Christmas Divine Liturgy Sermon – January 6, 2025

Good morning, beloved faithful. Christ is born and revealed. Blessed is the revelation of Jesus Christ, and this is good news for you and I. Welcome to you all here this beautiful Armenian Christmas morning as we prepare ourselves to fully celebrate this blessed occasion. Of course, we find ourselves deep into the Christmas season, having been celebrating for quite some time, but yet here gathered together we are honoring one of the most important traditions associated with the Armenian Apostolic Church. A thousand years ago, a Byzantine prince came to Saint Nerses Shnorhali, whose icon is on the right side of the church, and he challenged Saint Nerses Shnorhali, and he said, “Why is your church different, and why should I honor that?” He belonged to the Byzantine Church, or we would call it the Eastern Orthodox Church today. And with sincerity, he asked him, he asked Saint Nerses, “Can you explain to me how your church is different from mine, and why should I be okay with that?” And of course, because Saint Nerses Shnorhali was so graceful and grace-filled in his words, he was able to encapsulate in a beautiful letter all of the ways and reasons why, stemming from the fifth century and earlier than that even, the Armenian Church has developed a very unique and quintessential expression of Christianity that resonates with and is a reflection of the Armenian spirit. And one of the things that he emphasizes in this letter is the Armenian tradition of celebrating the Theophany and Nativity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 6th. And being so gracious as he is, he did not proclaim that this was the one true date of Christmas that only the true faithful honor. But he said, indeed, it is a grace-filled day, that it is a day that belongs to the Lord, that the Armenian people will never abandon as the day that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Of course, there are other traditions, but in the end, we all honor and give thanks to the same God and the gift of the incarnation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today, with your presence in this sanctuary, you are honoring that same commitment that was expressed by Saint Nerses the Grace-filled one thousand years ago. And of course, the forebearers of our church so wisely sought to honor this, the most traditional date associated with the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. Isaiah chapter two, verse five. The life of a person, especially a Christian, becomes impossible to sustain in constant renewal and awakening if we fail to hear and adhere to God’s voice, aligning our lives with the life of Christ. This is the message of Christmas. The Son of God descends from his heavenly throne to reveal his divine and boundless love, lifting our fallen human nature and reconciling us with our Father. With confidence and faith, let us respond to the call of the prophet Isaiah, making God the foundation of our lives, the light of our life, and the path that we walk. We live in a beautiful world where humanity is the crown of divine creation. The world entices us with marvels, new inventions and technological advancements that ease our lives. Yet when we witness the pain and suffering of people in different parts of the world, we realize that some are deprived of enjoying the beauty and goodness of God’s creation. In the face of global turmoil, the Son of God, baby Jesus once again makes his humble appearance to humanity. His birth comes to the prophet Isaiah as a message of light. Let us walk in the light of the Lord. The Nativity and Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is an invitation to renewal and introspective reflection. It also becomes a bridge connecting heaven to earth and a seal of reconciliation between humanity and God. During our lifetimes, we celebrate many birthdays which not only bring us joy, but also offer an opportunity to ponder the purpose and meaning of life, our mission on earth, the gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon us, and how we might use them to illuminate the course of our lives. We also commit ourselves to rectify the negativity rooted deep within our spirituality, that we may be reborn with Baby Jesus. That is when our lives are transformed miraculously. The astounding event of Christ’s incarnation, which also marks the New Year 2025, invites us to make the life of Christ the mirror of our own lives. It urges us to continue our earthly journey with prudence, grounded in our spiritual and moral values, the vision of our forefathers, love of our motherland, and spirit of service while preserving the sanctity of the Christian family. Look at how children celebrate Christmas with enthusiasm and pure hearts. We must foster the same spirit in our own hearts, so that the celebration of Christ may become our own celebration. Adhering to the words of the prophet, let us walk in the light of the Lord. We indeed celebrate the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when we walk in the light of the Lord. Let us live lives befitting Christians and make 2025 a year of journeying with God, keeping it under Christ’s spotlight. Furthermore, the miraculous birth of Christ affords us the opportunity to reflect on our spiritual lives as a community and as a diocese. How well are we preserving our sacred traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church entrusted to us? And how faithful are we, especially during these challenging times? Let us walk in the light of the Lord so that we are not consumed by darkness. When we walk in the light of the Lord, we ascend to God. We have been given the means to walk in his light and persevere in our own journeys: prayer, faith and commitment, and a creative spirit. Let us walk in the light of the Lord, for it is the only path that leads us to baby Jesus, before whom we bow our heads with psalms of praise and glorification as we greet each other warmly, confidently, and affectionately. Let us proclaim: Christ is born and revealed. Blessed is the revelation of Christ our Lord.

