Food for the Soul: They Offered Him Gifts - Giving at Christmas

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'" Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. (Matt. 2:1-12)

This is the Gospel reading on Christmas day as we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ. The scriptures tell of wise men from the east who, though not Jewish, sought this "King of the Jews. " They followed a star across a great distance, led by God, because they perceived that something extra-ordinary had happened; that someone extra-ordinary had entered this world. This was not a birth of another political leader of the jewish people. This was a baby to whom the very stars bowed. And so they came with gifts to offer Him as a sign of their own honor, reverance, and worship.

All three gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) were incredibly valuable and precious at the time. Their true value, however, was in what they revealed about this small baby born in a humble cave among wild beasts. These gifts help us realize the true gift that was given on that day: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son that they who believe in Him might have eternal life." Gold was the currency of kings. This was no mere infant but a king of kings. Frankincense was an incense to be offered not just to an earthly king, but to a Heavenly King. This baby was the very Son of God, incarnate. Myrrh, another incredibly valuable item at the time, was also a traditional spice used to prepare bodies for burial. The baby would save the world by destroying death through His own death and resurrection.

It is within this context that these gifts and the act and spirit of giving them, serve as an example for us. Many people trace the origins of Christmas gift-giving to these men and their offerings to the new born Jesus. For most people the troublesome aspects of present day Christmas gift-giving are 1. the commercialism attached to it and 2. the pressure it often puts on people to give gifts to people because it's expected rather than freely given out of love. It is important to remember that the current commercial state of Christmas is a reflection of the spirit of indulgence of our time, rather than a spirit of giving, and should not invalidate the practice itself.

The healthy thing to do is adopt sensible, faith-based principles to guide Christmas giving, and stick to them. Clearly, the now risen, glorified Jesus doesn't need us to give items from someone's"wish list." If, however, we give to others out of love and care, Jesus Christ considers that as good as giving to Him [Matt. 25:31-46]. Whatever is decided with this in mind, will lead us to give cheerfully, and will be reminder for both the giver and the receiver of the incomparable gift God has given to us in Jesus Christ.

On a more important level, the offerings of the wise men from the east are a call for us to reflect on our own approach to this feast.

(Soul) Food for Thought:

• On this great day, are we inspired by the great humility of our God, Who was willing to become a lowely creature to save us who had fallen into sin, sickness, and death?
• How can I foster more gratitude for the gift God has given to us in the Incarnation of His Son?
• How can I come to Christ in awe and worship to acknowledge the incredible miracle of this Feast?
• God does not want me to offer Him things, but wants me to offer myself. How can I offer myself to Him more fully?
• How can I make my gift-giving more Christ-centered? Who are the people God has put in my life? What can I offer to them, with the understanding that to give to my "neighbor" is to give to Christ, Himself?

An Orthodox Look - Movies: Saved!

Directed and Co-written by Brian Dannelly, Saved! takes place in a evangelical high school, where a senior (Jena Malone) becomes pregnant because of a misguided belief that Jesus wants her to sleep with her boyfriend in an attempt to cure him of homosexuality. Following the typical format of a "teen-movie" and filled with stereo-types, it is a satire of the world of evangelical Christians and their approach to life and faith.

On the upside:

• The basic idea behind Saved! should not be entirely offensive to Christians. It tries to document the journey of believers as they wrestle with their faith, try to figure out its true meaning, and personalize it within themself. The movie tries to point out that immature and misguided believers can easily miss the true message of Jesus Christ.
• While most of the movie's criticisms are focused on evangelical protestant culture, many of the themes are worthy of reflection for all Christians. The film's main message about the dangers and temptation of self-righteousness can be an excellent platform for discussing how the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee applies in today's world to today's Christian.
• The movie accurately portrays how some people will misuse Christian teaching, even as a weapon, to further their own ambitions and self-righteousness.
• The end of the movie, when Mary asks: "So what would Jesus do? I don't know. But in the meantime, we'll figure it out together." affirms that faith is something that is to be lived with others, though there is an absence of seeking guidance from any type of authority when doing so.

