Perhaps one of the best-known stories about Nicholas
concerns his generosity towards a poor family
The culture of the time , in order for a young woman to
marry, the father had to provide her with a dowry so that her new husband would
be able to pay for her upkeep, at least for some period of time. Families
without money for a dowry often couldn’t get their daughters married. One poor
father didn’t know what to do for his three daughters. If he were to die or be
incapable of work, they would be driven prostitution for survival.
Nicholas heard of the family’s situation and one night threw
a bag of gold coins through the family’s open window, enough for the dowry for
the oldest daughter who was soon married. The next night, Nicholas threw in
another bag, sufficient for the dowry of the middle daughter, who likewise was
married. The third night Nicholas tossed a third bag to help marry the third
daughter of the father.
There is something profoundly holy about this sort of
anonymous charity. “When you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as
the hypocrites, rather, let your giving be in secret” the Lord teaches us.
St. Nicholas was not only charitable, but a miracle worker.
There is an amazing miracle story where Bishop Nicholas restored to life three
young men who had been killed. There was
a food shortage in Myra, and the local butcher abducted and killed three young
men, and put them in brine to cure them before making them into a ham. Bishop Nicholas became aware of this through
the Holy Spirit, found the boys, restored them to life, and converted the
butcher to Christianity.
Bishop Nicholas was also a great lover and defender of
truth. Bishop Nicholas stood up for the truth at the council of Nicaea. When
the heretic priest Arius claimed that Jesus was not of the same substance with
the Father, Nicholas corrected Arius….physically. There are pictures of
Nicholas slapping Arius in the mouth for the foul errors spewing from it. St.
Nicholas is sometimes called the “hammer of heretics” for this great defense of
the faith.
Here was a bishop, aware and responsive to the needs of the
poor in his diocese, whose holiness was evident due to the miraculous stories
which began to arise around him, and a bishop who was a great defender of the
Apostolic Faith. He is certainly a model for all bishops today.
And, Nicholas is a model for all of us especially during
advent—a saint in which generosity, holiness, and love of truth are combined,
as they always are. Where one is lacking so will the other two.
Advent challenges us to look for opportunities for such
anonymous benefaction, for the corporal and spiritual needs of others, to pray
for others, especially those in need of a miracles, perhaps, even through lives
of holiness to become instruments of God’s miraculous love, and like St.
Nicholas to deepen our understanding and preach the Apostolic Truth about
Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
- - - - -
For Pope Francis, Bishop Malesic, and all of the ordained,
that their ministry may be effective in leading the Church in spreading
Christ’s saving Gospel.
That our elected officials, judges, government leaders and
people of good will may work together in defending innocent human life, working
for the common good, and righting injustice.
For our young people, that they may be kept safe from the
errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer
and acts of mercy.
For all whose lives are marked by suffering, disease or
sorrow, may they come to know the healing and peace of Christ.
For the deceased of our parish, family and friends, and for
all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and
desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant
that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your
Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.
A reading
from the epistle to the Hebrews
Remember
your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their
way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today,
and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching.* It is
good to have our hearts strengthened by grace and not by foods, which do not
benefit those who live by them. We have an altar* from which those who serve
the tabernacle have no right to eat. The bodies of the animals whose blood the
high priest brings into the sanctuary as a sin offering are burned outside the
camp. Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, to consecrate the people
by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp, bearing the reproach
that he bore. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to
come. Through him [then] let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise,
that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
A
continuation of the holy gospel according to St. matthew
At that
time, Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples: a man who was going on a
journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he
gave five talents;* to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his
ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went
and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two
made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the
ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those
servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received
five talents came forward bringing the additional five.* He said, ‘Master, you
gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him,
‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ [Then]
the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you
gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well
done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I
will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’
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