Meditation: Why Did He Come?
St. Gregory of Nazianzus wrote:
Darkness is loosened, light is created.
The Pillar of Fire is given to Israel.
Those dark in ignorance see the great light:
knowledge and wisdom.
Old things are finished; all is become new,
the letter retreats; the Spirit prevails;
shadows disappear; the truth now enters;
nature’s law is overturned for heaven needs filling…
What was invisible, now is distinguishable.
What was untouchable now is touchable…
This is our festival, this we celebrate,
God coming to man that man might go out
(or better, go back) to God our Father,
off with the old man and on with the new!
Once dead in Adam, now alive in Christ,
born with Christ, crucified with Christ,
buried with Christ, risen with Christ.”
Meditation: Why Did He Come?
St. Ephrem the Syrian wrote:
“He who measures the heavens with the span of His hand
lies in a manger a span’s breadth;
He whose cupped hands contain the sea
is born in a cave;
His glory fills the heavens
and the manger is filled with
His splendor.
Moses wished to see His glory
but was unable to see Him as he wished;
let us come and see Him today
as He lies in the manger in swaddling clothes.
Formerly there was none who dared to see God and still live,
but today all who have seen Him
are saved from the second death.”
Meditation: Why Did He Come?
One of the prayers from the Sacrament of Baptism explains why Jesus came:
“For Thou. Who are ineffable, existed uncreated before the Ages, and inexpressible, didst descend upon earth, and didst take on the semblance of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man. For because of the tender compassion of Thy mercy, O Master, Thou couldst not endure to behold mankind oppressed by the Devil; but Thou didst come and didst save us. We confess Thy Grace. We proclaim Thy Mercy. We conceal not Thy Gracious Acts. Thou hast delivered the generation of our mortal nature…. All creation magnifieth Thee, Who has manifested Thyself. For Thou, O our God, has revealed Thyself upon earth, and hast dwelt among men …”
~ Presbytera Emily Harakas & Fr. Anthony Coniaris, DAILY MEDITATIONS and Prayers for the CHRISTMAS ADVENT Fast and Epiphany: Living the Days of Advent and Epiphany according to the Orthodox Church Calendar
