St. Nicholas: Saint of Love and Children

 

1 John 4:7-14 (NRSV)

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.


We commemorate today St. Nicholas,


Saint Nicholas is said to be just about everyone's saint; he is surely named the patron saint of more causes than any other saint. Nicholas has been chosen as the special protector or guardian of a great many classes of people, cities, churches, and even countries.

St Nicholas, patron of children Holy Card, Ukraine St Nicholas Center Collection

Saint Nikolaus, patron of the seamen; Holy card, Germany, G. Winkler St Nicholas Center Collection

Patron saints have lived a life which is a worthy example of how to faithfully follow Jesus Christ and, as part of the communion of saints, they intercede on behalf of those who call upon them. In the West Nicholas is most widely known as the patron saint of children. Many of his stories tell of children rescued from calamity and returned to the care and keeping of their families. In France the most familiar story, both told and sung, is of three little children lured into the clutches of an evil butcher and rescued by St. Nicholas. Other stories, as well, tell of children who disappeared, were kidnaped, fell into a well, or suffered some other disaster-all to be delivered through the good offices of St. Nicholas. These accounts of a child forcibly taken from parents, followed by a time of grieving and despair, then the miraculous return of the child, have profound and universal appeal which makes Nicholas the much valued Guardian of Children. It is no wonder he is the beloved patron saint of children.


I began this blog post today with the wonderful reading from 1 John 4: 7-14 because with in it is the heart of a Christians vocation.  To love because love is from God.  Contained deep within these famous words is a realization that love is both wonderful and mysterious.  Love is the greatest of all of the Gospel Virtues of faith, hope and love.  Yet love is also the most difficult to understand let alone do.  Love often requires of us tasks that we would rather they be left to someone else.  Like loving someone who has an addiction to alcohol or drug abuse.  Loving a Priest who preaches great sermons, but behind the scenes is so difficult to work with.  Loving a parent that is abusive.  Loving a parent who rejects her or his gay son or lesbian daughter.  Yet as difficult as love is, sometimes it is a more loving thing to do nothing than to do too much.  

Yet as Christians we are told to love because love is from God.  In love God sent God's Son to be the "sacrifice for our sins" not just on the cross, but also in his willingness to associate and help those marginalized by society and the church.  As Jesus reached out his hands and his heart to those most rejected, he too, was rejected.  The love of God in Jesus loves so deeply that Jesus was willing to accept the place of being "despised and rejected" for the sake of those who were despised and rejected.  As Christians, we too are called to love and serve those whom society and the Church rejects and turns aside from.  Are we willing?

Mark 10:13-16 (NRSV)

People were bringing little children to Jesus in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

Jesus challenges us to receive the kingdom of God like little children.  The innocent watching and waiting of children for Christmas Day is by far the greatest example of how Christians ought to be spending the Season of Advent.  Watching and waiting for the greatest day when love shall come and give us peace and joy beyond our wildest imaginations.  St. Nicholas brought to many children who were being abused and mistreated the opportunity to be set free so that they could be children.   The message of salvation in Jesus is that God came to us in the Person of God's Son to set us free from enslavement to sin so that we could pursue the abundant life that God has in mind for us.  With our souls free from the guilt of sin, in Jesus we should find every reason to love one another and respect the differences that exist with each and every individual person created and loved by God.   

Yet, we still live in a society and a Church with people who insist on discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer (LGBTQ) people.  In the Church we even find Priests who think that what Arizona did with their decision to not pay for organ transplants to save people's lives, is a good idea to save "medicare money."  When people's lives hang in the balance, there should never be a dollar amount too big or small to spare for a person's health and well being.   Making a law requiring death panels is hardly a "pro-life" law.  

The Church needs a man like St. Nicholas to remind us that the first priority of Christians is to love others and to be open to the reign of God like a child waits for Christmas Day.  We help those who live with poverty and without unemployment benefits, because to do otherwise is an unloving thing to do.  We accept that there is sexual and gender diversity in society and the Church because we are redeemed to love all of God's people and trust God's judgment as better than our own about what is best.  We don't place obstacles in the way of people who already have burdens too great to bear, because in Jesus, God saw our barriers and in the death and resurrection of Jesus God took the barrier of original sin away and made us one with the Holy Trinity and with all other sisters and brothers within the Body of Christ.


Today, may love and childlike faith be our prayer and goal.

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect, Second Sunday of Advent, Book of Common Prayer, page 211).
 
Almighty God, in your love you gave your servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness both on land and sea: Grant, we pray, that your Church may never cease to work for the happiness 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, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for St. Nicholas, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 105).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, page 815).