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Opening Prayer
Christ, the true light, who enlightens and sanctifies every person coming into the world, let the light of Your countenance shine upon us that we may see Your unapproachable light; and guide our steps in the way of Your commandments, through the intercessions of Your all-holy Mother and of all the saints. Amen.
Part I: God is with us!
Reflection
Your Nativity O Christ our God, has shone to the world the light of wisdom, for by it those who worshiped the stars, were taught by a star to adore You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You, the Orient from on high. O Lord, glory to You! – Troparion for the Feast of the Nativity Listen here
“For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up says the Lord of hosts so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go forth leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day I act, says the Lord of hosts. – Malachi 4:1-3
It is that time of year when the air becomes so crisp it can take your breath away. Many of us are used to seeing dreary days filled with rain, snow, and clouds, anticipating when the sun will shine its rays once again. And in those rare moments during this season, the sun is welcomed and cherished. And yet, in the midst of this season of darkness and cold, we celebrate the coming of the Light into the world. Christ the Incarnate God is the Light to all the nations, the chosen Servant of God who has come to bring everlasting Sunlight to our darkened lives. In the same way that in these winter days we long for sunlight and warmth, we can long for Christ’s appearance on earth throughout the Advent season. Just as the manger was a place of darkness awaiting to receive the Light, our hearts too are preparing to receive Christ. We can anticipate the hope that His Incarnation brings to the world, a hope that illuminates our spiritual eyes and warms our hearts.
One of the many titles of Christ in the prophetic texts in the Bible and repeated in the hymns of the Nativity is the “Sun of Righteousness.” Additionally, in Psalm 84:11, God is called “a sun and a shield,” bestowing favor and honor and never withholding any good thing to those who follow Him. As the very source of light, and being the True Light, God bestows this same title to His Son, who appears on earth to enlighten those in darkness (Jn 1:5). This is the most incredible miracle of human history—God came to earth, uniting us to Him, whom He loves so dearly. It is in this way, that we can exclaim “God is with us!” In His appearance on earth, God is truly with all every person coming into the world (Jn 1:9), not only with those who believe in Him but even with those who do not seek Him.
Discussion Questions
- Advent is a time of preparation and waiting, much like the world waited in darkness before the coming of our How can we make space for Christ’s light to shine in our hearts? What might be pulling us away from preparing for the Nativity in the winter season?
- Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, shines for all people—not just Orthodox How can you (individually and with your chapter) be a reflection of that light to those around you, even for those who may not necessarily be seeking after Him?
- Reflect on some areas where you may feel distant from How can the light of Christ bring healing and renewal for you?
Part II: Let us submit ourselves!
Reflection
All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. – Matthew 11:27-30
God is with us! Understand all nations and submit yourselves, For God is with us! – Isaiah 8:9-10, sung at Christmas Eve Great Compline Listen here
The message of the “Winter Pascha” is this—God is with us on earth. Christ is in our midst, our very God whose nature is inconceivable, unknowable, unimaginable, and yet revealed in the form of a child. To be able to understand this and to submit ourselves is truly our greatest joy and hope. Just as we long for sunlight during dreary days, we should treasure and celebrate Christ’s presence in our lives, especially during this season of preparation for Christ’s nativity.
When faced with the reality of God’s presence among us, how are we to submit ourselves? In the words of Saint Maria of Paris, we are called to “love one another, only, to the end, and without exceptions.” By emulating our Lord in His humility, we are to submit to Him and one another in unconditional love. And we do so together, on the path that has been laid out by the Church herself.
During this season of fasting and preparation, there are many temptations to indulge ourselves in holiday gatherings, shopping, and delicious food rather than to submit ourselves to God and to our neighbor in love. While none of these things are bad in and of themselves, it is important to guard our hearts from becoming consumed by the world around us such that we have no space in our lives for Christ and His beloved people. Let us use every ounce of effort to read more scripture, find writings from the Church Fathers, and reflect on the lives of the saints. Set aside time to pray for those in our lives, especially for those that have hurt us. Even if it’s just five minutes each day, this time is not wasted in the eyes of God. These practices will look different for each of us, but if we challenge ourselves to be just a tad better every day, God will see the effort and bless it. Ultimately, we must remember to not have our eyes fixed on the bright lights on the trees or billboards but to rest our eyes on the True Light.
This is the time to rejoice and give thanks for the light Christ brings, knowing that He dispels the darkness of both our hearts and the world around us. Let us sing praises to the God who loves us so much that He humbled Himself down to our existence, to lift us to Him in ways that we cannot begin to imagine!
Discussion Questions
- How do you wrestle with the concept of God being incomprehensible, yet revealed to us in a tangible way through His Incarnation? How does this tension shape your faith and your approach to understanding God?
- In what ways can we embody Christ’s humility in our relationships with others? How can each of us cultivate a heart that is willing to receive and share humility in our daily lives?
- What do you need to clear from your heart in order to submit yourself to God this Nativity season?
The post Let Us Prepare for the Sun of Righteousness | Guided Discussion appeared first on Orthodox Christian Fellowship – OCF.
