|
|
by Rev. Fr. Joseph Varghese
"And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Isaiah 40:5
The great message for the Christmas is that the Glory of God is revealed in Bethlehem. It is a full disclosure of His goodness, attributes and manifestation through His son.
- What is the Glory of God? (Exodus 33: 17-19)
- Glory is His goodness
- Glory is His attributes
- Glory is His manifestation
The invisible Glory is revealed in the form of visible Baby Jesus. The Glory of God only partially revealed to Moses and Elijah at Mt. Horeb. The glory can be partially seen in all creations of God. "The whole earth is full of His Glory" Isaiah 6:3.
As St. Paul told in Hebrews1: 1-4
"In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs."
- Christ revealed in God's Person
- Christ revealed God's Power
- Christ revealed God's Mercy
- Christ revealed God's Provision for us.
At the manger, the shepherds witnessed this Glory of God in Person. The Angels sang about revelation of Mercy of this Glory. The Maggie paid tribute and honor the power of this Glory.
Christmas time is the time to look back on the revelation of his glory in human flesh to guide us in the present as we make our journey. We have to separate and overcomes the polarity between the material and spiritual, the profane and the sacred, the natural and the supernatural. Just as God's glory and presence dwelt in the midst of us as we journeyed through the materialistic world, now God's glory and presence is amongst his people as we make our journey ‘to the better country' (Heb 11:16). This Christmas may transform us by this glory, just as Moses was transformed by God's glory when he face shone from being in the presence of God (2 Cor 3:7-18). Let this Christmas time reminds us that he was the incarnation of God's glory, and keep Christ in our Christmas.
Wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
See Also:
Apostolic Message On The Holy Occasion of Christmas by Patriarch of Antioch and all the East (2011)Christmas Message by Archbishop Yeldho Mor Theetos
Christmas Message from HE Mor Gregorios Ibrahim, Aleppo, Syria
Christmas Home | Sermons Home | General Sermons and Essays | Articles Home | Library - Home
-------
Malankara World
A service of St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox
Church, Ohio
Copyright © 2009-2020 - ICBS Group. All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer
Website designed, built, and hosted by
International Cyber Business Services, Inc., Hudson, Ohio
