The Word became flesh; that is,
the Son of God, co-eternal with God the Father and with the Holy Spirit, became
human – having become incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. O,
wondrous, awesome and salvific mystery! The One Who had nobeginning took on a
beginning according to humanity; the One without flesh assumed flesh. God
became man – without ceasing to be God. The Unapproachable One became
approachable to all, in the aspect of an humble servant. Why, and for
whatreason, was there such condescension [shown] on the part of the Creator
toward Histransgressing creatures – toward humanity which, through an act of
its own will hadfallen away from God, its Creator?
It was by reason of a supreme,
inexpressible mercy toward His creation on the part of the Master, Who could
not bear to see the entire race of mankind – which, He, in creating, had
endowed with wondrous gifts – enslaved by the devil and thus destined
foreternal suffering and torment.
And the Word became flesh!...in
order to make us earthly beings into heavenly ones, in order to make sinners
into saints; in order to raise us up from corruption intoincorruption, from
earth to heaven; from enslavement to sin and the devil – into the glorious
freedom of children of God; from death – into immortality, in order to make us
sons of God and to seat us together with Him upon the Throne as His royal
children. O, boundless compassion of God! O, inexpressible wisdom of God! O,
great wonder, astounding not only the human mind, but the angelic [mind] as
well!
Let us glorify God! With the
coming of the Son of God in the flesh upon the earth, with His offering Himself
up as a sacrifice for the sinful human race, there is given to those who
believe the blessing of the Heavenly Father, replacing that curse which had
been uttered by God in the beginning; they are adopted and receive the promise
of an eternal inheritance of life. To a humanity orphaned by reason of sin, the
Heavenly Father returns anew through the mystery of re-birth, that is, through
baptism and repentance. People are freed of the tormenting, death-bearing
authority of the devil, of the afflictions of sin and of various passions.
Human nature is deified for the
sake of the boundless compassion of the Son of God; and its sins are purified;
the defiled are sanctified. The ailing are healed. Upon those in dishonour are
boundless honour and glory bestowed.
Those in darkness are enlightened
by the Divine light of grace and reason.
The human mind is given the
rational power of God – we have the mind of Christ (Cor.2, 16), says the Holy
apostle Paul. To the human heart, the heart of Christ is given. The perishable
is made immortal. Those naked and wounded by sin and by passions are adorned in
Divine glory. Those who hunger and thirst are sated and assuaged by the nourishing
and soul-strengthening Word of God and by the most pure Body and Divine Blood
of Christ. The inconsolable are consoled. Those ravaged by the devil have been
–and continue to be – delivered.
What, then, O, brethren, is
required of us in order that we might avail ourselves of all the grace brought
unto us from on high by the coming to earth of the Son of God? What is
necessary, first of all, is faith in the Son of God, in the Gospel as the
salvation-bestowing heavenly teaching; a true repentance of sins and the
correction of life and of heart; communion in prayer and in the mysteries
[sacraments]; the knowledge and fulfillment of Christʼs commandments. Also
necessary are the virtues: Christian humility, alms-giving, continence, purity
and chastity, simplicity and goodness of heart.
Let us, then, O brothers and
sisters, bring these virtues as a gift to the One Who wasborn for the sake of
our salvation – let us bring them in place of the gold, frankincense and myrrh
which the Magi brought Him, as to One Who is King, God, and Man, come to die
for us. This, from us, shall be the most-pleasing form of sacrifice to God and
to the Infant Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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