January 3, 2012
Nativity Epistle of His
Grace Jerome, Bishop of Manhattan
"The people
that walked in darkness, have seen a great light"
Isaiah 9:2
Our
age is an age of paradoxes.
On the one hand, the words of the Prophet
Isaiah above, are filled with a deep spiritual meaning: all mankind
once "walked in darkness," not knowing the True God: and even the
Hebrew people, who did worship the True God, were ignorant of the
Lord’s plan and of the coming Messiah.
Later, the pagan nations, and especially
those of the North (as "God will come from the South [i.e. "from
Teman"]: from the viewpoint of Russia, Jerusalem is in the South),
and the peoples of the West ("and the Holy One from Mount Paran
Selah" ["the mount of the shaded woods"]: words which remind us of
Russia with the sanctuaries and monasteries of her forests, whence
also we receive enlightenment) ‒ from the Prophecy of Habakkuk, 3:3.
Every person, even from the most devout
Orthodox family, in spiritual darkness from birth until Holy
Baptism, "walks in darkness," then sees a Great Light.
But, even in these bright and joyous days
of Christmas, we are still convinced that these prophetic words also
occur in reverse order, when we see "people who have been shown a
Great Light, but walk in darkness!" In our world, in our society,
such words need no explanation. We know what goes on around us.
Therefore, the Christmas present that
brings us the most joy, is when we see those close to us, walking
not "in darkness," but in Orthodox piety. The heart is glad when
Christians live as befits their calling. And one might add that
one’s devout life on earth brings joy and consolation even to his
ancestors in the other world: those he never knew, and even those
who never knew the light of Christ in their own time on earth, but
for whom, as for all his ancestors, the Orthodox descendant prays.
His love for the Holy Church of Christ, the prayers that he offers
in the temple of God, the offerings he makes according to his
ability, with faith and love, all bear witness of his commitment:
all this is part of "walking in the light," and brings comfort and
consolation to the believing Christian, as well as to all those with
whom, and because of whom, he walks in the light.
Christ is born, glorify Him!
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JEROME
Bishop of Manhattan
Vicar of the Eastern
American Diocese
Nativity of our Lord 2011/2012
Media
Office of the Eastern American Diocese
