December: Day 25: Teaching 2: The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Solemn Commemoration of the Deliverance of the Church and the Russian State From the Invasion of the Gauls and With Them Twenty Nations

December: Day 25: Teaching 2:
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the
Solemn Commemoration of the Deliverance of the Church and the Russian State
From the Invasion of the Gauls and With Them Twenty Nations
 
(About What Feelings These Events Should Arouse In Us and What They Should Dispose Us To)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. On this day, brethren, we remember two great events: one universal - the birth in the flesh of the eternal Son of God for the salvation of the human race; and the other our own - the deliverance of the Church and the Russian state from the invasion of the Gauls and with them twenty nations.

The events we recall today should arouse in us living joy and the most sincere gratitude to God for the great blessings that He was pleased to bestow upon us in them.

II. a) The Son of God, out of love for the human race and boundless goodness to us sinners, came down from heaven to earth and became incarnate for the sake of our salvation, in order to teach us truth and virtue, to deliver us from sins and hellish torments for them, to free us from the power of the devil and spiritual death, to reconcile us with the angry God and to open for us the entrance to the kingdom of heaven for eternal blessedness in it.

Is it possible not to rejoice at such a blessing? It is so great that even the angels of God rejoice at it and bless the Lord for it. This is evident from the fact that when Christ, the Son of God, was born, “suddenly,” says the Evangelist, “there appeared a multitude of the heavenly host, glorifying God and crying out: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, to men who pleased God” (Luke 2:13-14)!

But another blessing of God, revealed in the miraculous deliverance of our Church and State from the invasion of the Gauls and twenty nations, should fill our hearts not only with joy, but also with a feeling of sincere gratitude to God, our Savior. The terrible leader of the Gauls, hitherto invincible and commanding formidable hordes before whom all of Europe trembled, in his arrogant self-confidence dreamed of destroying and crushing our fatherland. “Russia,” he cried, “is carried away by fate to destruction: may her fate be fulfilled!” What would have happened to our fatherland, what would have happened to our faith and to ourselves, if the Lord of hosts had not helped our fathers and grandfathers to overcome this terrible warrior and destroy his pernicious intent? This is the calamity from which God delivered us in the hour of temptation! For He, only He, the Almighty, could crush our invincible enemy. Therefore, we, brothers, remembering this wondrous deliverance of our fatherland from the destruction that threatened it, must joyfully thank God, our intercessor, and cry out to Him from the heart: “Glory to You, our benefactor!”

b) But how can we fully express our gratitude to Him, how can we worthily glorify Him? With our praises and songs of praise? No, this is not enough. In the great events that we now remember, the Lord showed us His mercy not in words, but in deeds; therefore, we must thank Him not only with words, but also with deeds. What kind? Of course, good ones: for only with them can we truly glorify God, which is why the Savior tells us: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

The very events we now recall incite us to such deeds. Why did the Son of God come from heaven to earth, teach us truth and virtue, and offer Himself as a sacrifice of propitiation for our sins? For this, the Apostle answers, “that we, having been delivered from sins, might live for righteousness” (Peter 2:27). Why did the Lord subject our fatherland to a severe trial in the twelfth year and, in general, send us calamities and sorrows? So that we might be tested in them, like gold in a furnace, cleansed by them from our sinful impurities and become morally better (Mal. 3:2, 3). The Apostle also testifies to this, saying that God chastens us “for our benefit, that we may be partakers of His holiness,” that is, so that we may be “holy in all our actions,” as He is “holy” (Heb. 12:10; 1 Peter 1:15-16).

III. This is the high and good goal of the great events now commemorated! Let us strive towards it and try to attain it. For this reason, let us not indulge in sins that arouse the wrath of God and bring upon us various calamities (Sir. 9:10); but, on the contrary, let us adorn ourselves with Christian virtues, in order to glorify God with them and gain His favor. According to the words of the Apostle, all Christians are called "to holiness" - "to good works" (1 Thess. 4:7; Eph. 2:10); but we, brethren, should especially distinguish ourselves by such works and holiness of life, because we are children of the Orthodox Church and sons of glorious Russia, which has been called "holy" since ancient times.

And You, most gracious Lord, do not deprive us of Your protection and intercession. You have shown ineffable love for us in the incarnation of Your Only-begotten Son for our salvation and have shown great mercy in delivering our fatherland from terrible enemies who were planning to destroy it. We pray to You, merciful one, to prolong Your love and mercy for us forever and help us to be always worthy of Your favor.

 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.