DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Saint Luke 14:16-24
(12/11-12/24)
The Sunday of the Holy Forefathers of the Lord
The Invitation: Saint Luke 14:16-24, especially vs. 16: “Then Jesus said, ‘A certain man gave a great
supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those
who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.’” The
luminous wonder of the birth-in-the-flesh of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus
Christ approaches, announcing His Natal Feast.
We first heard this invitation on November fifteenth, being
called to the ‘Nativity Fast.’
Now, with the Feast drawing much nearer, we hear words filled with
Nativity light: let us praise “...all the fathers before the
Law...” Adam, Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and
“...those after the Law - Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Samuel...” and
with them the holy Prophets including Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the
Twelve and the great Forerunner John, for these “...preached Christ, the
Life and Resurrection of our race.”
Through centuries, guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church
selected lessons for every day of the year, a schedule called ‘The
Lectionary.’ The Gospel
reading for this second Sunday prior to the Feast of Christ’s Nativity
prompts us to ask, ‘Why did the Church appoint the Parable of the Great
Supper in preparation for the Nativity?
What is the message in this selection?
Imagine the Great Supper as a kind of ‘shower’
for the Child soon to be born. Envision
the Holy Fathers who lived on earth before the coming of Christ in the
flesh. They embody invitations for
us to celebrate the coming birth of God’s Only-Begotten Son in the flesh.
Of course, a multitude of ‘lame’ excuses have
long been offered for not coming to the Feast. Now, however, the Evangelist Luke
delivers our personal invitation: will you and I accept, or are we too
distracted by the world’s ‘Christmas’ revelry?
By all means, rejoice with the
Ever-Virgin Intercessor - Mary the maid who “...cometh to the cave
to give birth in an ineffable manner to the Word....” In these final days, journey with her to
the Festival of her Son’s birth, responding like the Theotokos:
“...Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word”
(Lk. 1:38).
She models the reply perfect for every invited guest. She knows that God fills “...the
hungry with good things...” (Lk. 1:53). May we all “...hunger and thirst
after righteousness...” (Mt. 5:6) and so, ourselves, come and partake!
Consider the invitation we receive today, for it comes from
Him Who rescued “...the holy youths from the fire and Daniel from the
mouths of the lions...” (see Dan. 3:25;
6:22). What distracting activities
of this life can compare with so noble an offer from such a gracious Host? We are privileged, Beloved
of the Lord, to share in the delights extended by Him Who gave joy to the
youths of God, saving them by “...the dew of the Spirit as though they
were in a garden....” He is
the very Savior and Lover of mankind Who delivers
sinners like ourselves from the eternal death of separation from God. Now, He asks you to come to His sacred
Feast.
Let us stop and think!
The Host of this Feast is the Word of God, the One Who called Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, and formed the progenitor of our race out “...of the
earth, and breathed upon his face the breath of life, and the man became a
living soul” (Gn. 2:7). This
same “...Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn. 1:14). He gives us every cause to praise those
from whom He “...was seen to come in the flesh for the abundance of His
compassion.”
Yes, let us join with Isaiah and “...shout with a
loud voice...saying, ‘Behold, the Virgin shall conceive in the womb and
give birth to a son, Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, “God with
us”’” (see Is. 7:14).
Let us come on foot, but foremost in our heart to the Feast at
Bethlehem!
By the beseechings of the Holy
Forefathers, O Master Who camest as the Servant of
God to fill His Great Banquet, forgive our excuses that we may hasten without
delay to Thy Feast.
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