Are you really ready:
to celebrate the Messiah’s birthday? It is a very important feast. Proper observance requires thoughtful preparation. Every honest follower of Christ should personally examine how well he or she has prepared for this event. St. Matthew’s account indicates that wise men traveling from “the east,” came to celebrate His birth, bearing very expensive gifts.
Our Orthodox Fathers and Mothers have, by word and example taught us that the response to His coming to save us, should be more about a personal change of heart, rather than market value of a physical gift. We should prepare with prayer, fasting, almsgiving, Bible reading, as well as other careful God-pleasing sacrifices. As the main event is, finally, at hand, let us consider how other people, before us, had been standing in line waiting: supposing themselves to be the ones who would inherit God’s promise. In today’s Gospel lesson we read how, when confronted with the results, some were so unprepared to accept what had been anticipated. They argued whether or not “the real thing” had arrived. Two thousand years later, descendents of these people are still waiting for something to happen.
Therefore, today, the following simple questions are most appropriate : “Are you really ready to accept what God offers today?” Do you realize that what Christ came to offer is as much of a challenge as it is a gift. Christ’s gift has eternal implications. However, to benefit one has to make it to the other end of the field. For true love to last requires commitment. There is no happy-ever-after in God’s kingdom for anyone who chooses selfishness rather than to endure following Christ, our Good Shepherd, who came to save us by voluntarily laying down His life for His sheep.
