supernatural wonder; for it burned not the youths whom it received, as the fire of divinity also burned not the womb of the Virgin in which it dwelt. Wherefore, let us offer praise with song, saying: Let all creation praise the Lord, exalting Him evermore, to the end of ages.
MAGNIFICATIONS IN TONE ONE
+ My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, thou
who without corruption barest God the Word, and art truly Theotokos, we magnify thee.
+ For He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. (Refrain)
+ For He that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is His Name; and His mercy is on them that fear Him, throughout all generations. (Refrain)
+ He hath showed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. (Refrain)
+ He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the empty with good things, and the rich hath He sent empty away. (Refrain)
+ He remembering His mercy hath helped His servant Israel, as He promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed forever. (Refrain)
Ode 9.Magnify, O my soul, her who is more honorable and more exalted in glory than the heavenly hosts.
I behold a strange and wonderful mystery: the cave a heaven, the Virgin a cherubic throne, and the manger a noble place in which hath laid Christ the uncontained God. Let us, therefore, praise and magnify Him.
Today, for those on the New Calendar, is the first day when we sing the beautiful Kontakion of the Preparation of Christ's Nativity. If today the Virgin begins her journey to the Cave in which Christ our God is to born, then we must no longer put off our own preparations for His Holy Nativity.
Will we be more attentive in our prayer and worship, seeking to discern the still small Voice of the Most High? Will we focus less on this food and that food and how far down the list whey powder needs to be for a food to be Lenten, and simply eat simply in quietness and with Thanksgiving?
Let us journey with the holy Theotokos to Bethlehem to be present for the Angels’ song, the shepherds wonder, and the astonishment of the Magi.
KONTAKION OF PREPARATION OF CHRIST’S NATIVITY IN TONE THREE
Today the Virgin cometh to the cave where she will give birth in an ineffable manner to the Word Who is before all the ages. Rejoice, therefore, O universe, when thou hearest it heralded: Glorify Him, with the angels and the shepherds, Who chose to be seen as a new-born babe, the God Who is before all the ages.
