Today is the Feast of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. He
was a great saint and holy Bishop of the Church. Of his many traits, the love
of the poor was among his greatest. As I continue to “settle in” to our new
host parish of Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, yesterday I spent a
few moments sitting with a few of those being served breakfast during our
weekly feeding ministry. It was only a few minutes between appointments, but I
immediately was warmed by the graciousness of who many in our society would consider
outcasts. I am pleased to say our Cathedral hosts the feeding twice per week.
What pleased me additionally was the presence of several parishioners working
with dignity and class to provide a simple and needed meal for those in need. I
bring this up not to boast on our host parish, but to hopefully inspire you to
remember the poor, not just on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but every day.
They are blessed by God as we hear in today’s Gospel Reading:Luke 6:17-23 (RSV) - At that time, Jesus stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all. And he lifted up his eyes on His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven."
May the Holy Wonderworker and Hierarch Saint Nicholas be an
inspiration to you as he has been for me.
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