December 20, 2024
Martyr Ignatius the God-bearer, Bishop of Antioch
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
It is customary during fasting seasons to increase our spiritual efforts. Of particular importance during the Nativity Fast is the giving of alms. Saint Nicholas, one of the Church’s most beloved saints and a hallmark of the Christmas-season, is best known for his generosity and charity. He stands as an example to us of how we ought to prepare for the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In a society that occupies itself with gift giving in the time leading up to Christmas, this practice commonly serves to obscure the meaning of Christmas. God in his love for his creation gave his very self. This is the meaning of Christmas, that all of life is gift and the proper posture towards it is gratitude. Such gift giving is a praiseworthy ascetical practice when we give as did Christ in the cave of his birth and in his death on the cross. Moreover, when we give to those who cannot reciprocate, that is Christ’s poor, we imitate our Lord and his love for ‘the least of these.’ Christian gift-giving is always the giving of oneself and the gift acting like a sacrament elicits communion with our fellow man. In this spirit, and not the indulgent and consumerist one of our present age, let us give.
It is customary during fasting seasons to increase our spiritual efforts. Of particular importance during the Nativity Fast is the giving of alms. Saint Nicholas, one of the Church’s most beloved saints and a hallmark of the Christmas-season, is best known for his generosity and charity. He stands as an example to us of how we ought to prepare for the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In a society that occupies itself with gift giving in the time leading up to Christmas, this practice commonly serves to obscure the meaning of Christmas. God in his love for his creation gave his very self. This is the meaning of Christmas, that all of life is gift and the proper posture towards it is gratitude. Such gift giving is a praiseworthy ascetical practice when we give as did Christ in the cave of his birth and in his death on the cross. Moreover, when we give to those who cannot reciprocate, that is Christ’s poor, we imitate our Lord and his love for ‘the least of these.’ Christian gift-giving is always the giving of oneself and the gift acting like a sacrament elicits communion with our fellow man. In this spirit, and not the indulgent and consumerist one of our present age, let us give.
It is customary during fasting seasons to increase our spiritual efforts. Of particular importance during the Nativity Fast is the giving of alms. Saint Nicholas, one of the Church’s most beloved saints and a hallmark of the Christmas-season, is best known for his generosity and charity. He stands as an example to us of how we ought to prepare for the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In a society that occupies itself with gift giving in the time leading up to Christmas, this practice commonly serves to obscure the meaning of Christmas. God in his love for his creation gave his very self. This is the meaning of Christmas, that all of life is gift and the proper posture towards it is gratitude. Such gift giving is a praiseworthy ascetical practice when we give as did Christ in the cave of his birth and in his death on the cross. Moreover, when we give to those who cannot reciprocate, that is Christ’s poor, we imitate our Lord and his love for ‘the least of these.’ Christian gift-giving is always the giving of oneself and the gift acting like a sacrament elicits communion with our fellow man. In this spirit, and not the indulgent and consumerist one of our present age, let us give.
The Christian ought to prioritize the giving of alms over the typical exchange of gifts to loved ones. In that way we sanctify our gifts by rooting them in the Christian practice of almsgiving and mystically participate in the gift of God’s only Son – a birth where rich magi and poor shepherds, dumb animals and chanting angels, Jews and Gentiles, even heaven and earth are all brought together in a communion of love and joy. It is Christ who unites us, in whom all creation is being and will be brought together. What good news it is. Who then could restrain themselves from giving generously and abundantly in gratitude for the gift of Christ which exceeds all debts.
This Christmas season Saint Mary Magdalen offers three ways to give alms. The first is giving to our own beloved community to further its ministry and worship of God. The second is the Distinguished Diocesan Benefactors established by our Archbishop to fund the founding of new missions, the revitalization of struggling parishes, scholarships for seminarians, and other diocesan programs such as our youth ministry. The third is a collection for the diocese of Alaska, a diocese of the native peoples of Alaska which is afflicted with poverty. That collection will be held this coming Sunday at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. I urge you fellow members of our holy community to give to one or all of these worthy causes this Christmas season.
Donations given by check should note in the memo what they are being given towards. Donations may also be made through Zelle (polistinae@msn.com), Paypal (smmparishcouncil@gmail.com), and Venmo (@vespulal).
May God bless you this Nativity season and may the birth of Christ shine brightly in your hearts.
In Christ Jesus,
Father Matthew Brown, Rector