“Children, I beseech you to correct your hearts and thoughts, so that you may be pleasing to God. Consider that although we may reckon ourselves to be righteous and frequently succeed in deceiving men, we can conceal nothing from God. Let us therefore strive to preserve the holiness of our souls and to guard the purity of our bodies with all fervor. Ye are the temple of God, says the divine Apostle Paul; If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy.”
+ St. Nicholas of Myra
Daily Scripture Readings
Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd reading)
7 But the righteous man, though he die early, will be at rest.
8 For old age is not honored for length of time, nor measured by number of years;
9 but understanding is gray hair for men, and a blameless life is ripe old age.
10 There was one who pleased God and was loved by him,
11 He was caught up lest evil change his understanding or guile deceive his soul.
12 For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good, and roving desire perverts the innocent mind.
13 Being perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years;
14 for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took him quickly from the midst of wickedness.
15 Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, nor take such a thing to heart, that God’s grace and mercy are with his elect, and he watches over his holy ones.
Luke 6:17-23 (Gospel, Saint)
17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,
18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia (ca. 345)
From The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints, Volume 2: October, compiled by St. Demetrius of Rostov
The great wonder-worker, swift helper of those in need, and fervent intercessor before God, Christ’s holy hierarch Nicholas, was born in Patara, a city in the province of Lycia. His parents were honorable, well-born, wealthy folk and were Orthodox. Nicholas’ father was named Theophanes and his mother Nonna. Dwelling together in lawful wedlock, they were adorned with every virtue. Because of their God-pleasing way of life, numerous good deeds, and especially their unstinting almsgiving, they, as holy roots, were deemed worthy to put forth a holy shoot, their blessed child.
Like a tree which is planted by the streams of waters, this couple was vouchsafed to bring forth fruit in its season. When their son was born, they gave him the name Nicholas, which means "victor of the nations," and truly, with God’s help he proved victorious over evil and became a benefactor of the whole world. After bearing Nicholas, Nonna never again experienced the pangs of birth: this blessed child was her first and last, nature itself confirming that it was impossible she should bear another son like Nicholas. He was sanctified by divine grace while still in his mother’s womb, and his piety was made manifest as soon as he appeared in the world. Prodigies and his love of fasting were in evidence even while his mother was still suckling him. From the moment he was put to the breast, it was clear that he would become the mightiest of miracle-workers. He took milk only from his mother’s right side because he would one day stand on the Lord’s right hand with the blessed. Showing that he would become a great faster, on Wednesdays and Fridays he suckled just once, in the evening after his parents had completed their usual rule of prayer. Theophanes and Nonna understood that he would one day be a strict ascetic, and they marveled exceedingly.
Having grown accustomed to abstinence while still in swaddling clothes, Nicholas fasted every Wednesday and Friday until his blessed repose. Similarly, when placed in the font of Holy Baptism shortly after his birth, he stood for three hours without assistance, thereby glorifying the Holy Trinity, Whose eminent servant he would become and before Whom he would be a mediator for all. As the child grew, his understanding increased, and he was instructed in the rules of good conduct by his parents. The seed of Christian teaching sprang up in his heart as though in a fertile field, every day bearing the fruit of excellent conduct.
The time soon came for him to begin the study of the divine Scriptures, and due to his natural intelligence and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he quickly achieved a profound understanding of their contents, such as befits a skillful helmsman of the ship of Christ’s Church and an experienced shepherd of rational sheep. He also proved himself perfect in the life of virtue, distancing himself from vain acquaintances and conversations. He carefully guarded himself from familiar speech with women and from looking women in the face. Attentive to preserving true chastity, he gazed upon God with a pure mind and was always to be found in the Lord’s holy church, fulfilling the word of the Scriptures: I have chosen rather to be an outcast in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of sinners. He frequently spent the whole day and night in church, reading sacred books and engaging in mental prayer to God, exercising himself in reflection upon edifying themes, and profiting from the descent of the grace of the Holy Spirit, for Whom he had made of himself a worthy dwelling-place, in accordance with the saying: Ye are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.
Since the Spirit of God dwelt in Nicholas, he was entirely purified and became altogether virtuous and spiritual, his heart ever burning with love as he labored for the Lord. No childish traits whatsoever could be seen in him, but only those characteristic of old age. Because of this everyone was astonished at him and regarded him with deep respect. Truly, if an old man’s behavior is like a youth’s, he becomes a laughingstock, because frivolity is unseemly in a person of advanced years. However, if a youth’s demeanor is like that of a respected elder, he is held in honor since gravity is pleasing and worthy of esteem, especially in the young.
Will the real Father Christmas please stand up?
This week’s calendar reminders:
Monday 12/2: Matins 8:30 am
Tuesday 12/3: no services or events
Wednesday 12/4: no services or events
Thursday 12/5: Matins 8:30 am; Vespers w/Litya for St. Nicholas 6 pm
Friday 12/6: Paraklesis to Theotokos 8:30 am
Saturday 12/7: Catechumen Class 4:30 pm; Choir Rehearsal 5 pm; Great Vespers 6 pm
Sunday 12/8: Divine Liturgy 9:15 am
