On December 6 of each year in the midst of our Advent preparations, we celebrate the feast day of St. Nicholas, a Bishop from what is now a region in modern-day Turkey, from whom the tradition of Santa Claus in the modern Christian world is at least partially derived. Most of us probably picture St Nicholas as a benevolent and generous gift-giver, an image cultivated from Christmas stories passed down to children. However, what we know about the historical St Nicholas is a bit different. He was a very passionate defender of the faith who is said to have knocked down the heretic Arius with a physical blow during the Council of Nicaea in the 4th century. Nicholas staunchly defended the poor and the powerless while Bishop, preventing an imperial servant from carrying out the sentence of capital punishment on three poor immigrants. He also intervened with the Roman Emperor Constantine, demanding justice for the poor of the city of Myra, as the poor there were oppressed by the burden of unjustly high taxes. Many stories have been passed down about St Nicholas, with his legend and reputation for helping other inspiring the gift giving and generosity of the Christmas season. Perhaps the facts we know about Nicholas makes him more of an Advent figure than our image of him as a kind and gentle figure.
In Isaiah today, the prophet foresees a day when all will change through God: the deaf will hear, the blind will see, the poor will rejoice, and the lowly will be filled with joy. This passage foreshadows Jesus and his ministry in proclamation of God’s kingdom, as he opens the eyes of two blind men and heals them in today’s Gospel.
During Advent we should strive to see Jesus more clearly, to see him through the lens of our faith. We know Jesus as our teacher and savior. May we grow in our trust in him.
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