www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology The Nativity----St. John Chrysostom

I behold a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd's song, piping no soft melody but chanting forth a full heavenly hymn. The Angels sing. The Archangels blend their voice in harmony. The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise. The Seraphim exalt His glory. All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and man in heaven. He Who is above, now for our redemption dwells here below; and he that was lowly is by divine mercy raised.

Bethlehem this day resembles heaven; hearing from the starts the singing of angelic voices; and in the place of the sun, enfolds within itself on every side, the Sun of Justice. And ask not how: for where God wills, the order of nature yields. For He willed, He had the power, He descended, He redeemed; all things move in obedience to God. This day He Who Is, is Born' and He Who Is, becomes what He Was Not. For when He was God, He became man; yet not departing from the Godhead that is His. Nor yet by any loss of divinity became He man, nor through increase became He God from man; but being the Word, He became Flesh, His nature because of impassability, remaining unchanged.

"This day, He Who was ineffably Begotten of the Father, was for me born of the Virgin: in a way no tongue can tell. Begotten according to His nature before all ages from the Father; in what manner He knows Who has begotten Him; born again this day from the Virgin, above the order of nature, in what manner knows the power of the Holy Spirit. And His heavenly generation is true, and His generation here on earth is true. As God He is truly begotten of God; so also as man is He truly born from the Virgin. In heaven He alone is the Only-Begotten of the unique Virgin.

Though I know that a Virgin this day gave birth, and I believe that God was begotten before all time, yet the manner of this generation I have learned to venerate in silence, and I accept that this is not to be probed too curiously with wordy speech. For with God we look not for the order of nature, but rest our faith in the power of Him Who Works.

And what shall I say? And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of Days has become an infant.

He has decreed that ignominy shall become honor, infamy be clothed with glory, and total humiliation the measure of His Goodness. For this, he assumed my body, that I may become capable of his Word; taking my flesh, He gives me His Spirit; and so He bestowing, and I receiving, He prepares for me the treasure of Life. He takes my flesh, to sanctify me. He gives me His Spirit, that He may save me.

Come, then, let us observe the Feast. Come and we shall commemorate the solemn festival. It is a strange manner of celebrating a festival; but truly wondrous is the whole chronicle of the Nativity. For this day the ancient slavery is broken, paradise is unlocked, the curse is taken away, sin is removed from us, error driven out, truth has been brought back, the speech of kindliness diffused, and spreads on every side, a heavenly way of life has been implanted on the earth, angels communicate with men without fear, and men now hold speech with angels.

Why is this? Because God is now on earth, and man in heaven; on every side all things commingle. He has come on earth, while being Whole in heaven; and while complete in heaven, He is without diminution on earth. Though He was God, He became Man; not denying Himself to be God. Though being the impassable Word, He became flesh; that He might dwell among us, he became flesh, He did not become God, He was God. Wherefore He became flesh so that He Whom heaven did not contain, a manger would this day receive. He was placed in a manger so that He, by Whom all things are nourished, may receive an infant's food from His Virgin Mother. So, the Father of all ages, as an infant at the breast, nestles in the virginal arms, that the Magi may more easily see Him. Since this day the Magi too have come, and made a beginning of withstanding tyranny; the heavens give glory, as the Lord is revealed by a star.

------St. John Chrysostom

[ 12-24-2001: Message edited by: Joe Prokopchak ]

AMEN.

BUON NATALE TO ALL!

Dear friend, Joe Prokopchak:
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Is is so good to see your name again. I thought that you had left us. The Byzantine Forum would have suffered greatly if you had. I learn so much from your posts and profit from your holy prayers.
Thank you for this marvelous meditation from St. John Chrysostom. I have prinited it out and will keep it in my bible.
Many blessings to you, my friend.
Merry Christmas! unworthy and sinful Silouan

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Joe Prokopchak:
I behold a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd's song, piping no soft melody but chanting forth a full heavenly hymn. The Angels sing. The Archangels blend their voice in harmony. The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise. The Seraphim exalt His glory. All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and man in heaven. He Who is above, now for our redemption dwells here below; and he that was lowly is by divine mercy raised.............
------St. John Chrysostom [QUOTE]

Thank you Joe, for that wonderful meditation. I read it just before going to Midnight Mass last night.
I also intend to print it out, for my own use, and I wish to give it to a young Seminarian friend - please would you give me the reference in St John Chrysostom's writing for it for it ?


Behold ! A Saviour has been born to us. He is Christ the Lord. Oh come let us adore Him.

On this Wonder filled Day

Angela

[ 12-25-2001: Message edited by: Our Lady's slave of love ]

Christ is born !
Glorify Him !

Heaven and earth now prophetically exult...for the hope of the nations has come... (Litya stikhera from Great Compline).
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Angela,

I'm only two years late in replying to your post. Sorry about that. I got this homily from the Catholic Information Network web site. The url is below.

http://www.cin.org/xmasref.html

Joe Prokopchak
The best gifts are not found on store shelves, but in our hearts.

Joe,

Got to give you incredible credit for follow-thru.

God grant you many years of Christmas Eve posting. (At this point, it approaches the status of being a custom, think you are obligated to post to Anhelyna annually on December 24.)

Merry Christmas,

Neil

Heheh - thanks for the reference Joe

And it's very timely too - Gerald is now in his 5th year in Rome and studying patristics. After this year he will spend the next 2 years before his Ordination specialising in patristics. Silly person forgot to send me his book list [ ideas for Christmas presents] in time , but I believe there are all sorts of nice things on it

A wonderful day everyone

Christ is Born ! Glorify Him !

Christ is born !

Glorify Him !

CHRISTOS RAZHDAJET'SJA!
SLAVITE JEHO!

Ung-Certez

Christ is Born !

Glorify Him

Christ is born !

Glorify Him !

Khrystos razhdaiet'sia ! Slavimo Yoho !

even though I have to wait another 13 days for that

Joe - thank you for bringing up this thread again.

An update to what I have posted in the past - Deacon Gerald was at home for Christmas [ NC and Latin ] so at Midnight Mass we were treated to the Deacon singing the Gospel - wonderful !

Next year , God willing he will be celebrating Midnight Mass as a Priest.

Dear Anhelyna:

I thought it was Deacon Gerald again who sang the Gospel in Latin at the midnight Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI!

These Latin Deacons are being trained nicely in Rome.

My eyes are failing me!

Amado