Good Shepherd, Australian Orthodox Mission, Monash University

Christ Is Born Let Us Keep the Feast and Leap Before Him

 

A 1,627-year-old Christmas sermon by Gregory Nazianzus reminds us why we celebrate

 

One of the church’s earliest and best Christmas sermons was preached by Gregory of Nazianzus (A.D. 329-389) in Constantinople’s Church of the Resurrection on December 25, A.D. 380. A well-educated man from Cappadocia, Gregory’s life alternated between monasticism and pressure into public ministry – eventually into the bishopric of Constantinople (which he resigned shortly after his appointment). A defender of orthodoxy against the Arians (who believed Jesus was not fully God), Gregory also condemned the emperor Julian, a pagan, for attempting to exclude Christians from higher learning. But in his love for learning, Gregory also believed that belief in God’s incomprehensibility was a necessary element of orthodox theology. For his rhetorical skill, especially against the Arians, he was given the title “the theologian.”

 

“Christ is born, glorify Him. Christ from heaven, go out to meet Him. Christ on earth; be exalted. Christ in the flesh, rejoice with trembling and with joy; with trembling because of your sins, with joy because of your hope. Christ of a Virgin, without Mother, becomes without Father (without Mother of His former state, without Father of His second). He Who is not carnal is Incarnate; the Son of God becomes the Son of Man.

 

The Festival is the Theophany or Birthday, for it is called both, two titles being given to the one thing. For God was manifested to many by birth. … The name Theophany is given to it in reference to the Manifestation, and that of Birthday in respect of His Birth.

 

Therefore let us keep the Feast, not after the manner of a heathen festival, but after a godly sort; not after the way of the world, but in a fashion above the world; not as our own, but as belonging to Him Who is ours, or rather as our Master’s; not as of weakness, but as of healing; not as of creation, but of recreation.

 

I am persuaded that the Heavenly Hosts join in our exultation and keep high Festival with us today … because they love men, and they love God. …

 

Look at and be looked at by the Great God, Who in Trinity is worshiped and glorified, and Whom we declare to be now set forth as clearly before you as the chains of our flesh allow, in Jesus Christ our Lord, to Whom be the glory for ever. Amen.”

 

The full text of this sermon can be found at;  http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.iii.xxi.html

 

Tags: Christ Is Born Let Us Keep the Feast

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