Մեր եկեղեցու նախահայրերի համար Հիսուսի ծնունդը և իր հայտնությունը, որ կարող է տրվել շատ տարբեր ձևերով, շատ անջատելի կերպով իրար հետ կապված են։ Դրա համար երկուքը միասին կտոնախմբենք։ Սակայն հայտնության, կրնամ ըսել, կատարյալ երևույթը կպատահի Հիսուսի մկրտության ատենը։ Դրա համար այսօր մենք ջուր ենք օրհնում, դրա համար մենք այսօր ջրօրհնեքի ընթացքում կարդում ենք Հիսուսի մկրտության վկայությունը Ավետարանի մեջ, և բոլորս կհիշենք այդ պահը, նույնիսկ երբ որ մենք մկրտվեցանք։ Վերջերս ես Հայաստանում գտնվում էի, երբ մասնակցում էի Մայր Աթոռի քահանայական պատրաստման ծրագրին, որ ավելի քան մեկուկես տարի շարունակում է և հրավիրում է աշխարհի չորս կողմերից բոլոր մեր եկեղեցու քահանաներին մասնակցելու տարբեր դասընթացներին։ Բայց պետք է ըսեմ ձեզի, որ եթե մի թեմա կար, որ մենք շատ ենք շեշտել այս քննարկումների ընթացքին, մկրտությունն էր, մկրտությունն էր։ Պիտի զարմանանք, որ այսօր՝ 2025 թվին, մինչև այսօր մենք խոսում ենք մկրտության մասին և ինչ է նշանակում մեր եկեղեցու համար, որովհետև առաջին մկրտությունը, այդ մկրտությունը կրնամ ըսել, որ եղավ մեզի համար առաջին մկրտությունը, չնայած որ իրենք պատահում էին Հիսուսից առաջ։ Բայց մեր օրինակելի մկրտությունը 2025 տարի առաջ տեղի ունեցավ Հիսուսի մկրտությամբ, և որ ինքը խոնարհաբար, նույնիսկ կարող ենք ասել խայտառակվելով մի ձևով, որովհետև երբ ինքը մոտեցավ Սուրբ Հովհաննես Մկրտչին՝ խնդրելով, որ մկրտվի, Սուրբ Հովհաննեսը չէր ուզում իրեն մկրտել։ Այդքան ինքը ապշած էր, որ Տերը գալիս էր նրան և խնդրում էր, որ ինքը մկրտվի, չնայած որ իր անունով մարդիկ պետք է մկրտվենք։ Ուրեմն մոտեցավ, ասաց. «Արժանի չեմ նույնիսկ քո կոշիկի կապը թողել։ Ես չեմ կարող քեզ մկրտել։» Եվ մենք կարող ենք մտածենք՝ ինչու ինքը ենթարկվեցավ այդ գործընթացին, որ, ինչպես Սուրբ Հովհաննես ասաց, ինքը արժանի չէր կատարելու նրա համար, որպես ինքը մեզ համար օրինակ լինի։ Այսօր մենք կատարում ենք մկրտություններ այս եկեղեցու կյանքի մեջ և պատահում են հենց այդ մկրտարանում։ Բայց անընդհատ ինձ մտածում եմ՝ արդյոք իրենք լիարժեքորեն հասկանում են՝ ինչ է նշանակում մկրտվելու, դառնալ անդամ Հիսուսի մարմնին մկրտությամբ և ժառանգորդ երկնային արքայությանը։ Որովհետև մինչև այսօր դժվար է մեզ համար ըմբռնել դա ինչ է նշանակում։ Փաստորեն, մարդկության համար անբռնելի ճշմարտություն է, որ այդ ժառանգությունը կստանանք այդ մկրտության միջոցով, չնայած որ մենք իրապես արժանի չենք, իրապես արժանի չենք։ Ինքը մեզ կարժանացնե։ Եվ այսօր ստանալով այս օրհնված ջուրը, կհիշենք և պետք է երախտապարտ դառնանք և պետք է նորոգենք այդ երախտապարտությունը մեր մեջ, որ մենք արժանացված էինք Հիսուսի միջոցով դառնալ այդ ժառանգորդը և այդ մարմնի անդամը։ Երբեմն կլսեմ ծնողներին, երբ իրենք ասում են, որ կսպասեն երեխայիս մկրտվելու, թող ինքը մեծնա, թող ինքը որոշի իրեն համար, թող ժամանակին կհասկանա, որ ինքը որոշի՝ ինչ է ուզում նրա համար։ Բայց Հիսուսի մկրտությունը, այո՛, չափահաս էր, հարգարժան Հիսուսն էր, բայց Հիսուսի մկրտությունը ամենակարևոր դասն է մեզ համար։ Եթե մենք քրիստոնյա ենք և Հիսուս ըրավ, մենք իրավունք չունինք ասելու, որ մեր երեխան պետք չունի։ Հիսուսի պետք ուներ։ Ինչպե՞ս կարող ենք դա մերժել մեր երեխաների համար։ Դա, փաստորեն, բարոյական լուրջ հարց է։ Քրիստոնյայի համար այդպիսի առիթ տալ, որ մեր երեխաները շեղվեն այդ ճշմարիտ և կատարյալ և աստվածային ճանապարհից։ Ուրեմն այսօր թող մենք մեր բերանները բացենք այսպիսի առիթների մեջ, որ հիշեցնենք մեր համայնակիցներին, մեր եղբայրներին, քույրերին, որ նույն մտածողություն ունենան, որ ասիկա, եթե քրիստոնյա ենք, պետք է մեզի համար անհրաժեշտ և ամենակարևոր քայլ լինի և՛ մեզի համար, և՛ բոլորիս համար։

