It is a strange feeling blogging again. I got fairly used to the idea of “blowing it off.” The sad thing is that when you get out of the habit, part of you turns off the creative juices. The issue is not writing, but figuring out what to write. That is where I was – then I looked on the calendar to see if there were any saints on which I could reflect. The week of November 8
th – 15th looks like who’s who of “saintdom.” If you wished, you could pick just about any Church era and talk about a saint who’s memory was commemorated in the last week. The question arises, which of these saints should I choose to blog about, but maybe that is the wrong question. What is the thread that all these saints, from the bodiless powers to a modern bishop, have in common? The Holy Archangels, St. Nectarios, St. Menas, St. John Chrysostomos, St. John the Merciful, St Phillip the Apostle all in one week, can they all have something in common? It seems to me that this is the only valid question.
Today is the beginning of the Nativity fast. Again, we begin to centre our thinking the miracle of the Incarnation. Superficially, this should be helped by the nonstop barrage of Christmas decorations and reminders that are everywhere around us. Reflecting on the real essential message of Christmas gets more difficult each year as the commercial hype gets louder and more shrill. Over the next forty days, that is what this blog will focus its attention, the essential message.
Returning to the question of the day, what do these saints have in common? They allowed Christ to be born in their lives. They welcomed Him and allowed Him to live in them, so that the people of their time could see Christ alive. It is fitting to start our journey to Bethlehem guided by not one star, but a galaxy of bright stars. Saints point the way even when the fog of our everyday life clouds the road. Hopefully over the next forty days, we will help to point the way. Please join in the journey; visit often and comment. Thank you.
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