Why is the birth of Jesus Christ so important? Why does it touch the deepest part of our hearts to see His icon as a small baby, and then know that He was nursed, and grew, and was loved by His family, and yet was acquainted with sorrows. It is because He is not a distant God or principle but the very image and likeness of our own true nature renewed and glorified into what we were made to be. Yes, we were born to be with Him forever.
The incarnation of Christ healed in Himself and for us all that had fallen when men and women had lost their purpose and meaning of a true and fulfilling life. Jesus came among us, walked with us, talked with us, ate with us, and suffered with us. He shared our nature as human beings and yet drew us up beyond just this world. He gives us hope. He gives us love. He gives us strength. He shows us how to live here so we can live with Him in a Heavenly life with glory forever. He is the icon of the true life of every person born on earth. He is our true God and our true man.
In this season as we prepare to honor and love the Lord Jesus Christ being born as this little Child, may we turn to Him with tender love, wonder, and adoration, and say “Thy very name Jesus means Saviour, so save me from my sins and shortcomings, and bring me up, up, up into Thy loving embrace and behold Thy sweet Face to live with Thee forever!”
O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Amen.
The Monastics at St. Isaac of Syria Skete
and at the Convent of St. Silouan
and the Faithful at St. Nicholas Church
and the Staff at Orthodox Byzantine Icons and St. Isaac’s Bookstore