NATIVITY EPISTLE
TO THE FAITHFUL CHILDREN OF THE NORTH AMERICAN DIOCESE
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December 25, 2012/January 7, 2013 “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace:
good will among men.” (Luke 2:14)
The time of great spiritual and emotional tribulations has come for us all. Of this there is no doubt. Likewise, we have no doubt that the events which occurred in recent years and still continue to occur have been permitted by God. However, it is most sorrowful to see that instead of a spiritual flourishing of faith and piety in our homeland and abroad the “mystery of iniquity” (2 Thess: 2:7) is woefully taking root. Nonetheless, having cast aside our despondency, we ought to remind ourselves that our joy and comfort are not in fellow compatriots nor in “friends” but in our Lord God and Savior.
According to His goodness, and according to our faith, God daily comforts our despondent heart by His grace, but particularly on the days of the great and salvific feasts. The incarnation of the divine infant Christ, is a “great mystery of piety”. This is “a strange and most glorious mystery” hymns the Church. For the first time ever, fallen man heard the singing of heavenly angels: “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace”.
In focusing one's attention on this marvelous chant, one must pay particular attention to the word “peace”. Peace is not calm idleness. This is a grace-filled state of the soul granted to us from heaven. This is a divine gift. Only peace granted by God is true peace; that same peace about which the heavenly angels sang out on this grace-filled night. It is possible for a person to acquire this grace-filled gift of peace, but we are not capable of describing it in our earthly words!
The holy Evangelist John the Theologian describes the words of the prayer of the Lord to God the Father: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the enmity.” (John 17:15). “Enmity” has existed throughout the ages. In what turmoil the faithful agonized because of the monophysites, iconoclasts and other destroyers of peace, the tempters of “these little ones”! These holy confessors endured and did not grow despondent; by their example they teach us as well to endure our contemporary traitors.
May the Lord God help us all to lay aside those thoughts which oppress us, and instead that we may give the glory to God through the festal hymns: “As God of peace and Father of compassion, Thou didst send Thine Angel of Great Counsel, Who granteth us peace. Therefore, guided to the light of knowledge divine, and waking at dawn out of the night, we glorify Thee, Who lovest mankind.” (Ode V, Irmos)
I congratulate all the honorable clergy, beloved spiritual children and trusted friends on the feast of the Nativity of Christ. May the peace of God settle upon all of you and may the Lord God bless all of your good intentions and deeds in the new year 2013.
+Bishop Stefan, of Trenton & North America
