“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor 2:9) Jesus Christ at every Divine Liturgy offers Himself to those who love Him. His very presence is the Holy Eucharist, the Messianic Banquet. The Psalmist and Prophet David wrote, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God .” How many of us realize our purpose in life is “to join in the sharing of bread in the Kingdom of God , a partaking of the eternal love of God.” St. Luke in his parable of the Great Banquet (14:6-24), reminds us how Christ has invited everyone to His Divine Banquet. Unfortunately we read of those even invited who would not come. There were unresponsive guests who rejected the invitation of our Lord with their excuses. How do we respond to God? Is God the priority in my life? Can we honestly answer that we observe Sunday, the Lord’s Day with honor?

“To love someone means to think about that person, to talk about him and to be with him,” says Father Alkiviadis Calivas. These words have everything to say about our response to God. Observing the holy fasts prescribed by the church, daily prayer, reading of Holy Scripture and helping the needy should all be rooted in our love for God. We participate in the Divine Liturgy and all the Church services because we love God and want to spend time with Him.

The Nativity of Jesus Christ is not only celebrated on December 25. The Great Feast of our Lord’s Nativity is present at every Divine Liturgy and even in our Church Building . The Prothesis (North area of the Holy Altar) or Holy Credence, represents the holy cave in which the Savior of the world was born under the poorest conditions. As the priest prepares to offer the Liturgy, he calls to mind the birth of our Lord. The prosfora (holy bread or oblation) symbolizes the Mother of God. When we make or receive the holy bread we should always be mindful of the Virgin Mary, and how in her body, Christ was born in the flesh. The Nativity of our Lord is present at every Divine Liturgy. At the small entrance the Gospel is brought out. The gospel is the word of God and the procession into the midst of the faithful. The priest returns through the royal doors which represent the doors of heaven into the sanctuary, which represents the kingdom of God . The small entrance reminds us of the work of the Son of God, the Word made flesh. This part of the service witnesses how Jesus went out among the people to make Himself known, and to help the people know the Father. The Nativity accounts in both the gospels of Matthew and Luke are different, but share a common feature; the identity of Jesus was shared with others. The evangelists teach us that Christ’s identity is never received to be kept a private possession. St. Joseph , the betrothed of the Virgin Mary, did not know at first that the child of the pregnant Virgin Mary was of divine origin. Joseph had doubts. He did not want to dishonor Mary, and decided to send her away quietly. This is when an angel revealed to him that the infant conceived in Mary was begotten of the Holy Spirit. Joseph may not have completely understood who Jesus was at first, but he did want walk away or come up with excuses to leave his betrothed, the Virgin Mary. St. Joseph struggled with his faith, but he did not leave.

Soon after the birth of Jesus Christ, Joseph quietly leads his family into Egypt to save them from the threat of Herod. Joseph began to know God, and agreed to do whatever God required of him. Like Joseph, we most likely wrestle with doubts about faith. Joseph became the foster father and protector of Jesus. What was required of Joseph is required of us. We are to trust in God. What does the Incarnation of the Son of God require of us? St. John of Kronstadt wrote, “It requires us to remember and hold in sacred honor the fact that we are born of God.” Let us always honor the Lord, and remember all that He has done and still does for us. The Nativity brings the joy that our Lord prepares for those who love Him. “Christ is born, glorify Him! Christ comes from heaven, go to welcome Him; Christ is on earth, be lifted up!” (Nativity hymn)