Let me tell you all about it...

it's not the activity of this week, but the things observed. 

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On Dec 6, 343 the beloved St. Nicholas of Myra (remembered by many names, including St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas or Santa Claus) became part of the Church Triumphant. 

This bishop, known for his generosity, may have had a pugnacious side.  According to a legend (which apparently appeared a thousand years after the alleged incident), when Nicholas encountered the heretic Arius of Alexandria at the council of Nicaea, he struck him in the face.  

Whether he did this or not, his opposition to this arch-heretic would be within his character because he loved the truth and would oppose any who corrupted it. The point is, sometimes we can't ignore evil. Sometimes, we have to react. It's not necessarily going to be with violence, but for the sake of truth and love of our neighbor, we need to do what is right, even if it hurts. Like Jesus said, "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matt 10:34b)." Drawing a figurative sword may hurt for several different reasons. One of them is that it will likely bring a counter reaction with a real sword. But as we know, Jesus said, "“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matt 5:11-12).