Midweek Advent Message

Midweek Advent

December 6, 2023

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

In this blessed Advent season, a holy time of waiting and watching, not just for the annual celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas, but for his second advent – his coming again in great power and glory – there are days of special remembrance. Today is one such day. On the church’s calendar, December 6 commemorates St. Nicholas, bishop in the city of Myra in Asia Minor, in what is today Turkey. Much of Nicholas’ life is uncertain, and try as we might, much of what we know about him has been reduced to legend. There are some things that we do know about him: his death occurred on this day, December 6, about the year 360 A.D. His grave was originally at Myra, where he held office as bishop. However, in the year 1087 his remains were taken to Bari, Italy, where they are to this day.

Much of what I am about to share with you is legendary, but within all legends there is at least some grain of truth. “Nicholas was born at Patara in Asia Minor to parents who, having long been childless, had petitioned God with many prayers. Already as a youth Nicholas became noted for his zeal in helping the unfortunate and oppressed. In his native city there lived a poor nobleman who had three marriageable daughters; he could not obtain a suitor for them because he could offer no dowry. The contemptible idea struck him to sacrifice the innocence of his daughters to gain the needed money. When Nicholas became aware of this, he went by night and threw a bag containing as much gold as was needed for a dowry through the window. This he repeated the second and third nights. During a sea voyage he calmed the storm by his prayer; he is therefore venerated as patron of sailors. On a certain occasion he was imprisoned for the faith. In a wonderful way he later became bishop of Myra; his presence is noted at the Council of Nicaea. He died a quiet death in his episcopal city, uttering the words: ‘Into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Nicholas is highly venerated in the East as a miracle worker, as ‘preacher of the word of God, spokesman of the Father’” (An Advent Sourcebook, edited by Thomas J. O’Gorman. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1988; p. 43).

It is widely known that it was St. Nicholas himself who is the source of our own much-loved figures today of Santa Claus and Father Christmas. At our church-school “Celebrate St. Nick” event this evening, we will be teaching children and parents about this very thing, and in so doing, point them to the One who is both Gift and Giver: God who gave his only begotten Son, Jesus, sending him to become human flesh and blood in order that he might save us from our sins. This is what St. Paul is speaking of in today’s Scripture lesson: “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:4). It is this gift of grace – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense – that is at the heart and soul not just of this season, but of our faith itself. Whatever legends there might be, it is apparent that St. Nicholas knew and understood this gift of grace. More than just intellectually knowing and understanding it – mere head knowledge - he lived out this gift of grace in his earthly life and ministry. That is the challenge for us today who live more than 1600 years after this beloved man of God. In response to all that God in Christ has done and continues to do for us, we are called to be not just hearers of the Word of God, but doers of that Word (Matthew 7:24-26). We, too, are called to exercise care and concern for those in need, seeing Christ in our neighbor and being Christ to our neighbor.

In truth, all of life becomes a holy time of waiting and watching for the coming of Christ. We might say that all of life is Advent! Between Jesus’ first and second comings, we live in this time of grace in which our Savior comes to us now in his life-giving Word and in his holy Sacraments. He comes to us today under forms of bread and wine in his holy Supper to assure us of his abiding love and to strengthen us in the faith that we share with St. Nicholas and all believers. And so through our gift-giving God “you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:7-9). Amen.