A New Beginning

December 29, 2013
Fourth Reading at the Vesperal Liturgy for the Nativity of Christ

A New Beginning: Isaiah 11:1-10, especially vs. 10: “It shall come to pass in that day that there shall be a Root of Jesse who shall arise to rule the nations. The Gentiles shall hope in Him, and His resting place shall be honorable.” Saint Cyril of Alexandria calls attention to the significance of the Nativity of our Lord: “Since, through the mercy of God it was necessary for us to be made worthy of the Spirit again by being restored to our earlier condition, then the only begotten Word of God was made man. He was free from sin so that in His unique triumph of sinlessness the nature of mankind, now crowned once more, might be enriched with the Holy Spirit, and thus by sanctification it was refashioned for God. . . . For He was constituted the first new beginning of the race since, as God, He anointed all those who believe in Him” (McGuckin, Saint Cyril of Alexandria, p. 294, 296).

A new beginning has come, releasing humanity, enriching us with the Holy Spirit, and refashioning us for God. Here is a true news bulletin: mankind enjoys access to God! It is now possible for us to be restored to our pristine condition, before sin and death wreaked havoc in creation, corrupting hearts and souls and making human existence wretched.

To shepherds, tending their flocks near Bethlehem, the angels announce the birth of God as man. This divine bulletin, which seems unimaginable, has worldwide repercussions. Earlier statements concerning this great reversal of the human condition are released by the prophets in Galilee and regions of Palestine. Evidence of this refashioning continues to be reported today via communiqués posted from every continent and nation. Have you heard?
God releases advance notice of this new beginning through the Prophet Isaiah. He describes three major aspects of what will occur. First, the Virgin-born, only begotten Word of God will function not with limited human knowledge, but with divine perception and precision. Second, He will advance the cause of the lowly, punishing the earthly-minded and destroying the ungodly (vs. 5) by righteousness and truth. Third, His rule will transform the predatory, violent elements of society, turning our race into gentle, caring, innocent persons.

The Holy Spirit rests upon the man Jesus of Nazareth. He is filled with “the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and godliness” and “the Spirit of the fear of the God” (vss. 2, 3). With the Spirit accompanying Jesus as His equal, Christ makes it possible for the Spirit to come into other men, for “after Christ . . . a Comforter should not be lacking unto us,” according to Saint Gregory the Theologian (“On Pentecost,” NPNF Second Series, vol. 7, p. 382). Just as Christ does “not judge by reputation nor convict by common talk,” but sees with godly acuity, so also through the Spirit others are able to see with an insight that defies our expectations of normal human perception.

As we know from the Gospels, the Lord aids the “cause of the humble” (vs. 4) by healing, teaching, and loving sinners. At the same time He punishes the earthly-minded and by “the breath of His lips [slays] the ungodly one” (vs. 4). He continues this work through His Church so that many may share in this transformation.

Using images of wild and domestic animals, Isaiah reveals the essence of the Lord’s restoration of the human personality to meekness, tenderness, simplicity, and humility (vss. 6-9). As Theodoret of Cyrus notes, “We see the accomplishment of the prophecy in the churches: emperors . . . soldiers, artisans, servants, and beggars partake together at the Holy Table” (Manley, Isaiah Through the Ages, p. 210-11).

Listen, O mountains and hills and the regions about Judah: for Christ cometh to save man whom He did create; for He is the Lover of mankind. [bless and do not curse]– Vespers of the Sunday Before the Nativity

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Scripture Readings for Sunday, December 29, 2013

Luke 24:12-35 (5th Matins Gospel)

12
But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
13
Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
14
And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15
So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
16
But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17
And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
18
Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
19
And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20
and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
21
But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.
22
Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
23
When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.
24
And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.
25
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26
Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?
27
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28
Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.
29
But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
30
Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
31
Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32
And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
33
So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
34
saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
35
And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

Ephesians 6:10-17 (Epistle)

10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Luke 13:10-17 (Gospel)

10
Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
11
And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.
12
But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.”
13
And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14
But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”
15
The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?
16
So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound – think of it – for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?
17
And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

Galatians 1:11-19 (Epistle, Sunday After)

11
But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
12
For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13
For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
14
And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,
16
to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17
nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
19
But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

Matthew 2:13-23 (Gospel, Sunday After)

13
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”
14
When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,
15
and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had
17
Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
18
A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.”
19
Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20
saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.”
21
Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.
23
And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Today’s commemorated feasts and saints
27th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST — Tone 2. Afterfeast of the Nativity of Christ. Sunday after Nativity. Holy Righteous Ones: Joseph the Betrothed, David the King, and James the Brother of the Lord. The 14,000 Infants (Holy Innocents) slain by Herod at Bethlehem. Ven. Marcellus, Abbot of the Monastery of the “Unsleeping Ones” (485). Ven. Mark the Grave-digger, Theóphil, and John, of the Kiev Caves (Near Caves—11th-12th c.). Ven. Theóphil of Luga and Omutch (15th c.). Ven. Thaddeus the Confessor, of the Studion (818).

Nativity Troparion 2 - YouTube