On the downside:

• Rather than exploring the temptations of Christian faith and life, the film seems only to want to point out and criticize publicly flaws among christians.
• The movie sets up an inaccurate and unhealthy dichotomy between Christian belief and teaching, and care for and love of people. True Christian belief and teaching are given out of love of people so that they "can have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).
• There is a lack of balance in the movie of portraying hypocritical, judgmental Christians and loving, accepting Christians. In fact, the only thoughtful, loving, and accepting people in the movie are not Christians.
• While satirizing Christians for their lack of tolerance, the message that is basically "preached" by the movie and is repeated several times by several characters is "if God lets something happen or if something feels good or makes someone happy, how can it be wrong?". This approach is as naive and potentially harmful as the faith of the characters the movie is criticizing. There is no discussion about the consequences of spiritually unhealthy decisions.
• The movie, including Mary's final statement mentioned above, expresses a pervasive relativism to life and faith, and dismisses any value to clear objective Christian teaching. For example, there are no instances when scripture is referred to or utilized in a positive or helpful way.

On the Calendar: 2005 OCF "Real Break" Offers College Students an Opportunity to Serve Others in the US and Around the World

Orthodox Christian college students seeking an alternative to “spring break” by serving others are invited to participate in the Orthodox Christian Fellowship’s [OCF] “Real Break” program in the spring of 2005.

OCF’s national office here has opened registration for its 2005 trips, on which students will have life-changing experiences while helping hundreds of individuals in need.

“In 2005, Real Break is excited to be returning to all of our 2004 locations,” said Joseph J. Samra III, OCF program director. “Real Break teams will also serve a special education orphanage in El Salvador and on the campus of Trinity Children and Family Services in Los Angeles, CA.

“Real Break provides alternative to ’traditional’ spring breaks for Orthodox college students, and gives them instead a full Christian experience of fellowship and service to others,” added Mr. Samra. “The program provides opportunities for spiritual growth with one-on-one interaction. A priest accompanies each group.”

Participants must raise the funds for their trip and are encouraged to share with sponsors photos and stories upon their return.

Spring Break’s 2005 venues include:

• February 26 - March 5- Raphael House (San Francisco)\
• March 5-12 - El Salvador, Project Mexico, Alaska
• March 12-19 - Greece (until 20th), Trinity Homes, Hogar Rafael Ayau (Guatemala)
• March 19-26 - Project Mexico
• March 26 - April 2 - Hogar Rafael Ayau (Guatemala)

Since its inception five years ago, over 350 students have participated in Real Break, serving 10 different locations.

“I firmly believe there is no greater short-term experience for a student then Real Break,” said Mr. Samra. “The smiles of the children we serve and the life-changing realizations made each year by the students is testament to God’s work being accomplished.”

Further information and registration forms may be obtained on the OCF website at www.ocf.net or by calling 800-919-1623.

OCF is the official pan-Orthodox campus ministry effort of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas [SCOBA]. The Orthodox Church in America's Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry cooperates closely with OCF.

In the News: Son of a Saint

This coming spring the Rev. Vasilije Sokolovic, longtime pastor of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, OH will officially be able to call his father a saint. In May 2005, the Serbian Orthodox Church will glorify the Rev. Budimir Sokolovic as a priest-martyr who survived the Nazis, but was executed for his faith by the Communists.

In 1944, the Rev. Budimir Sokolovic rode into the Serbian village of Milanovac on horseback, scooped up 6-year-old Vasilije and his brother and told them, "You are my life." It is the last memory Vasilije Sokolovic has of his father, who then returned to the battlefield during World War II as a spiritual counselor to a Serbian group that fought against the German occupation of Yugoslavia. The elder Sokolovic lived to see the expulsion of the Nazis, but did not survive the ensuing Communist anti-Christian struggle. He was jailed and later executed sometime in May 1945, his body buried in a field where no one could find it.

