Glory to Jesus Christ!<\/p>\n
One day, during the pre-Nativity liturgical service celebrated at the Basilica of St. Sofia-Wisdom of God in Constantinople, St. Gregory of Nazianzus, the Theologian, overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit, exclaimed: \u201cChrist is Born! Go out to meet Him!\u201d This short phrase expresses the innate meaning of the forty days of the Nativity Fast, popularly known as the Philippian Fast. This period isn\u2019t filled with grief, but rather with joy, because Christ is coming to transform the world and grant us salvation not only through His suffering and resurrection, but also through His incarnation.<\/p>\n
True God from true God, begotten, not made descends from heaven to us, in order to be with us in our mundane earthy life often filled with difficulties. The Lord comes because He dearly loves us and desires to make the first step toward reconciliation and lift up our human nature broken and damaged by sin. Thus, the Nativity Fast is not a mere expectation or an effort to recall the important historical event of Christ\u2019s birth that occurred more than 2000 years ago, but primarily, it is a time of our soul\u2019s preparation for the encounter with the incarnated Christ. How should we prepare ourselves for this salvific event of Christ\u2019s Nativity?<\/p>\n
The secular world proposes its own version of such preparation by using festal illumination of our streets, bright and ornamented windows of our shops and richly decorated evergreen trees. The entertainment industry employs various sales tactics which entice us to make more purchases. While in the whirl of preparatory activities, we might forget to prepare ourselves to meet with the newly born child, who is God eternal. It is important to know that the festive atmosphere would only be filled with adequate internal meaning when we repent and open our hearts in order to make it ready for the Birth of Christ.<\/p>\n
Our liturgical texts pertaining to the Nativity Fast period often proclaim: \u201cBethlehem, Get Ready\u201d or \u201cthe Cave of the Nativity Be Ready,\u201d although, in reality, poor Bethlehem and the meager cave is our destitute human existence which is in need of God\u2019s nurturing. The Lord did not enter this world in the royal palace, thus, if we want God to live with us and be born in us, we have to cast aside any kind of pride and luxury of self-indulgence and chose a path of humility and quiet joy from the fact that \u201cGod is with us.\u201d Therefore, if we would like to prepare \u201ca modest cave in our soul\u201d for the birth of the child Jesus, then it would be imperative to get rid of the imaginary illusion of our self-worth and gladly accept the modest circumstances of our present lives as given to us by God for our benefit and salvation.<\/p>\n
During the Nativity Fast, the Holy Mother Church puts in front of us the images of our forefathers, fathers and prophets, who foretold the coming of the Savior. Although, they were not soothsayers, or using the modern term \u201cfuturists,\u201d but having been inspired by the Holy Spirit, they spoke on behalf of God about essential things concerning our present life with God. After all, it is crucial to maintain our relationship with God \u201chere and now\u201d rather than \u201csomewhere and sometime.\u201d Apostles Andrew and Phillip, whom we commemorate during the Nativity Fast, understood this well, since they sought intimacy with Christ and unconditionally followed Him in search of \u201clight that enlightens every person.\u201d Similarly, amid these dark late autumn days we strive for sunshine and warmth that can only be given to us by the \u201cauthentic Sun of Truth\u201d- Christ, the Savior. Therefore, the aim of fasting is to strive to be filled and sifted through by the uncreated light of God\u2019s presence in our souls granted to us by the newborn Lord.<\/p>\n
God\u2019s Son leaves behind His Heavenly dwelling in order to become one of us. So, what should we leave behind during fasting? Traditionally, the Church calls to refrain temporarily from festive celebrations and some foods, but even more importantly \u2013 to abandon pride, laziness and all that alienates us from God, from all that is superfluous in our lives and interferes with the joy of celebrating the incarnation of Christ.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Lord is coming,\u201d \u2013 exclaim our liturgical chants. He comes again and again to all of us together and to everyone in particular. So, let\u2019s prepare a road for Him to our heart. We will light the lamps of our faith, open the caves of our souls and become prepared for the gift of the new life incarnated wants to grant us.<\/p>\n
+Paul Chomnycky, OSBM
\nEparch of Stamford<\/p>\n
+Andriy Rabiy
\nApostolic Administrator of the
\nUkrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia<\/p>\n
+Benedict Aleksiychuk (author)
\nEparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago<\/p>\n
+ Bohdan J. Danylo
\nEparch of St. Josaphat in Parma<\/p>\n
+John Bura
\nAuxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia<\/p>\n
Pylypivka 2018<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TO OUR CLERGY, HIEROMONKS AND BROTHERS, RELIGIOUS SISTERS, SEMINARIANS AND BELOVED FAITHFUL, Glory to Jesus Christ! One day, during the pre-Nativity liturgical service celebrated at the Basilica of St. Sofia-Wisdom of God in Constantinople, St. Gregory of Nazianzus, the Theologian, … Continue reading