During these joyful holidays, the greatest commemoration is God’s revelation to humankind through the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God’s love with His perfection and warmth brought us closer to God; God visited us so His pure and graceful love would become contagious and spread to those who are human beings like us. We no longer ask, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 19:29); the revelation of Jesus, our God, once and for all established the commandment that we must express our love of God by loving our neighbor.
God’s revelation was the greatest news the world received since the creation up to the birth of Jesus. It was greater than any discovery or invention by humans, incomparable and even unfathomable to the human mind and comprehension. Currently in our everyday lives we enjoy using new inventions and concepts that are introduced. The true Christian regards these to be the manifestation of the creative spirit given to them by God; the same strength with which God created the universe and humans. He gave to us His grace enabling us to continue his creation in this world. All wisdom and power belong to Him. God gave that power to humans so that on the eighth day of creation humans should make worthy the grace and power that belong to God and which weave the glory of God. It is with this understanding that we must look at our own creation in the “likeness of God” (Genesis 1:26). We must praise God; give Him our thanks for His boundless creative power and for his good grace.
On the occasion of the birth and revelation of Christ, when the celebrations bring spiritual joy to all of us, it is necessary to reflect on what God gave us with His revelation. Was it an ordinary visit that ended with His ascension, or a new way of life that is an inseparable part of our nature, from our birth until our unification with Him in the Kingdom prepared for Christians?
First, God revealed to us His love. The Apostle John very clearly defines God’s nature when he says, “God is love,” (1 John 4:8). That is the embodiment of Supreme Power. God was incarnated so that Christians would be like Him and find the way and the secret that leads to the road to humanity’s deification. We will find that road when we honor that commandment—the first and greatest—that Christ reminded us of: “Love your Lord God with all your heart and soul, with all your mind, all your power” (Mark 12:30-31). The second command is a continuation: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Only then will we be filled with the grace that will make us God-like.
Second, God’s revelation to humankind is a reminder of the freedom He gave to us. It is a freedom that raises humans above mere mechanical created beings, and who are able to recognize and select that which leads to the road worthy of salvation. Freedom is not anarchy, but rather it is that condition when by respecting others we can cleanse our souls, especially by remaining free of the chains of sin, and the threat of the death of the soul. The first man, Adam, was unable to utilize this freedom in its proper manner. The opposite of freedom is disobedience to God’s will. Freedom’s reward is eternal life, while the wages of disobedience and sinfulness is death (Romans 6:23). Christ was revealed to give us life, abundant life (John 10:10).
Third, trust in God’s intervention and role in our lives. Humility and modesty are expected virtues of Christians and prods us to attribute all our discoveries and inventions to God’s wisdom—His image that is within us. Otherwise, arrogance and boasting distance us from that feeling of modesty, and instead of recognizing God as the source of our grace, talent and ability, we attribute our accomplishments solely to ourselves, only to our skill and ability, and our material brain. Self-confidence in human ability, and modern-day humanism and secularism, have greatly distanced us from God. They have removed us from the spiritual inner world of faith. Creating new idols on stages and screens, turn us bankrupt of moral and family values and holiness. As Christians we cannot perceive the world, and its new inventions, without recognizing God’s will and power. As Christians we cannot attribute purely to our own ability the things we create, invent, and discover, since for Christians the source of everything is God Himself. The revelation of Christ reminds us of God’s eternal presence, accomplishment, and ability. Christians cannot forget that they bear the image of God that was given to them when God formed man of dust from the ground, and gave His breath of life, creating a living being, a creative being (Genesis 2:7).
On the occasion of the great holy day of God’s revelation, let us praise our Lord’s graceful visitation—His revelation from the modest manger. May His grace spread into our homes so that we will be strengthened in His love, emancipated from sin, and be worthy of our freedom.
Christ is Born and Revealed.
Glory to Your Revelation, Lord.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Armenian Apostolic Church of America
Eastern Prelacy
Guest Contributor
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