I spoke to you earlier about the orthodox nature of our celebration of Christmas and how it was explained so beautifully by Saint Nerses the Grace-filled. And there’s another aspect of the Orthodox celebration of Christmas which we’re about to be reminded of in just a moment, and that is its unbreakable and inextricable connection with the revelation of Jesus Christ. And when we speak about revelation, it happens throughout the history of mankind. Revelation is a process and not a moment. Revelation begins from the creation of the cosmos. And when we read the Old Testament, we see that constantly there are bits and pieces of revelation of the coming of Jesus Christ happening over and over and over again throughout the history of humanity, all of these things building up to the climax that is the incarnation of Jesus Christ and everything that was to be foretold. All of these revelations are things for us. They’re all little gifts that have happened throughout history so that we can know and understand God better, despite our human frailties and our imperfections and our inability to comprehend the infinite and incomprehensible nature of the creator God, who is greater than all things.

Recently, I’ve often been struggling for my own part to explain to my son, Sion, some of these really difficult to understand concepts. Lately, Sion has been asking me which planet we have to go to to get to heaven. He’s been studying space. He’s such a scientific mind. And it’s a good question. It’s not in the next town. It’s not in a different country. It’s not under the water. It’s not in the sky. We’ve made all that very clear. If it’s in none of these places, then it’s got to be in outer space someplace. And we tell him it’s not in outer space. He says, “Baba, what’s left? Where else can it be?” And I said, “It’s outside of all of these things. It’s something else.” And of course, it’s blowing his mind. It’s blowing my mind. But we know this because God has revealed it to us. We don’t have to guess. This is what he told us the truth was about himself throughout the history of mankind, this much and so much more.

