THE SECOND SUNDAY after CHRISTMAS
PARISH LIFE NOTES
CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!
TODAY AT ST. MARY’S: 10.30 a.m. Morning Prayer, with Carols of Christmas and Sermon. Henry preaching.
AUDIO RECORDING of the full service and sermon is available on the parish website.
THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD, that is the ‘shining forth” of God in the person of Jesus Christ brings the celebration of Christmas to a climax and fulfillment. Join us next Wednesday, January 6th, at 7:00 p.m. on “Zoom” for an evening of theological reflection and a special evening service from St. Mary’s that will include a “Blessing of the Waters” in anticipation of the Baptism of the Lord next Sunday. Zoom link will be sent out next Tuesday.
A FROM THE FATHERS: AS FIRE COMES TO BE IN IRON. (Part 2)
So then, one might ask, “ How was God the Word not filled with bodily weakness?” We reply: as the fire does not share in the distinguishing marks of the iron. Iron is black and cold, but nonetheless when turned into fire it takes on the outward form of fire. The iron glows, yet the fire is not blackened. The iron is set ablaze, yet it does not cool the flame. So too with the human flesh of the Lord: it shares in the divinity, yet it does not impart its own weakness to the divinity…Are you puzzled how the easily corruptible nature can have incorruptibility through its communion with God? Realize that it’s a mystery. God is in flesh that he may kill the death that lurks therein. For as the harm caused by poisonous drugs can be overcome by antidotes when they are assimilated by the body, and as the darkness residing in a house is dissolved by the introduction of light, so too the death that dominates in human nature is obliterated by the presence of divinity. And as ice in water, for as long as it is night and dark, is stronger than the liquid that contains it, but the warming sun melts the ice by its ray, so too death rules until the advent of Christ, but when the saving grace of God appears,, and the sun of righteousness arsis, death is swallowed up by victory, unable to bear the visitation of true life.
O the depth of the goodness of God and his love for humanity! In response to his superabundant love for humanity we rebel against being his servants. We seek to know why God is among humans, though we should be adoring his goodness.
On the Holy Birth of Christ, St. Basil of Caesaria, (A.D. 329-379)