Monday, December 27, 2004
Proto-Martyr Stephen the Archdeacon
4th Nativity Vigil: Isaiah 11:1-10 Epistle: Hebrews 11:17-23, 27-31 Gospel: St. Mark 9:42-10:1
Isaiah 11:1-10 LXX, especially vs. 10: "And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, and He that
shall arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles trust, and His rest shall be glorious." St. Cyril of
Alexandria directs our attention to the newsworthy significance of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ: "since, through the
mercy of God it was necessary for us to be made worthy of the Spirit again by being restored to our earlier condition, then
the Only-Begotten Word of God was made man. He was free from sin so that in His unique triumph of sinlessness the
nature of mankind, now crowned once more, might be enriched with the Holy Spirit, and thus by sanctification it was
refashioned for God....For He was constituted the first new-beginning of the race since, as God, He anointed all those who
believe in Him."
A new beginning has been released into the stream of the human race, that we might be enriched with the Holy Spirit and
refashioned for God. What a news bulletin! Mankind has real access to God! It is now possible to be restored to our
earlier condition before sin and death wreaked universal havoc in creation, corrupted our hearts and souls, and made human
life wretched. To shepherds tending their flocks near Bethlehem, Angels announced the birth of God as man, a Divine
bulletin of unimaginable, worldwide importance. Further statements concerning the significance of this great reversal in
the human condition were released in Galilee and other regions of Palestine. Evidence of the operation of this refashioning
were reported on a worldwide basis, via communiques from all continents and nations.
God released advance information through the Prophet Isaiah about a great upheaval or new beginning with three major
effects: 1) the Virgin-born, Only-Begotten Word of God would not function on the basis of limited knowledge, but with
Divine perception and precision; 2) He would advance the cause of the lowly on a worldwide basis, punishing the earthly-minded and destroying "the ungodly one" by righteousness and truth, and 3) the impact of His rule internationally would
have a transforming effect on the predatory, poisonous, and violent elements of society, turning people into gentle, caring,
innocent persons.
The Holy Spirit rested upon the Lord Jesus as a man. He was filled with "the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the
Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and godliness," and "the Spirit of the fear of God" (vss. 2,3). And
while the Spirit accompanied the Lord Jesus as His Equal, Christ our God has made it possible for the same Spirit to come
into men "after Christ, that a Comforter should not be lacking unto us," as St. Gregory the Theologian states it. Thus as
Christ did not "judge according to appearance, nor reprove according to report," but with Divine acuity, so also His holy
ones, through the Spirit, are being enabled to see and speak with insight and accuracy that defies mere human perception.
As we know from the Gospels, the Lord Jesus advanced the "cause of the lowly" (vs. 4) by healing, teaching truth, and
loving sinners. At the same time, He punished the earthly-minded and began the destruction of "the ungodly one" (vs. 4).
And He continues that work through His Church, so that we may share in this transformation until He completes it
supremely at the end. Using the imagery of wild and domestic animals, the Prophet reveals what the Lord does in restoring
human personality: builds up meekness, tenderness, simplicity, and humility (vss. 6-9). Theodoret of Cyrus notes: "we see
the accomplishment of the prophecy in the churches: emperors...soldiers, artisans, servants, and beggars partake together at
the Holy Table."
Listen, O mountains and hills and the regions about Judah: for Christ cometh to save man whom He did create; for He is
the Lover of mankind.
