From antiochan.org, rongolini.com and dynamispublishing.org:
Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Fast of the Nativity
Scriptural Readings:
2 Kingdoms 12:1-25 (12/18-12/31) Seventh Reading in Kellia: David as a Type of Christ
David as a Type of Christ 7~Awakening Grace: 2 Kingdoms 12:1-25 SAAS, especially vs. 13: “So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’” Saint Theophan the Recluse states that “the awakening of a sinner is such an action of God’s grace in his heart that he, having awakened from sleep, sees his sinfulness and feels his danger. He then begins to fear for himself and concerns himself with how he can rid himself of this trouble and save himself....Only grace takes the sinner out of his habitual and customary bondage and relieves him from his fetters.” King David illustrates how grace awakens a sinner and stirs him into saving action. May God awaken us to act for our salvation as we reflect on His grace and mercy in these verses.
As Saint Theophan emphasizes, awakening from sin is “...an action of God’s grace....” The Lord was the primary actor in the awakening of King David. This may be seen plainly in the words that open the chapter: “And the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to David. And he came to him and said...” (vs. 1). The recovery of David to the Lord was the loving, gracious work of God accomplished when He sent Nathan. The Prophet Nathan was a trusted confidant of the king, he was a man with access to him, and one to whom David was likely to listen.
However, restraint should be ours as we consider this passage. May we not assume that we are those who should go to the ‘sinners’ around us. As a Prophet of God, Nathan was proven to have his ear and heart deeply attuned to God; He was one who knew within himself when God was sending him to the king. Take care always to measure against the Lord’s admonition to us any desire to speak to those caught in sin : “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye” (Mt. 7:5).
In this instance, the emissary whom God sent was able to speak to the sinner in a mode likely to awaken the fallen king. Nathan used ‘case history’ as the method. He reported an event between two neighbors, “...one rich and the other poor” (2 Kg. 12:1). The ‘case’ was well crafted to rouse the ire of the king against him who “...took the poor man’s lamb...”(vs. 4).
The Prophet did not leave the example as a puzzle for the king to decipher, but made the application immediate and personal to David. “You are the man.” (vs. 7). These famous words served as the hand of God ‘on the shoulder’ to shake the sleeping David back to saving rectitude.
When God graciously brings a messenger to awaken us to spiritual danger, pray God we do not expect merely to be roused. Hence, the Prophet Nathan pressed on to sound the judgment of God upon David’s life: “...the sword shall never depart from your house forever, because you scorned Me...” (vs. 10). Note this especially: first and foremost, sins are offenses against God. At last, King David was able to confess that his adultery and murder severed him from God: “Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee...” (Ps. 50:4).
In the face of true contrition, the Prophet could swiftly speak God’s forgiveness: “So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said, to David, ‘The Lord also has put away your sin. You shall not die’” (2 Kg. 12:13). God’s grace includes great mercy.
Nathan made a further declaration: consequences would follow upon David’s sin: “...your son who is born to you shall surely die” (vs. 14). Forgiveness does not stop what we unleash.
God’s grace was received effectively by David as evinced by his prayer, fasting, and vigil for the child (vs. 16), by his subsequent care to worship in “...the house of God...(vs. 20), and by his comfort of “...Bathsheba his wife...” (vs. 24).
If I think upon the multitude of my evil deeds, I tremble for the terrible Day of Judgment. But trusting Thy compassion, I shout to Thee like David, Have mercy upon me, O God.
Galatians 3:8-12
Galatians 3:8-128And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.” 9For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed. 10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.” 11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for “The one who is righteous will live by faith.” 12But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, “Whoever does the works of the law will live by them.”
Luke 13:18-29
Luke 13:18-29
18He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? 19It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” 20And again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? 21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” 22Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.
23Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He said to them, 24“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then in reply he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27But he will say, ‘I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. 29Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God.
The Synaxarion:
Saturday Before the Nativity According to the Flesh of His Companions (end of the Third century)
Saint Sebastian was a native of Milan, of senatorial rank, and very zealous for the Christian faith to which he had converted many pagans. He was seized during the persecution of Maximian and Diocletian. After having been pierced through by a shower of arrows, his body was broken by bludgeons and torn to shreds. He thus ended his martyrdom around 288. With him and also submitted to martyrdom, after various tortures, were Marcellinus and Marcus, his brothers; Tranquilinus and Marcia, their parents; Nicostratos and Zoe, his wife, as well as Tiburtios, Claudius, Castulus, and Castor.
Fifth Class Feast.
Sunday Before the Nativity According to the Flesh of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ: Memory of all the Fathers who were agreeable to God, from Adam to Joseph, the spouse of the Most Holy Theotokos
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