Dec 152016

You made us share in Your divine nature.
You became a mortal man, but You are still God.
You have lifted us up from our fallen state:
Holy are You, O Christ and Lord! (Nativity Canon of Matins, Ode 3)
The kingdom of God began in Eden, the Garden of Paradise. Disobedience blocked the Tree of Life. The Nativity hymns provide the recreation event of Christ's birth as a "homecoming" "Bethlehem has opened Eden! Come let us see! We have found joy in a secret place hidden from the eyes of the world. We can take possession of Paradise that is within the cave. There the unwatered root has appeared, flowering forth in pardon. There too is the undug well, from which David longed to drink of old. There the Virgin has brought forth a child who will quench the thirst of Adam and all his descendants. Come then, let us hasten in spirit to the place where the newborn Child has come for all mankind, for He is God from all eternity" (Ikos of Matins).Isaiah the Prophet speaks of the coming of the Savior; "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Emmanuel means "God with us" (Matthew 1:23). Yes, the Lord is with us and in us. He shares His nature so we may become godly. As we celebrate the birth of Christ — God's manifestation to us in the flesh, we do not merely commemorate history, but rather His rebirth in us, and not just on Christmas, but every day of our life. His birth is the proclamation of joy — we must be joyful and proclaim this joy to everyone. He is the Prince of Peace — we must always be peacemakers. He is God's love for us in our midst, we must love each other. He is God's forgiveness and reconciliation — we must forgive and be reconciled with all. May God in human flesh, Jesus Christ, fill your lives with love, joy, forgiveness, and peace. And may you live this and spread this far and wide. My love, prayers, and blessings for a holy season of rebirth and new life. Sincerely yours in Christ God,
✠ Most Reverend Nicholas J. Samra
Eparchial Bishop of Newton