Christ is born! St. Sebastian offers a brief but thought-provoking homily for this glorious feast.📖 A reading from this important vook: The complete works of St. Sebastian: Beacon From the Bayhttps://www.amazon.com/Beacon-Bay-Collected-Sebastian-Francisco/dp/B0DP1FNJCV🎧 Life of St. Sebastian (five parts): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzFKi22k2KYiAmhiJ6mQaberXVJ0FZePY🎧 The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ - Homily by St. Gregory Palamashttps://youtu.be/DHG2gakIqdQ⛪️ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodox-world.org/https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/🎁Support my work here:https://buymeacoffee.com/orthodoxwisdom_______St. Sebastian teaches:Unfortunately we now often see in the world a decline in religious celebrations of Christian festivals, just as in political and civil holidays we now often notice a tendency to withdraw from public scenes to one's own narrow sphere of privacy, personal comfort, and individual satisfaction. Such conditions are detrimental to society at large. The first cause of it all is the family-the home from which all men and women take into the world the form of their future character. The nation which is devoid of lessons in religion and patriotism in the family-which is the fountain source of all learning—such a nation is going to destruction.We must study the truth to the full measure of our competency, and know our Lord Jesus Christ the Savior. We must use our God-given intellect and discern true doctrine from falsehood. We must worship God with our whole being, body, and soul, consequently, we develop our reason (as our faith grows stronger) and praise the Lord understandingly. For when we worship with the inspiring feeling of our heart only, we bring a half offering. The offering must be whole.When we study the different forms of worship of different people who are considered Christians, we see that some bow in adoration with fervent devotion, while others with exultant heart sing loud praise, as if carried away in ecstasy, depriving the spirit of one of its faculties, i.e., adoration. Now, this is according to science, and those who have studied psychology know it. True and complete science is always compatible with religion. The Orthodox and Apostolic Church has ever held that man must offer praise from a warm heart while devoutly adoring the Sublime both physically and spiritually, and at the same time following truthful doctrine. Yes, we must seek and study the truth. I do not say we can at once perfectly know it, for we must first comprehend God, who is the truth. When we become Christ-like we know the truth, and the truth makes us free._______Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!