In October of this year, Presvytera Stephanie and I were blessed to welcome our first child into the world. In the months, weeks, and days leading to the birth of our son, we prepared by washing his clothes, arranging his room and installing his car seat. The anticipation brought us a heightened sense of anxiety and excitement because we knew that our lives would soon change forever.
Friends and family members repeated the same phrase to us, "just wait, there’s nothing that compares to being a parent." When our son was born, we realized they were right. The overwhelming euphoria we felt when we met him can never accurately be put into words. It is something not fit to be described, but experienced.
Every child that is born into this world has a significant impact on its family, but how often do we pause and consider how the birth of God, in the flesh, has impacted not just one family, but all of creation? As the Kontakion exclaims, "Dance for joy O earth, on hearing the gladsome tidings; the angels and the shepherds now glorify Him Who is willing to be gazed on as a young Child Who before the ages is God."
If we truly understand the significance of Christ’s birth, then during the weeks approaching Christmas, our anxiety and excitement levels will rise, knowing that His arrival will impact our lives forever. The Church in her infinite wisdom encourages us to prepare for the birth of our Savior by participating in daily activities such as fasting, prayer and almsgiving.
Fasting. Saint Symeon of Thessaloniki parallels the forty-day Nativity Fast with the forty-day fast undertaken by Moses before he received the Ten Commandments: "And we, fasting for forty days, will reflect upon and receive from the Virgin the living Word – not written upon a stone, but born, incarnate." By denying ourselves of worldly indulgences, fasting brings us closer to God. It also serves as a daily reminder that God will soon give us the greatest expression of His love: His Son.
Prayer. We may choose to pray for any reason whether out of need, thanksgiving, doubt, fear, gratitude, anxiety or love. Standing in silence and opening our hearts to God is important year around, but our prayer life must intensify during the Nativity Fast. As Moses earnestly prayed before receiving the Ten Commandments, we must also fervently pray to receive the newborn King.
Almsgiving. "But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3:17) If we truly wish to celebrate Christmas, then God must not just be born in Bethlehem, but in our hearts as well. Giving of our time, talents and treasure to charity and philanthropic causes allows for the love of God to dwell in us, and the joy of Christ’s birth to permeate our entire being.
Through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, we as Orthodox Christians can properly prepare to receive the Christ Child. These disciplines help us join all of creation to rejoice in exultation knowing that God has sent His Son into the world to save it and save us. As Saint John Chrysostom exclaims, "I too with the angels, sing: Glory to God in the Highest!" But this overwhelming euphoria can never accurately be put into words. It is something not fit to be described, but experienced.
May the miracle of Christ’s birth bring joy to your hearts and homes during this Nativity season and always!