Friday 6 December 2024 — St Nicholas of Myra
St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Canberra
'O Lord, hear my voice when I cry' (Psalm 27.9).
The Story of St Nicholas
There is much more at the St Nicholas Center of the Virginia Theological Seminary.
Isaiah 29:17-24
Shall not Lebanon in a very little while
become a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest?
On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a scroll,
and out of their gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord,
and the neediest people shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant shall be no more,
and the scoffer shall cease to be;
all those alert to do evil shall be cut off—
those who cause a person to lose a lawsuit,
who set a trap for the arbiter in the gate,
and without grounds deny justice to the one in the right.
Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:
No longer shall Jacob be ashamed,
no longer shall his face grow pale.
For when he sees his children,
the work of my hands, in his midst,
they will sanctify my name;
they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
And those who err in spirit will come to understanding,
and those who grumble will accept instruction.
Psalm 27.9-17
9 O Lord, hear my voice when I cry:
have mercy upon me and answer me.
10 My heart has said of you, 'Seek his face':
your face, Lord, I will seek.
11 Do not hide your face from me:
or thrust your servant aside in displeasure;
12 For you have been my helper:
do not cast me away or forsake me, O God of my salvation.
13 Though my father and my mother forsake me:
the Lord will take me up.
14 Teach me your way, O Lord:
and lead me in an even path, for they lie in wait for me.
15 Do not give me over to the will of my enemies:
for false witnesses have risen against me, and those who breathe out violence.
16 But I believe that I shall surely see the goodness of the Lord:
in the land of the living.
17 O wait for the Lord; stand firm and he will strengthen your heart:
and wait, I say, for the Lord.
Matthew 9:27-31
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’ When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’ And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, ‘See that no one knows of this.’ But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.
December: Il va neiger dans quelques jours, by Francis Jammes
The giant Norway spruce from Podunk, its lower branches bound,
this morning was reared into place at Rockefeller Center.
I thought I saw a cold blue dusty light sough in its boughs
the way other years the wind thrashing at the giant ornaments
recalled other years and Christmas trees more homey.
Each December! I always think I hate “the over-commercialized event”
and then bells ring, or tiny light bulbs wink above the entrance
to Bonwit Teller or Katherine going on five wants to look at all
the empty sample gift-wrapped boxes up Fifth Avenue in swank shops
and how can I help falling in love? A calm secret exultation
of the spirit that tastes like Sealtest eggnog, made from milk solids,
Vanillin, artificial rum flavoring; a milky impulse to kiss and be friends
It’s like what George and I were talking about, the East West
Coast divide: Californians need to do a thing to enjoy it.
A smile in the street may be loads! you don’t have to undress everybody.
"You didn’t visit the Alps?”
" “No, but I saw from the train they were black
"and streaked with snow.”
Having and giving but also catching glimpses
hints that are revelations: to have been so happy is a promise
and if it isn’t kept that doesn’t matter. It may snow
falling softly on lashes of eyes you love and a cold cheek
grow warm next to your own in hushed dark familial December.
Blessèd are you, Sovereign God,
our light and our salvation;
to you be glory and praise for ever!
May we who walk in the light of your presence
acclaim your Christ, rising victorious,
as he banishes all darkness from our hearts and minds,
and praise you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessèd be God for ever!
— Celebrating Common prayer.
Colindul Sfaântului lerarh Nicolae (Carol of St. Nicholas). Nuns of the Annunciation Monastery in Călărași, Romania.
Bucura-te, bucura-te,
Nicolae Mare Sfinte.
De la Mira Arhiereu
Temator de Dumnezeu
Indreptator in credinta
Ajutor in suferinta
Cand pe lume ai venit
Semnul crucii ai facut.
Nicolae Arhiereu
Temator de Dumnezeu
Miercurea si vinerea
Niciodata nu manca.
Pe bolnavi i-ai vindecat
Pe saraci i-ai ajutat
Crestinii din acest sat
Tie s-au incredintat
Crestinii din acest sat
Tie s-au incredïntat.
Rejoice, rejoice,
Saint Nicholas the Great.
From Mira, Bishop
God-fearing
Director in faith
Helper in suffering
When you came into the world
You made the sign of the cross.
Nicholas the Archpriest
God-fearing
On Wednesdays and Fridays
Never eats.
You healed the sick
You helped the poor
The Christians in this village
They trusted in you
The Christians in this village
They trusted in you.