ADVENT 2025 – DAY SEVEN

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
slow to anger and of great kindness.

The Lord is loving to everyone
and his compassion is over all his works.

[PSALM 145:8-9]

ADVENT DAILY OFFICE READINGS*
Psalm 145:8-13 1 Kings 17:7-16; 1 John 4:7-14; Mark 10:13-16

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Although very little is known about this fourth century saint, he has become one of the most popular because of the legends that surround him. Nicholas prefigured Santa Claus, who visits us every December 25.

In reality, he was bishop of Myra, a seaport on the southwest coast of what is now Turkey. However, he is best known as a friend of children and giver of gifts.

The church I served in my last full-time call would celebrate this day with a festival for children.

Most came from the neighborhood, and it was an experience they looked forward to.

The evening was filled with crafts, Christmas music, and light refreshments.

The children were invited to the sanctuary to meet Nicholas. But before entering, however, they were told to remove their shoes.

During their time in the sanctuary, Nicholas regaled them with stories of his adventures, and how much he loved children. Among the stories (our fictional) Nicholas told them, was how he once threw three bags of gold through the window of a poor man who had three daughters, in order to provide them with a dowry and save them from a life of servitude or slavery.  

After story time, when our neighborhood children return to put on their shoes, to their surprise, the shoes were stuffed with candy!

It was a joyous event for both the children, the parents and those church volunteers who took part in the planning and the program.

It was also a wonderful evangelism tool that drew in the people from the neighborhood, many of whom were unfamiliar with our congregation.

Whether Nicholas or Santa Claus, the focus of this celebration is the kindness and generosity he showed and we in turn are asked to show others.

The source of much of our celebration information came from the website of The St. Nicholas Center, that is a treasure trove of information and ideas on how to commemorate the day.

It is from that site that we quote the following:

In these days before Christmas, we can celebrate the feast of Nicholas as a time to refocus on Jesus. St. Nicholas showed us how to find Jesus in the poor, the oppressed and abused. He was devoted to charity, but charity always linked to justice.

Nicholas teaches us that faithful followers of Jesus defend those who are wrongly accused. Today we can see the face of Jesus not only in political prisoners around the world, but also in anyone who suffers from false accusation. After all, wasn’t Jesus himself executed on false charges?

The readings for this day also used to include an alternate psalm, Psalm 78.3–7:

That which we have heard and known, and what our forefathers have told us, *
    we will not hide from their children.

We will recount to generations to come
the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the LORD, *
    and the wonderful works he has done.

He gave his decrees to Jacob and established a law for Israel, *
    which he commanded them to teach their children;

That the generations to come might know, and the children yet unborn; *
    that they in their turn might tell it to their children;

So that they might put their trust in God, *
    and not forget the deeds of God,
    but keep his commandments;

Inserting a festive holiday like St. Nicholas into the daily prayer routine helps ease the anxiety of waiting.

Personally, it provides a respite for me, a way to disengage from the craziness and cruelty that is going on around us these days, which was the reason I immersed myself in this practice in the first place.

Hopefully, it calls you to do the same.

Let us pray:
Grant, Almighty God, that your church may be so inspired by the example of your servant Nicholas of Myra, that it may never cease to work for the welfare of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
(Lesser Feasts and Fasts, p. 555)

*The readings above are for Nicholas of Myra The readings below are for Saturday of the First Week of Advent
AM Psalm 20, 21:1-7(8-14); PM Psalm 110:1-5(6-7), 116, 117 Amos 5:18-27; Jude 17-25; Matt. 22:15-22