+ Christmas and God’s Incarnation – A Message of Love
We as Coptic Orthodox Christians, celebrate the feast of the Annunciation on Baramhat 29th, i.e. April 7th where God the Almighty was incarnated through St. Mary and took our fallen to save it from corruption through His Salvation. We also celebrate His birth form the Theotokos Virgin Mary on Kiahk 29th, January 7th where the heaven declared its joy because of the reconciliation God fulfilled between heaven and earth in His birth from St. Mary, “ in the highest, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Lk. 2:14) This great birth was announced to the Jews represented in the shepherds, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
(Lk 2:11) and the Gentiles represented in the Magi, who were the disciples of Isradight (about 600 BC) who commanded them saying, (when you see His star, go worship Him and offer Him your gifts for He is the Most High who raises the heavens, lest you come to grave danger.)… This was fulfilled in the fullness of time when they came to worship Him, “For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Mt. 2:2)
These two great feasts are the fulfillment of God’s promise to man since God’s Spirit left him, “So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Gen. 3:24)
Though we know and believe in God the Logos that He was incarnated in the fullness of time and He is with us even to the end of the age (Mt. 28:20)) yet in fact His presence was before the ages as the Holy Bible confirms in different places eg., “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Jn. 1:1); “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (Jn. 8:58); “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” (Micah 5:2) This is also confirmed by the Christian Creed, “We believe in One God, Jesus Christ … born of the father before all ages …” as well as by our faith in the Holy Trinity … the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are One God …History of mankind in the Holy Bible confirms this to us through the apparition of God the Logos to some people of the Old Testament eg. to Abraham, to Jacob, and with the three children of Israel in Babylon in the fiery furnace.
About His manifestation in the flesh in the fullness of time, being incarnate of the Virgin St. Mary, this is clear form the Holy Scriptures, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Gal. 4:4, 5) also, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn. 1:14) also, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself…” (Phil. 2:8)
That is why our Church, guided by the Holy Spirit reads about His birth before the ages in the Matins Gospel of the Feast of the Nativity (Jn. 1:1-), and His birth in the fulfillment of times in the Liturgy Gospel, i.e. the Magi worship Him (Mt. 2:1-12) We have to understand that the Incarnation of God in the fulfillment of time does not affect His presence everywhere and at all times … the matter which puzzles those who are not inspired by the Holy Spirit. As the Lord himself declare to Nicodemus, “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.” (Jn. 3:13)
His descent means His Incarnation for our Salvation as the Christian Creed states, “Who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin St. Mary and became man.”
The term “for us and for our salvation” in the Christian Creed expresses His love to us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (Jn. 3:16)
This is the main goal of God’s incarnation … LOVE … this is why also St. John says in the Spirit, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1John 2:1) … and for us, all the believers, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” (1John 3:1) … “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (Jn. 1:12) this is the message of Christmas my beloved – LOVE.—“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” (1John 4:11, 12) Merry Christmas and Happy Blessed New Year + Jan. 7, 2012 Kiahk 28-29, 1728 Fr. Marcos Girgis
Our church in RI urges your love to continue with your support in prayers and contributions to fulfill its dire need concerning furnishing its building (Iconostasis, Icons, flooring, pews … etc. and mortgage payment). May God reward you in heaven and on earth, “For God loves a cheerful giver.” (2Cor
