Day 24, Advent Devotional Dec 24, 2015

Dec 24, 2015

Scripture of the Day:  

                Philippians 2:5-11 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202:5-11)

Thought of the day:  One Lord Jesus Christ who is of same substance with the Father.

                The eve of Christmas is a perfect day for us to reflect on the person of Christ. Even small children will wonder at the amount of adoration that we give to this small child that was born in a manger. They might ask us, “Is Jesus God?” The answer is a resounding yes. As we confess in our creed daily, Christ is “of the same substance with the Father.” In other words our Lord Jesus Christ is equal to the Father. St Paul reveals this truth to us in a poetic passage of Philippians. In the second chapter we read of the incarnation in this manner: “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself” (Philippians 2:6-7).

                Son of God emptied himself and became human. The equality with God the Father was not something to be grasped but something to be given up. St Paul reminds us that this self emptying is an example for all of us to follow. As we close our yearly meditation on the theme of “Growing as Disciples of Christ” let us follow the example of Christ and empty ourselves. What are we gripping onto very tightly in our lives? Is there anything that we are reluctant to give up? May we all follow the example of Christ.

Song of the Day:

Naranayi vannu - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqOctp4s6Tg

Icon of the Day:

                Icon of the Dormition: https://iconreader.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/the-dormition-icon-of-hope/

Quote of the day:

"As one therefore of the forsaken, in that He too like us partook of blood and flesh, He says, Why forsookest Thou Me? which was [the utterance] of one who was undoing the forsaking that had come upon us and as it were winning the Father to Himself and calling Him to good favour to us as to Himself first.”

― Cyril of Alexandria, On the Unity of Christ

Day 21 Advent Devotional Dec 21 2015

Dec 21, 2015

Scripture of the Day:  

                Isaiah 25:6-10 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+25%3A6-10)

Thought of the day: Christ the Victor over Death

                Today is celebrated as the feast day of St Thomas the Apostle to India. It is believed that he was pierced with spear on Dec. 18^th and bled for three days and died on Dec. 21^st. Why is it that we Christians celebrate the day of death of someone as a feast day? It is because Christ defeated death. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord we must keep in the back of our minds that this was a person who was born to die. This truth is taught to us in the Icon of the nativity.

                Death entered into the world as a result of sin. The Son of God became man in order that by his life he might defeat death. At every point in the life of Christ we see the victory that He gains over sin and the consequences of sin. The ultimate victory is His victory over death through his resurrection. As it is prophesied through Isaiah – “And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples,  the sheet that is spread over all nations;  he will swallow up death forever.” Christ was able to transform death from a dead end to a doorway to eternal life. It is because of this that we celebrate the day of a martyrdom as a feast day. For in this day the blessed martyr passed through the doorway of death to eternal life. May the prayers of St Thomas be a stronghold for us.

Song of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCAXLx2OyeI

Icon of the Day:

                Assurance of St Thomas: https://iconreader.wordpress.com/2011/04/30/the-assurance-of-thomas-believing-not-doubting/

Quote of the day:

“Glory be to Him, Who never felt the need of our praising Him; yet felt the need as being kind to us, and thirsted as loving us, and asks us to give to Him, and longs to give to us. His fruit was mingled with us men, that in Him we might come near to Him, Who condescended to us. By the Fruit of His stem He grafted us into His Tree.”

— St. Ephrem the Syrian

Day 17 Advent Devotional Dec 17

Dec 17, 2015

Scripture of the Day:  

Romans 10:9-18 ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10%3A9-18)

Thought of the day: Hearing the Gospel

                In the past few days we have thought about the benefits (joy, casting out of fear) that we gain from the gospel of Christ’s birth. We should know that all of these benefits are only ancillary to the prime gift that we receive through Christ’s birth – salvation. By the birth of the only begotten Son as a human being, God gifted to us salvation. In order for us to receive this gift we ought to believe the gospel. St Paul uses a few actions that faithful will do. Confession with mouth and believing with heart are essential to receive the gift of salvation. However the first step is hearing the good news.

“But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Rom 10:14-15). Here St Paul is emphasizing the urgency of the need to preach the gospel and for recipients to hear the gospel.

It is in light of this command to hear the gospel that we ought to think about how the gospel is preached in church. One of the climactic points in every liturgy is the reading of the Holy Scriptures. There is a progression in the order of the readings as well – first from Pentateuch, then from major prophets, then general epistles, Pauline epistles as penultimate and Gospel as the finale. In the light of these readings the minister preaches the gospel of the day. The purpose of this act of the reading from the Holy Scriptures and preaching on those scriptures is to fulfill the need that St Paul points out – in order for someone to believe they must first hear.

Sadly many Orthodox believers do not come to church in time to hear the gospel. Is it any wonder then that many do not have a zeal for the gospel? Without hearing how can they believe and confess? It is further pitiful that young parents do not bring their children to liturgy in time to hear the Holy Scriptures. A whole generation of young people grow up in the church without ever hearing the good news about Jesus Christ! What a shame! At the close of this year let us make a resolve to arrive in church so that we can hear the gospel.

Song of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8eZQD3Xl3s

Icon of the Day:

                Syrian Orthodox and Kerala Christians did have traditional Christian art forms. However these were discontinued and we began to experience a gradual influence of western art in our churches. In the last generation there has been a conscious effort by the various groups of St Thomas Christians of Kerala to revive an authentic Indian Christian paintings. Here are a few examples:

1.       Syro-Malabar :

a.       http://stalphonsamma.blogspot.com/2008/10/icon-of-st-alphonsa.html

b.      http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/images/img26.jpg

2.       Syro-Malankara:

a.       http://wikimapia.org/8396037/St-John-s-Metropolitan-Cathedral-Tiruvalla#/photo/552747

Quote of the day:

                “If the poison of pride is swelling up in you, turn to the Eucharist; and that Bread, Which is your God humbling and disguising Himself, will teach you humility. If the fever of selfish greed rages in you, feed on this Bread; and you will learn generosity. If the cold wind of coveting withers you, hasten to the Bread of Angels; and charity will come to blossom in your heart. If you feel the itch of intemperance, nourish yourself with the Flesh and Blood of Christ, Who practiced heroic self-control during His earthly life; and you will become temperate. If you are lazy and sluggish about spiritual things, strengthen yourself with this heavenly Food; and you will grow fervent. Lastly, if you feel scorched by the fever of impurity, go to the banquet of the Angels; and the spotless Flesh of Christ will make you pure and chaste.”

+ St. Cyril of Alexandria

Day 16 Advent Devotional Dec 16

Dec 16, 2015

Scripture of the Day:  

                Isaiah 52:7-10 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2052:7-10)

Thought of the day: Joy as wellspring of worship

                In today’s scripture portion God commands his people to “Break forth together into singing” (Isaiah 52:9). God also provides the reason why people will sing together. The joy of knowing the gospel compel the people to worship. It should be noted that the prophet is referring to a corporate worship. One of the defining features of Orthodox faith is its emphasis on corporate worship. In fact this is evident in a place like Albany. If we were to go to any of the Orthodox churches on a Sunday morning we would find believers gathered together and doing very similar actions. While the particular gestures, symbols, language and vestments might be distinguishable, the essential “work” of the Liturgies is the same (the word liturgy means the work of the people). The wellspring of this common “work” is the joy that the believers share in knowing that Lord has returned to Zion (Isaiah 52:8).

Song of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdsmsgm0zeA

Icon of the Day:

                Icon of the transfiguration: https://iconreader.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/transfiguration-icon-the-event-and-the-process/

Quote of the day:

               

How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Psalm 84:1-2