James of Saruggh (paraphrase parts of homily)
We should tremble with emotion when we speak of Mary because the daughter of men reached the highest measure of greatness
- What happened by chance?
- Did the Son pour grace itself over her?
- Or was she so pleasing to him that she was converted into the Mother of the Son of God?
That he can down on earth is on its own a gift is clear. With Mary pure, he got hold of her. He saw humility, her meekness and purity dwelt in her. God finds it easy to rest in those who are humble. The highest perfection has to be humility. Look at Moses or Abraham, the showed humility where God had talked to them both directly.
This is the principle way by which man gets closer to God. No one in the world has humbled herself as Mary. Our Lord seeking to descend on earth, searched among all women, selected only one. He saw noble condition in her, no disorder caused by vanities of the world, no childish behavior of a little girl. She was prudent and filled with love of God; our Lord doesn't dwell where love does not reign. Her nature was guarded by a free will fixed on noblest things. She was strikingly beautiful in her nature and in her will because she was not polluted by illegitimate thoughts, since childhood had no stain deformed her integrity ; She journeyed all along the way without sin.
St. Augustine of Hippo
Christ did not condemn maternal affection, but showed with his towering example that one has to leave behind one's own Mother to carry out the works of God.
Mary is chosen so that from her salvation would be born to us and created by Christ before, Christ was created in her - did fulfill the will of the Father which Mary did so perfectly. Mary through faith believed and conceived, was more a disciple of Christ, than simply a Mother to him, Mary was already blessed by carrying the "Teacher" in her womb.
Mary is blessed because she heard the word of God and kept it. What was found in Mary's soul is better than what she conceived in the womb, because Christs "Truth" was in her soul. Where Eve was corrupted by the word of the serpent, there the church ought to be a virgin of grace of Omnipotent. Members of Christ give birth in the mind as Mary gave birth to Christ.
St. John Chrysostom
The church created by the mystical trinity is gathered together in this church of Mary Mother of God. We greet Mary Mother of God, the venerable treasure of the whole world, inextinguishable lamp, crown of the virginity and scepture of orthodoxy, indestructible temple.
- Because of you who held Holy virginal womb
- Because of you , the cross is venerated and adored throughout the whole world
- Because of you heaven rejoices , angels and archangels delight, daemons are put to flight
- Because of you the dead are raised and kings rule through the grace of the Holy trinity.
No comments:
Post a Comment