LET US strive to prepare a place for Him much more beautiful and welcoming than the humble manger in the cold cave. As our Lord God and Savior and the Creator of all, He deserved the finest surroundings, much fanfare, hymns of praise, and worship, but in His humility, He accepted these meek conditions. LET US beautify our hearts and souls for Him that they it can be the lovely place that He deserves.
LET US see the face of our Savior in those in physical, emotional, and spiritual need all around us, and offer them food, drink, warmth, clothing, fellowship and mercy and compassion, and whatever else we can provide (Matthew 25:34-40).
LET US love our Lord God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27), so that the spiritual training of this holy time is light and joyful.
LET US try to attend more services when they are offered to aid us in our ascetic struggle. As the Lenten Triodion states, "Divorced from prayer and from the reception of the holy sacraments, unaccompanied by acts of compassion, our fasting becomes pharisaical or even demonic. It leads, not to contrition and joyfulness, but to pride, inward tension and irritability. ... If it (fasting) is not accompanied by prayer and an increased spiritual life, it merely leads to a heightened state of irritability."
LET US love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27)................even more than ourselves.
LET US be minimalists in the spirit of secular excess which is unfortunately typical this time of year.
LET US be as lights in the darkness (Philippians 2:15), that we may be true ambassadors of the Holy Orthodox Church to those outside of Her; that we may be struggle to be worthy to bear the Name of Christ (Christian) and not scandalize Him to non-Christians or minimal Christians by the selfishness, indulgence and gluttony that pervades this time of year all around us.
LET US struggle to be perfect, as our Father in Heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).
LET US not be lukewarm in our faith, as our Lord despises it (Revelation 3:16), but rather, let us be fiery and zealous.
LET US truly receive our Lord God and Savior, not just when it is "convenient" or "popular" to do so, but always (John 1:11).
LET US remember that our Lord accepted the will of His Father to become incarnate for our sakes out of love for us so that we may attain salvation, even though He knew He would suffer and die, so LET US remember to thank Him with praise and in prayer, especially during this holy time of year.
There can be nothing sadder than to read the words spoken by the beloved Apostle St. John the Theologian, "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not." LET US struggle to know Him—the Creator of our universe—through reading of the Holy Scriptures, reading the Holy Fathers, and through active heartfelt prayer. LET US actively seek our Lord, fearing His words in Luke 13:25, 27 that we too may not be turned away from God, that He not tell our souls "I do not know you, where you are from ... I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity." True despair is eternity without God—this is the Orthodox definition of Hell...eternity devoid of God, His presence, and His love. That is what makes the demons and the damned wail and dwell in torment. LET US seek God while we are alive and have our free wills to do so, and while we have been given the beautiful gift of life and time—let us redeem our time wisely in order to accomplish this very goal.
LET US remember our Most Holy, Most Pure, Blessed and Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, for without her "fiat", there would be no Incarnation of our Lord God and Savior in the Flesh/Nativity. Because she was so pure, let us try to emulate her holy example of selflessness and service to God, and be thankful to her for her obedience to God's will and her love of God. Although we cannot physically bear our Lord in our bodies as she did, we can receive Him in a spiritual way into our hearts through purifying ourselves and spiritual exercise.
Finally, while the world all around us is in a frenzied state of constant noise and abuzz with non-spiritual (and sometimes hedonistic) activity, LET US remember the words of St. Seraphim of Sarov: "Acquire the spirit of peace and a thousand souls around you shall be saved".
St. Theophan the Recluse stated, "Fasting appears gloomy until one steps into its arena. But begin and you will see what light it brings after darkness, what freedom from bonds, what release after a burdensome life".
Prayer at the Beginning of the Nativity Fast
Lord Jesus, You have come so many times to us and found no resting place, forgive us for our over-crowded lives, our vain haste and our preoccupation with self. Come again, O Lord, and though our hearts are a jumble of voices, and our minds overlaid with many fears, find a place however humble, where You can begin to work Your wonder as you create peace and joy within us. If in some hidden corner, in some out-of-the-way spot, we can clear away the clutter, and shut out the noise and darkness, come be born again in us, and we shall kneel in perfect peace wiht the wisest and humblest of men. Help us to enter into this Christmas Fast with humility, yet with joy. And finally Lord, give us Christmas from within, that we may share it from without, on all sides, all around us, wherever there is need. God help us, every one, to share the blessing of Jesus, in whose name we keep Christmas holy. Amen. (from the book by Presbytera Emily Harakas and Father Anthony Coniaris, "Daily Meditations and Prayers for the Christmas Advent Fast and Epiphany", ISBN 1-880971-54-2).
