Fr. Hans explains the teaching of Christ as the "second Adam," a title given to him by the Apostle Paul. He presents the Incarnation as the fulfillment of centuries of preparation, culminating in the Theotokos, whose faith and purity made possible the union of Creator and creation, and emphasizes that Christ's mission involved a direct confrontation with the forces that held humanity in bondage. By freely embracing death and rising again, Christ defeated the power of the devil and stripped death of its ultimate authority, revealing Orthodox faith not as abstract theology but as a lived, transformative reality that calls believers from inner disorder toward communion with God through baptism, repentance, and renewed life, and frames the Nativity not as a sentimental holiday but as a decisive divine intervention to heal human brokenness and restore the original order of creation.

Date: December 25, 2025

Commemorations: The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, The Adoration of the Magi: Melchior, Gaspar, & Balthasar, The Commemoration of the Shepherds in Bethlehem who were watching their flocks and came to see the Lord

Epistle Reading: Galatians 4:4-7

Gospels Reading: Matthew 2:1-12

This podcast episode was produced by St. Peter the Apostle Orthodox Church in Fort Myers, Florida. Visit our parish website at https://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com