Thursday, December 30, 2004
The Virgin Martyr Anysia of Thessalonika
7th Nativity Vigil: Isaiah 9:6-7 Epistle: James 1:19-27 Gospel: St. Mark10:17-20
Divine Zeal:6-7, especially vs. 7: "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." These two prophetic verses from
Isaiah describe a Divine project that has forever united heaven and earth, glory and humiliation. Eusebios of Caesarea once
took account of the scope of this project of God, and he asked, "What kind of zeal but that zeal, good and befitting Himself,
by which He desired to save all those who were subjected to the devil and dragged down to godlessness?" Do we need to
establish the desperate need for this Holy project of God? Proof lies in the sordid daily news flowing in from every corner
of the globe with reports of children aborted, Christ's Sonship denied by rigorous, sophisticated atheism, governments
shouldering arms against governments, His Name cursed, fallible men taking counsel with other men as flawed as
themselves, might and power sought only in weapons, money, and systems, the adulation of the nasty, sensual, and brutish,
war-making, increasing regulation, domination, injustice and assorted evils - the zeal of mankind assaulting every act of
love, decency, morality, and honor.
These grim conditions are not "daily news," but simply part of the massive evidence which allows our hearts to say,
"Yes," to St. Nikolai of Zica: that "all that is wonderful, all that is new, comes to the human race from Him and through
Him." The "daily news" makes the need for the Divine project obvious. At the same time, the daily news reports, when
exposed to the light of the star over the cave of Bethlehem, only add to our awe and wonder at the depth of the zeal of God.
God has zealously undertaken His Divine project for this sad world which continues generating its terrible conditions year
by year, century upon century, from the murder of Cain to the latest grim dispatch, but glory to God Whose zeal gives us
the Way to Life!
The Holy Prophet Isaiah said, "The zeal of the Lord....'will' do this" (vs. 7), and that holy man saw more than this world.
He saw God "high and lifted up" (Is. 6:1), and the Lord revealed to him, out of time, from eternity, that "to us a Child is
born" (Is. 9:6). Beloved of God, you and I have the privilege of declaring the same truth with the shepherds and the magi,
with the all-pure Mother of God, the Apostles, and all the Saints, because the zeal of God initiated His Divine project into
the world two thousand years ago. "In clear and incontrovertible terms, there is indicated by the prophecy the dispensation
of His humanity," as St. Gregory of Nyssa affirms. God is so zealous to change this world that He became man, forever
uniting Himself to us.
When Isaiah says, "to us a Son is given" (vs. 6), he also is proclaiming the Divinity of the Child Who is born to us. Divine
zeal cannot be restrained because the two natures are united. Rather, it is manifest when the God-man is born. The magi
wisely gave gifts to the Gift Himself.
Human governing is now shown to be in better hands, the Divine hands of Christ. Furthermore, we who "were dead in
trespasses, [God] made...alive together with Christ...and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:5,6). The government of the whole universe, including this sordid little planet, is on His
shoulders, our "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, [and] Prince of Peace" (Is. 9:6).
Have no despair at the ugly conditions of this world. The zeal of God is at work now, in human hearts, minds, and lives.
Therefore, "the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end" (vs. 7). The Divine project is underway,
guaranteed by the zeal of God, Who is establishing His kingdom and upholding "it with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and for evermore" (vs. 7). "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will [complete] this" (vs. 7).
I shall return to the bliss of paradise from which I was driven away by reason of iniquity, for the likeness of the Father
hath taken the likeness of a servant for His love of mankind.