And the epiphanal moment, the climax moment of revelation happens during Christ’s baptism. That is the fulfillment of revelation, the perfection of revelation, when everything comes together. Christ is fully revealed to us as a member of the Holy Trinity in that moment of his baptism. And so the incarnation is that inextricable moment that leads us to this baptism that tells us fully and completely: ah, this is it. This is the Holy Trinity. This is the thing. This is the triune Godhead. This is God. Now it’s all in front of us, and we’ve got what we need in order to find our path to heaven. And how do we begin that path? We begin it with baptism.

I was sharing in my Armenian message that I recently went to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to participate in these training programs for all of the priests of the Armenian church throughout the world. And if there was one thing that we spoke about more than anything else by a long shot, by a wide margin, it was baptism. You would think two thousand and twenty-five years later, we had this figured out, okay? But we’re still talking about baptism, and how we can bring people into the body of Jesus Christ, and how we can make it more effective and more accessible, and how we can explain to people the importance of it. And often as I’m performing baptisms in that very same baptismal font right there, involving some of the folks that are in this room today, I ask myself, “Do they comprehend the extreme and infinite and just beautiful, majestic and grace-filled and merciful act that is taking place as we are being baptized in that baptismal font, as we are being given the keys to the kingdom of heaven?” We’re being given those keys. They’re being put in our hand, and we’re being told, “You shall inherit this. You are now part of the body of Jesus Christ. You might not be worthy. You might be a sinner. You might be all of these things. But guess what? Here they are. Try your best, and I’ll see you on the other side.” What an amazing and beautiful gift that is, that is so often hard for us to understand for ourselves as an adult, let alone for children.

And perhaps it’s for this reason that sometimes, and increasingly so, I’ve heard in this community, and I know this isn’t unique to this community, some parents say, “I would like for my child to grow up so they can understand baptism better before they’re baptized and make this choice for themselves.” And I understand there’s a rational component to this, that people feel as though that’s the responsible thing to do as a parent. However, as parents, it is also our responsibility to ensure that the most essential and vital things happen in a child’s life. And if we let those things fall away or not happen, then we have been irresponsible. I have to make sure that my children know how to brush their teeth right, and it’s a struggle sometimes. I have to make sure they know that they have to do their homework and try their best in school. There are basic things that they need to know, and this is absolutely one of those basic things that we cannot deprive our children of.

And that lesson is in the very lesson of Christ’s baptism himself. Christ, who was born perfect of the Holy Virgin Mary, who is the incarnation of the Word of God, Christ came to John the Baptist at his baptism and said, “I should be baptized.” And John the Baptist said, “I can’t baptize you. I’m unworthy of even loosening the buckle on your shoe, let alone baptize you. How could I do this?” And Christ said, “Because it is right that it should be done.” As a Christian, if any one of us calls ourselves Christian, there is no way that we can say that an example set by Jesus Christ is bad for us or for anyone that we love. And when Christ says that something is right and necessary, then that means that it is absolutely required for each and every one of us as Christians, and we can’t deprive that from our children. We have to make sure that they receive that blessing, because that’s what it means for us to honor our own baptisms as well as inheritors of the kingdom of heaven and as part of the body of Jesus Christ.

So as we leave from the sanctuary today and we receive this blessed water, let us be renewed in our own gratitude for our own baptisms, let us be restored in our commitment as inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, and let us also encourage those around us, our brothers and sisters, that if they have not been baptized yet or if there are members of their family who have not been baptized yet, that they should understand the importance of this and the necessity of it for us as a Christian people, to give glory to our Father in heaven, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.