The sons he left behind were taught by their mother to deny any relation to the priest for fear that they, too, would be killed. Because of this, Fr. Vasilije likens moments in his own life with the Gospel account of the Apostle Peter's denial of Jesus. Sokolovic understands first hand, the fear of retribution which caused the apostle Peter to deny Jesus three times and the pain the early church leader experienced upon denying a loved one. As a young draftee in the Army, Fr. Vasilije was asked by a sergeant if he knew of a priest named Sokolovic from Bosnia . "I don't know him," Vasilije replied. "I'm from Zagreb ."

His faith, however, did not waver and he followed his father into the seminary, becoming the 42nd generation of Sokolovics to enter the priesthood. In 1966, Sokolovic left Yugoslavia under a false name and immigrated to America . He worked in steel mills and construction in Gary, IN, before he got his first parish in Masontown, PA, in 1970 and then later served in parishes throughout Ohio until 1999, when he became pastor emeritus of St Sava's Serbian Orthodox Church in Parma, OH which he had pastored since 1985.

Today, the 66-year-old priest is writing the hymns to be sung on his father's feast day. An icon is also being made as part of the preparation for the priest-martyr's glorification. On July 11 Orthodox Christians around the world will be able to celebrate St. Budimir of Dobrun and 29 other priest-martyrs of World War II.

Source: Sainthood brings closure: Eastern Orthodox priest's son never lost faith - Religion News Service - Saturday, November 27, 2004, David Briggs

Real Questions/Real Answers: Why Do We Fast Before the Nativity?

Question:

I was wondering why we fast before Nativity. The Lenten fast seems more obvious. Also, from what foods do we normally fast from during the Nativity fast?

Answer:

We fast before the Great Feast of the Nativity in order to prepare ourselves for the celebration of Our Lord's birth. As in the case of Great Lent, the Nativity Fast is one of preparation, during which we focus on the coming of the Savior by fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.

By fasting, we "shift our focus" from ourselves to others, spending less time worrying about what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat, and so on in order to use our time in increased prayer and caring for the poor. We learn through fasting that we can gain control over things which we sometimes allow to control us -- and for many people, food is a controlling factor. [We live in the only society in which an entire TV network is devoted to food!] While fasting from food, however, we are also challenged to fast from sin, from gossip, from jealousy, from anger, and from those other things which, while well within our control, we all too often allow to control us.

Just as we would refrain from eating a lot before going to an expensive restaurant for dinner -- if we "ruin our appetite" we will enjoy the restaurant less -- so too we fast before the Nativity in order to more fully feast and celebrate on the Nativity itself.

During the Nativity Fast, we are called upon to refrain from meat, dairy, fish, wine, and olive oil. At the same time, we are challenged, within this framework, to fast to the best of our ability, and to do so consistently. If we must modify the extent to which we fast within this framework, it is of course possible, but in every instance our fasting should be consistent and regular, for Christ does not see fasting as an option, but as a "must." In Matthew Christ says, "WHEN you fast, do not be like the hypocrites," not "IF you fast" or "IF YOU CHOOSE to fast."

Finally, it seems quite odd that in our society -- a society in which people gladly and freely spend huge sums of money for diets, most of which recommend that one refrain from red meats and dairy products -- fasting is not more widely embraced. How odd that a Jenny Craig consultant or diet guru or physician will tell us to refrain from eating meat or cheese or butter and we will gladly embrace -- and pay large sums of money for -- his or her advice, while when the Church offers the same advice [at "no cost"] we tend to balk, as if we were being asked to do the impossible. Fasting is part of the spiritual life. Jesus Christ, Himself, fasting in preparation for various times in His Life and ministry.

This question and answer was written by Fr. John Matusiak and was taken from the Question and Answer section of the OCA's website.

Readers Write:

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You're a reader, so…. You know the next step. Send us something you've written and would like to see in a future issue of YO-Mail. Commentary on YO-Mail is welcome, as is anything that is pertinent to our lives as Christians. Send it in to yomail@oca.org and we will put it here.

Did You Know? The celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ on December 25 was instituted by the Church in 354 A.D. Prior to that it was celebrated in connection with the Feast of Theophany, the Baptism of Our Lord on January 6.