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Christmas Day 2007 One of the many Christmas Hymns of the Matins expresses that, which we deeply feel during the world-saving Event of the Birth of our Lord. It states: "Christ is born, glorify Him; Christ has come from the Heavens, receive Him; Christ is on earth, let us be exulted!" For the faithful Christian there is a different and uplifting spirit when it comes to Christmas. I'm sure we all feel this. Some inexplicable force, or shall I say feeling, permeates our heart. It further cements with the spirit of Christian love. So often though, people are inhuman with one another. They get so far wrapped up in themselves, that they do not stop for a moment to think of their fellow humans. People tend to forget that we are all human; -- made of the same flesh and blood, -- warmed by the same sun, -- chilled by the same frost, -- hurt by the same wounds, -- subject to the same temptations, --grieved by the same sorrows, and cheered by the same joys. Why is it, that at this time people seem to have this fellow feeling? Is it not because on he first Christmas Day, Christ became one with us, that we might be forever one with Him, and therefore, one with each other? Our Lord preached the necessity of love for one another, but He also preached peace, because, without peace, how can one truly love? It isn't by chance that St. John the Chrysostom commences the Divine Liturgy with 9 petitions, the first being: "In peace let us pray to the Lord!" Without having this peace, how can one make all the other petitions to God? What a blessing we all could have, if we felt deeply the love of God within us. The Old Testament Prophets foretold in detail the Birth of Christ and that a Virgin shall give birth to a Child, who shall be called "Emmanuel," meaning that God is with us. What a blessing would come to this anxious world, if there were spread abroad the warmth of good will everywhere, and the promise of true peace! That was the message of the Angels singing: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Without good will, there cannot be peace on earth. But peace cannot be achieved, if we have not made room for it in our noisy and crowded lives. Peace can come only as we bury and put away all hatred and suspicion, and prejudice,--- our ancient feuds and grudges, and jealousies and fears. And we can never hope to do that, except by the possession of a new spirit, and a new hope possessing our hearts. Somehow, we always have the feeling, that it is hard to change. Perhaps so, but it is not impossible. As revolutions come about, to supposedly give a better life to its citizens, in a comparable manner,. we must submit to a revolution in our soul, to be able to sense the desired peace. In my files, I came across a story of one of the most talented Directors Hollywood has ever seen. His name was Cecil B. DeMille. When he was filming the eternal classic "King of Kings," which by his own account, was the crowning moment of his life, he was directing the scene of Christ's crucifixion precisely on the day before Christmas. For this scene, he had recruited a motley crowd for the mob scene, who were to shout: "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" In his autobiography he wrote: "Here we were on a bare ugly hill, with three crosses telling of His death, when it was the eve of His Birthday!" On the spur of the moment, DeMille, who very seldom said anything during the filming of a picture, called for silence. Stepping out in front of the crowd, he said: "In honor of Christ the King, we will take five minutes for meditation and prayer!" Here and there, looking at the faces he saw cynical smiles. Immediately, he thought he had made a mistake. He said to himself, "They will just wander about for five minutes, and get a drink, or have a smoke, and involve themselves in cheap talk!" But DeMille stood before them, bowed his head and closed his eyes. Then, from this motley crew he heard several voices softly singing the Christmas carol: "It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old." The carol wasn't known to all, but slowly more voices joined in. When DeMille looked up, even though they were singing the Christmas carol, he found them kneeling before the three crosses on the hillside. On some of those rough, defeated faces, he saw tears of remembrance making their way. The hard bitten Hollywood producer and Director said that it was the greatest moment of his life, and revealed to him again the Lordship of Christ. Three crosses on a hillside, --- a motley crew, --- a Christmas carol, and the kneeling before Jesus Christ, the Lord and King. That is the greatness of Christianity. Majestic, yet simple. I pray we all have a blessed Christmas and the dawning New Year to enrich us by commencing construction of our new Building. God bless you all. + Fr. George Papadeas
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