Thursday, December 6, 2018

Devotion - Thursday, December 6

Today is the feast day of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra.  Nicholas was known for his acts of generosity.

One story involves his actions to save three young girls from a horrible future.  Using cover of night, he placed coins so their father would have a dowry for his daughters.  When locals would ask who the benefactor was for such acts, reports would emerge of someone in a red cape (Bishops were red) slipping away from the home and into the darkness.

Not all origins of our Santa Claus can be traced to St. Nicholas, but enough of them can.  Christians should reclaim this Bishop and his ways.  

One I would life up is the difference in his behaviors:  He gave to the poor and needy while we tend to lavish gifts on those who lavish us back.  (Sorry, don't let this become a downer.)

Christians need to know the story of St. Nicholas and we need to retell it.  We need to be about efforts to help December 25 be a celebration of God's birth among us, the Light which no darkness can overcome.  Social and cultural traditions are meaningful and nice, but cannot or should not overtake our attention to what it means to be the children of God and members of God's household.

Renew your knowledge of St. Nicholas.  And celebrate with all of Christendom those who help us observe the way of Christ.

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