From antiochan.org, rongolini.com and dynamispublications.org:
Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: The Fast of the Nativity
Scriptural Readings:
2 Kingdoms 6:1-15 (12/12-12/25) Third Reading in Kellia: David as Type of Christ
David: Type of Christ 3 ~ Touching the Ark: 2 Kingdoms 6:1-15, especially vs. 7: “The Lord was angered against Uzzah, and there God struck him. And before God, he died there next to the ark of the Lord.” In the Divine Liturgy, at the conclusion of the Prayer of the Anaphora following the Lord’s Prayer, “the Priest takes up the Lamb [the Seal of bread] in both hands and makes therewith the sign of the cross over the diskos, saying, ‘The Holy Things are for the holy,’” to which the choir and people respond, “One is Holy, One is Lord: Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.” In these liturgical prayers, holiness is understood to pertain to the Lamb [the holy Seal of bread], to the holy People of God for whom the gifts are intended, but supremely and uniquely to the One Who alone is Holy, our Lord Jesus Christ. The hymn is quite explicit in asserting that “One is Holy, One is Lord...” implying that all else that is called ‘holy’ derives its holiness from our God Who alone truly is Holy.
For the ancient People of God, the presence of Holy God was closely associated with the ark of the covenant, a rectangular box made of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, in which was kept the two tablets on which the Lord inscribed the Ten Words (or Commandments, Ex. 25:22), the pot with a bit of manna in it, and Aaron’s rod (Heb. 9:4-5). This chest and its contents served as the unique, visible sign of the presence of the invisible God among His People.
In recognition of the holiness of God, the ark itself was treated with particular reverence. The ‘holiness’ of the ark was symbolized by its placement within the national center of worship. Overall, the plan for that tabernacle provided a large area where the people could gather for worship, and a ‘holy place’ for the priests in which they conducted the worship. The ‘holy place’ was equipped with an altar, tables, and other furnishings. In addition, screened off from the holy place by a heavy veil, there was a small room called ‘the holy of holies,’ or ‘the most holy place.’ This inner sanctuary was reserved solely for the ark which resided on a special table.
The ark’s uniqueness was revealed when the People crossed the Jordan to enter the Holy Land for the first time (Jos. 3:14-17). Afterwards, it was kept at the national shrine at Shiloh until God allowed it to be captured by the Philistines, “because of the vices of My people Israel...” (Jer. 7:12). However, the Philistines experienced “...a widespread panic of death....”(1 Kg. 5:11) for having the ark among them. They hastened to send it back to Israel in a cart drawn by newly freshened cows (1 Kg. 6:10-12). After 50,070 men were slain at Beth-shemesh by the Lord “because...they looked into the ark” (1 Kg. 6:19), it was removed to Kiriath-jerarim “to the house of Abinadab” (1 Kg. 7:1). There it stayed until King David began its move to Jerusalem.
Capturing the ark, peering into it, or touching it inappropriately were acts fraught with dangerous consequences. The point is: among the People of God, all sacred things should be treated with very great respect. Hence in Orthodoxy, icons, Scriptures, vestments, and above all, the Holy Gifts of the Lord’s Body and Blood are touched only in ways that show reverence, and are appointed to honor the Presence of God Who is known in and through these created things.
Let these accounts of mishandling of the ark remind us to approach everything associated with the presence of the Lord with the “...glory due unto His Name” (Ps. 95:7). Let us extend all reverence toward our marriages, all who are Baptized into Christ, our Church temples, ordained persons, and sacred furnishings, for “Christ is in our midst!” “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Is. 6:3).
Holy is the Lord our God. Holy is the Lord our God. Holy is the Lord our God. Exalt ye the Lord our God and worship at His footstool, for He is holy
Colossians 3:4-11
Colossians 3:4-114When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
5Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life.
8But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
Luke 14:16-24
Luke 14:16-2416Then Jesus said to him, “Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. 17At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ 18But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.’ 19Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.’ 20Another said, ‘I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22And the slave said, ‘Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” 23Then the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.’”
The Synaxarion:
December 12
Memory of our Father among the Saints Spiridon, Bishop of Tremithus in Cyprus, the Wonderworker (+ca. 348)
Saint Spiridon was a simple peasant, married and the father of several children, but in the things of God, he would not yield to anyone. This shepherd led such a simple life that he was judged worthy of becoming a shepherd of men, and so was named Bishop of Tremithus, a city of Cyprus. His great simplicity did not prevent him from continuing to feed his flocks, even though he was a bishop. He took part, according to some, in the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea and died around 348. Later his remains were transferred to Corcyra, whose patron he became.
Fourth Class Feast, follow the general order of a Fourth Class Feast.
In occurrence with a Sunday: Typika and Beatitudes. Isodikon of the Sunday. Troparia: of the Resurrection, of the Ancestors, of Saint Spiridon, and of the Church Patron. Kondakion of the Pre-festive Period of the Nativity according to the Flesh of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ (December 20). Epistle of Saint Spiridon. Gospel of the Sunday of the Ancestors. Kinonikon of the Sunday.
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