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Come Out of Iniquity
by Fr. Dmitri, New Zealand
Saturday 25 December 2010 (16 Koiahk; 16 Kiahk)
St. Herman of Alaska, St. Finian of Clonard, St. Colman of Glendalough.
A child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his
shoulder dominion rests.
(Isa. 9:5)
For with God nothing will be impossible.
(Luke 1:37)
He cannot have God as a Father, who does not have
the Church as a mother.
(St. Cyrian of Carthage)
The more you depend on forces outside yourself,
the more you are dominated by them.
(Harold Sherman)
And Gideon said unto God, let not Thine anger be hot
against me and I will speak but this once with the
fleece, let it now be dry, and upon the ground let
there be dew.
(Judges 6:39)
How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter
than honey to my mouth!
(Psa. 119:103)
Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes,
that I may not be ashamed.
(Psa. 119:80)
The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and
delivereth them out of all their troubles.
(Psa. 34:17)
Lord, I have cried unto Thee, hearken unto me;
attend to the voice of my supplication, when
I cry unto Thee.
(Psa. 141:1)
One should not think during the day of fantasies
that come during sleep; for the intent of the devil
is to corrupt us with our dreams, when we are awake.
(St. John Climacus).
And Mary said, "My Soul magnifies the Lord, and my
spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.
(Luke 1:46-47)
Place your head on His chest, like John, and listen to
His heart that beats with love for the whole world.
(St. John Saba)
REFLECTION:
In thinking of our Saviour Christ's birth, it is our origin
that we celebrate . Christ's temporal generation is the
source of the Christian people., the birth of His Mystical
Body. The actual date is a mystery and we have no biblical
Instruction to keep it. The day set is based on Heathenism.
Heavenly Father, let us think of Our Lord's Mystical Body
at the Eucharist, and that we may be brought closer to You
in union with Your only Son.
(Leo the Great )
HOMILY:
Come Out of Iniquity:
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and receive not her plagues." (Rev. 18:4) God is sending out this warning message to all those who will hear: Come out of all these heathen practices disguised as Christianity. Do not partake any longer of these sins. Some will say what harm is it, but those who stay in such deception will eventually have to face the wrath of Jesus Christ.
It is no wonder that Jesus said: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction. Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." (Matt. 7:13-15).
God does give us a command to memorialize Jesus Christ: He commands us to observe the day of Christ's death (1 Cor. 11:24-27) - not His birth. Our Lord during His lifetime did not instruct us to keep His birth and the early Apostolic Church did not do so. Look at Leviticus 23 and see other Holy Days that God has commanded us to keep.
It is time we face facts! This world is deceived, just as God prophecied it would be (Rev. 12:9). Satan is the power behind this deception, satan has successfully pawned off the old customs of the Babylonian mystery religion as being pleasing to Jesus Christ. Take heart what it says in Deut. 12:30-31 and abide by it. December 25 is actually the Pagan Feast of Saturnalia and in Israel it is Winter, so Shepherds would not be in the fields minding their sheep. So I repeat what St. John the Revelator said: "Come out of her my people."
THE TREE
Jeremiah 10:2-4 says this: "Learn not the ways of the heathen and be not dismayed at the signs in the heavens. Customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of a workman with an axe. They deck it with silver and gold, they fasten it with nails and hammers, so that it move not."
This is a Pagan in use centuries before the Savior's Birth. It disturbs me to see Churches putting this Pagan Symbol up near their Altars. Christ said 'In vain do they worship Me, teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of Men.' No longer are they teaching the Commandments of God.
To Thee be glory and praise, now and ever, and unto Ages of Ages.
AMEN!
Today's Readings:
Evening: Psalm 46:1-7; Mark 1:16-22.
Morning: Psalm 146:1-5; Matt. 4:18-22.
Liturgy: Gal.1:1-19; James 1:1-12; Acts 15:13-21;
Psalm 78:5; Psalm 135:5; Gospel: Mark 10:35-45.
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