From antiochan.org, rongolini.com, oremus.org and dynamispublications.org:
Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Fast of the Nativity
December 16
Memory of the holy Prophet Aggai (+516 B.C.)
The holy prophet Aggai was born in Babylon. Taken from Babylon to Jerusalem, he prophesied at the same time as Zacharia. He was able to see the construction of the Temple in part, which was accomplished in 516 B.C. under King Darius, and sang of its magnificence.
Fifth Class Feast.
Scriptural Readings:
Haggai 2:1-9 (12/16-12/29) A Reading in Kellia from the Book of the Prophet Haggai
Haggai’s Nativity Vision: Haggai 2:1-9 SAAS, especially vs. 9: “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former,” says the Lord Almighty. “And in this place, I will give peace,” says the Lord Almighty, “and peace of soul for a possession to everyone who builds and raises this temple.” This prophecy of Haggai is especially suited to these days during which we are nearing the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Canon offered at Orthros today in celebration of Haggai, Theophanes the Hymnographer reveals that the new temple that the Prophet sublimely prophesied is, in fact, the Incarnate Christ Jesus our Lord: “To Thy Prophet, O Christ, Thou didst show the animate temple...which came forth from the Virgin.”
The whole of Haggai’s prophecy, received in this manner, transforms Haggai’s words into a glorious forecast of the Nativity of our Savior, disclosing the gracious saving work of the Church, the eternal ‘animate temple’ of the Lord’s earthly body, which began with His birth. However, when Haggai first delivered these words, they were received as encouragement for the exiles who had lived long enough to return from Babylon to Jerusalem (537 BC) and could remember the former glorious temple of Solomon. For them, the sight of the pitiful beginnings of a second, replacement temple, seemed to their “...eyes as being nothing” (vs. 4).
Notice how the Prophet especially exhorted the two chief leaders of the community of returnees: Zerubbabel, their civic leader, a living descendant in the royal line of King David through his father, Shealtiel, and Joshua, their high priest, from the line of Aaron through his father Jehozadak (vs. 3). However, Haggai’s message included the entire populace: “...be strong all you people of the land,” says the Lord, “and work” (vs. 5); for, the Lord declares, “...all the nations shall come in , and I will fill this house with glory” (vs. 7). Considering the second Temple in Haggai’s day, we are quite certain that it did not exceed the glory of Solomon’s temple. When that Temple was enlarged by the Herod family, it may have approached the glory of the first temple, but it was quickly, utterly, and finally destroyed by the Romans in AD 70.
On the other hand, the Church, the living Body of Christ, is a true, ineffable fulfillment of Haggai’s prophesy. The Epistle of Barnabas, an early Christian epistle written around AD 100, notes that the “....Jews, wandering in error, trusted not in God Himself, but in the temple, as being the house of God. For almost after the manner of the Gentiles they worshiped Him in the temple - that is, they worshiped the temple instead of Him.” The faithful in Christ, following the wise Apostles, know the Lord Jesus is the true temple, Who has shaken “...all nations, and the choice things of all the nations [to] come in...[and] fill this house with glory” (vs. 8).
In whose midst, then, does the Spirit of God remain? (vs. 6). Use the words of Saint Basil the Great. Ask yourself: is not the Church the most evident of all places where He, “Who is omnipresent, and exists together with God,” is to be found? Indeed! And for this reason, the Church highly exalts “Him Who is in His nature divine, in His greatness infinite, in His operations powerful, [and] in the blessings He confers, good.” Join her and praise your Head.
The Holy Spirit is He Who gives “peace,” says the Lord Almighty, “...peace of soul for a possession to everyone who builds and raises this temple,” the Body of Christ (vs. 9). Thus, as Theophanes the Hymnographer teaches: “...truly great will be the glory of the Church of the Incarnate Word Who hath shared the nature of men, surpassing that of the assembly of Israel of old.” Let us build the Temple to which Christ has joined us as ‘living stones’ (1 Pt. 2:5).
O Holy Prophet Haggai, as thou dost prophesy to all mankind of that saving deed of our deliverance by the Savior, ask of Him that great mercy be granted unto all.
Hebrews 10:35-11:7
Hebrews 10:35-11:735Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. 36For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 37For yet “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; 38but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” 39But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.
11Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
4By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. 5By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.
Mark 9:10-16
Mark 9:10-1610So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. 11Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12He said to them, “Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? 13But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.”
14When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. 16He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”
No comments:
Post a Comment