CHRISMAS PASTORAL MESSAGE
“Let us set aside all the cares of life that we may receive the King of all...”
Cherubic Hymn (The song of the angels)
Friends,
The above hymn, sung so beautifully by our choir, refers to the coming and birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is sung at every Divine Liturgy, just before the Great Entrance, and it offers a reminder of how we are encouraged—at the very least—to approach the Advent season. The prayerful hope of the Church is that this hymn becomes ingrained not only in our hearts, but in our daily way of life.
“Let us set aside all the cares of life that we may receive the King of all.”
When we pray and truly listen to this hymn, we realize that we must set aside the cares of life, and then, and only then, will we be able to receive our Lord this Christmas. Then, and only then, will the twinkling of Christmas lights represent the Star of Bethlehem; only then will the gifts beneath the Christmas tree remind us of the Gifts of the Magi and the great Gift of the Christ-Child; only then will the Advent Fast take on spiritual meaning, as we prepare to receive Him who is the Bread of Life and who offers water that causes us never to thirst again.
Make no mistake: the Church of Jesus Christ does not ask us to neglect our responsibilities; rather, it calls us to prioritize them, to place what is eternal above what is temporary.
I invite you to join your St. Luke family this Christmas by attending the worship services offered in celebration of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Whether it is the Christmas Eve morning service or the midnight Divine Liturgy, come and “set aside all the cares of life that we may receive the King of all.” It is my prayer that the warmth and love that pour forth from the Manger fill your hearts and homes with peace, love, and blessings from above.
With brotherly love and pastoral blessings, I remain in anticipation of our Lord’s Nativity,
