Christmas Is The Beginning Not The End!
Homily By Father Matthew Brown - Saint Mary Magdalen Orthodox Church (OCA)
The Miracle of Signs in Everyday Life
In the Gospel of John, the word translated as “miracles” is the word sign.
That distinction matters.
Often, when we think of miracles, we imagine something supernatural, something that breaks the laws of physics. We picture floating in the air or something dramatic and extraordinary.
That is a misunderstanding.
A miracle may be extraordinary. It may defy our understanding of nature. But that is secondary. It is not the heart of what a miracle is.
The word sign gets closer to the meaning. A sign is something that points. It directs. It communicates. It indicates that God is present.
To recognize a miracle is to have eyes to see that something is pointing to God. It may be extraordinary. It may be completely ordinary. The key is perception.
The ability to see everyday life as full of miracles is the ability to see life as full of signs, full of the fingerprints of God, full of instructions on where to find Him.
All the miracles in the Gospel of John are described as signs. The point is not merely that someone lame walks or someone sick is healed. The point is that these healings reveal that God is in their midst. They are invitations to give thanks and pursue Him.
The Magi and the Sign
Consider the Magi.
They recognized a sign, the star in the sky. They followed it. As far as the Gospel accounts tell us, they were the only ones who interpreted it correctly and journeyed to find Christ.
The star was extraordinary, but they alone understood what it meant.
Most likely, the Magi were Zoroastrian priests and scholars. Zoroastrianism includes a tradition of coming Messiahs who would save the world. There is something fitting about their recognition.
But what did they find?
Not a palace. Not a throne. Not visible glory.
They found a poor family from the tradesman class. A woman not married. A child born in a barn. Nothing outwardly extraordinary.
Yet they did not turn back. They did not assume they miscalculated.
They immediately offered their gifts.
Their journey reveals something profound. They were willing to travel across the world to follow a sign. They were willing to pay the cost. They sacrificed time, comfort, and treasure.
Afterward, they returned home changed.
The Contrast with Herod
The Gospel presents a contrast between the Magi and Herod.
When Herod hears of the sign, he is troubled. He reacts with fear and hostility.
This mirrors other moments in the Gospels.
When Jesus heals on the Sabbath, the Pharisees are upset. When He casts demons into the swine in the region of the Gerasenes and the swine perish, the villagers beg Him to leave.
A sign does not guarantee recognition. Even when recognized, it does not guarantee joy.
The difference lies in the condition of the heart.
The Magi’s hearts were disposed toward seeking. Herod’s heart was closed.
The condition of the heart determines whether we recognize a sign as God breaking in, whether we perceive that the veil between heaven and earth has grown thin, and whether we respond properly.
Signs Are Not Cheap
Signs are not cheap.
Consider the Syrophoenician woman. She pursues Christ, begging Him to heal her daughter. He ignores her. The disciples try to send her away. She is a Gentile. She persists.
Christ says, “Should I give the children’s bread to the dogs?” She responds, “Even the dogs eat the crumbs from their master’s table.”
He rejoices in her faith and grants her request.
The Magi also endure a long journey. They sacrifice. They give costly gifts.
When God shows up in our lives, it is an invitation, an adventure. It calls for sacrifice.
The blessing of God comes like a crucifixion. It requires sacrifice before resurrection.
This is how love works.
When you are interested in someone, you look for a sign that they like you in return. Once you see it, you are willing to go far. You spend money. You endure inconvenience. You sacrifice gladly.
The sign is not the end. It is the beginning.
A miracle is the beginning of something.
Christmas as a Beginning
Christmas is the beginning.
It begins the life of Christ, His birth, death, and resurrection, all of it revelation, all of it sign, all of it invitation.
We are invited to imitate Him and journey with Him.
To be like the Magi and not like Herod or the Pharisees, we must cultivate hearts capable of recognizing signs and responding properly.
Christ was born in a cave.
The cave of His birth, and the tomb of His death, is the chamber of our hearts.
In that dark and hidden place, if we make room, Christ can be born.
When the sign comes, it will not bounce off us. We will not miss it. Like someone who fails to read social cues and misses an opportunity, we will not let it pass.
Instead, through daily spiritual practices, we cultivate hearts ready for the sign.
When it comes, Christ is born within us.
This is what Christmas is about.
Miracles surround us. They are often hidden in ordinary moments.
If our hearts are open, like the cave of His birth and the tomb of His resurrection, Christ can be born and reborn in us.
That is the miracle of Christmas that happens every day.
Glory to Jesus Christ.
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