St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra (which is now Turkey) in the early 300's. He was noted for his piety and pastoral zeal – he had a special love for children. During the persecution of Diocletian he was imprisoned, and later he was present at the Council of Nicea which dealt with errors concerning the divinity of Christ. Nicholas is popular in both the Eastern and Western Churches. The practice of giving gifts to children on his feast day was actually begun by the Dutch when they came to North America. It was combined with a Nordic legend of a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good ones! From these sources came the notion of Santa Claus.
Though not being Santa Claus, this Nicholas was definitely a saint in his own right. He was one who accepted the commission of God – as did Isaiah the prophet in the first reading – to go where God would send him and to say what God would have him say!
In the gospel passage – it is more clearly spelled out: go – Jesus told his disciples – and say: THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND FOR YOU! They were to announce to the villages where Jesus would visit that in him, in Jesus, was to be found the kingdom they were all looking for itself!
St. Nicholas and we are called to recognize the presence of Jesus right here among us – and to proclaim this reality to anyone who will hear us! In his Word, in the Sacraments (esp. Eucharist), in our hearts, in our actions of self-sacrificial love and charity – JESUS IS HERE! THE KINGDOM THAT WE ARE ALL REALLY LOOKING FOR IS AT HAND. The world needs to be assured of this! More and more people need to make it the focal point of their lives. But, first we need to ensure it is the focal point of ours!
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives! Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will!
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