In today’s sermon, Fr. Micah speaks of the first Christmas carol to ever be written, the final line of which references King Herod’s order to slaughter the male infants. Why, during this joyous time, was so much emphasis placed on death? Fr. Micah explains that this is because the purpose of our Lord’s coming was to destroy death by his death.

Fr. Micah emphasizes that Christ is the Light of the Father, who shines upon both the good and the evil. The first step to seeing and rejoicing in this light, Fr. Micah says, is to admit that we’re in darkness, and we are sinners. Second, we must receive the mysteries, the windows by which the light of the age to come shines into the world.