DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Saint Luke 4:16-22
(9/1-9/14)
Gospel for the Indiction: the Ecclesiastical New Year
What the New Year Brings: Saint Luke 4:16-22, especially
vs. 21: “And He began to say
to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your
hearing.’” In AD 325, the First Ecumenical Council decreed that the
Church’s year should begin September First. The Council had many reasons for
selecting this date. Already, in
the Roman Empire, September First was reckoned as the beginning of the civil
year. The Jews had long celebrated
a corresponding date as their New Year (Ex. 12:2), a day for them to celebrate
the ingathering of the fruits of the earth and for giving thanks to God. Significantly, it was at Nazareth,
during this festival of the ancient People of God, that the Lord announced His
anointing in the Spirit for the salvation of the entire world.
When Christ our God first announced the purpose of His
anointing by the Holy Spirit, He chose His home village of Nazareth. As Saint Cyril of Alexandria notes, He
did so wisely “...that His fame should now spread abroad,” granting
this favor “...first to the people of Nazareth, because, humanly
speaking, He had been brought up among them.” Here is a wonderful announcement of the
union of God with our benighted race, a message that continues from that New Year’s day to the present. The day is a joy for us as it might have
been for the Lord’s neighbors in Nazareth. However, His fellow townsmen declined
the opportunity (Lk. 4:28,29). Let us who know Christ as our Savior
gladly continue to share the great hope that He brings
to all mankind: God is united with
our humanity, both in this life and forever.
Of old, mankind lost the Spirit and became destitute of
Holy Communion by Divine command: “...My Spirit shall not remain with
these people forever, for they are
flesh” (Gn. 6:4), yet at New Year’s in Nazareth, God the
Word announced the return of the Holy Spirit to all of mankind. For Him to speak of being anointed with
the Spirit as God the Word would be absurd for He is One in essence with the
Spirit in the Godhead; but, in His humanity, He announced His anointing with
the Spirit - a proclamation with great consequence for all men, everywhere.
Subsequently, the Lord Jesus revealed that whoever believes
in Him would have “...rivers of living water” flowing from his
heart (Jn. 7:38). That was His way
of saying that after He was glorified, those who believe in Him would receive
the Holy Spirit (Jn. 7:39). After
His Passion and Resurrection, on the Day of Pentecost, the outpouring of the
Spirit began to happen and continues to the present. Do not hold back from Him. He is appealing to you. Press on to acquire the Holy Spirit, to
be anointed by Him yourself, to have your life and all our lives restored to
God according to Christ’s true, tested, and proven promise (Lk. 4:18).
On this day long ago, the Lord Jesus announced the
acceptable time is come (vs. 19).
Now, every minute, hour and day is ripe for sharing the news of Light to
those dwelling in darkness, freedom for those bound and enslaved by habits and
delusions, riches for all the poor souls of the world who are weak and broken
by the impoverishment that comes from being born into death in this present
existence (vs. 18). Now is
“...the acceptable year of the Lord” (vs. 19). As you are joined to Christ, capture the
excitement and the unlimited joy of the new day that is happening. Raise your voice with Him in our New
Year proclamation.
As Saint Cyril of Alexandria says truly: Christ our God has
“...overthrown the apostate tyrant Satan, and Himself shed the divine and
spiritual light on those whose heart was darkened; for which reason He said,
‘I Am come a light into this world;’ it was He Who unbound the
chains of sin from those whose heart was crushed thereby...” (Jn.
12:46). Glory to Him!
O God of all, transcendent in essence, Creator of the ages
and Master, bless the crown of this year, saving by Thy boundless mercy, O
Compassionate One, all who worship Thee.
Return to the September Calendar