St. Nicholas of Myra
Americans today often have a twisted sense of giving. Because we
are a nation of affluence, we are often exposed to countless pleas to give
generously to every and all needy causes. And The approach so often used by
various mediums of solicitation is to appeal to our sense of guilt at our having
so much while others have so little. Obviously such a campaign works. But rather
than giving of our heart to help someone in need, we so often give in order to
appease our own guilt feelings. And once having satisfied our guilt, we can
overlook the personal involvement of helping those whom we come in contact with
on a day to day basis. But is this the true spirit of giving? Should we not give
out of genuine love and concern for our fellow man rather than to satisfy our
own needs and guilty conscience? And just as twisted is the notion that we
should be “good Samaritans” because giving will make us “feel good” or give us
reward and recognition. Is this why we should help others? Christ tells us to
lend without expecting return (Lk 6:35). This does not mean that we shouldn’t
give our time, talents and money. Christ tells us to lend, but our motivations
is different. Either way, the cause will get its donation. But the difference
between giving out of love for your fellow man or giving to satisfy personal
motives is like the difference between doing something out of genuine love for
your parents or out of fear of punishment for not doing it.
It’s the difference between being “Christ-like” or “self-centered.” Perhaps we
know of no better example of the true spirit of Christian giving than our own
St. Nicholas. Born around 275 AD in a town called Myra, St Nicholas “forsook the
world” and entered the monastic life Because of his holiness and virtue, he was
brought back to Myra and consecrated its bishop. While there, he was seized by
the town magistrates, who were persecuting the Church, for zealously guiding and
protecting his flock, and subjected to torture and imprisonment With the end of
the persecutions brought about by the Emperor Constantine, St. Nicholas was
released and once again took to the care of his flock. He is said to have taken
part in the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea. After his death at a very old
age, his body remains uncorrupted to this day and a sweet smelling balm is said
to flow from his bones Several miracles are attributed to his intercession and
hence he is called “Wonderworker” But, above all in his saintly life, St
Nicholas is most renowned for his example of Christian giving Countless legends
of his holiness and unselfishness exist One such story concerns a man who was so
poor that he decided to sell his three daughters into slavery St Nicholas, upon
hearing of this and under the cover of night, left money m the house and thus
averted the tragedy He did this twice more before his discovery by the wretched
man, who immediately sought forgiveness from St Nicholas Other legends include
his arranging for the release of 3 unjustly imprisoned men and his saving 3
innocent youths from execution.
There are other tales of his goodness, but the point of the
matter is that St. Nicholas helped. others, not because he wanted to “feel
good”, but because he truly loved his fellow man. In treating everyone as Christ
would, he acted, not out of a desire to satisfy his needs, but out of concern
for the needs of others He forgot any personal difficulties and hardships
involved in order to try to alleviate the hardships of others This is the true
spirit of Christian giving This is the true spirit of love of neighbor This is
the spirit of St. Nicholas. His feast is celebrated on December 6.
PRAYER O Saint Nicholas, bountiful Father and special Patron of our Byzantine
Catholic Church. You are a shepherd and teacher to all who invoke your
protection, and who, by devout prayer, call upon you for aid. Hasten and save
the flock of Christ from ravenous wolves; and by your holy prayers protect all
Christians and save them from worldly disturbances, earthquakes, attacks from
abroad, from internal strife, from famine, flood, fire, sword, and sudden death.
As you had mercy on those three men in prison and saved them from the king's
wrath, now also have mercy on me who by word, deed, and thought have sunk into
the darkness of sin, Save me from the just anger of God, and from eternal
punishment. Through your intercession and aid as well as through his own mercy
and grace, may Christ our God allow me to lead a tranquil and sinless life, and
save me from standing at "his left," but deem me worthy to stand at "his right"
with all the saints. Amen.
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