Saint Gregory Nazianzen - "God takes our flesh and dies so that we may live"
The Marvel of the Incarnation
From a sermon by Saint Gregory Nazianzen, Bishop
The very Son of God, older than the ages, the invisible, the incomprehensible, the incorporeal, the beginning of beginning, the light of light, the fountain of life and immortality, the image of the archetype, the immovable seal, the perfect likeness, the definition and word of the Father: He it is who comes to His own image and takes our nature for the good of our nature, and unites Himself to an intelligent soul for the good of my soul, to purify like by like.
He takes to Himself all that is human, except for sin. He was conceived by the Virgin Mary, who had been first prepared in soul and body by the Spirit; His coming to birth had to be treated with honor, virginity had to receive new honor.
He comes forth as God, in the human nature He has taken, one being, made of two contrary elements, flesh and spirit. Spirit gave divinity, flesh received it.
He who makes rich is made poor; He takes on the poverty of my flesh, that I may gain the riches of His divinity. He who is full is made empty; He is emptied for a brief space of His glory, that I may share in His fullness.
What is this wealth of goodness? What is this mystery that surrounds me?
I received the likeness of God, but failed to keep it. He takes on my flesh, to bring salvation to the image, immortality to the flesh. He enters into a second union with us, a union far more wonderful than the first.
Holiness had to be brought to man by the humanity assumed by one who was God, so that God might overcome the tyrant by force and so deliver us and lead us back to Himself through the mediation of His Son. The Son arranged this for the honour of the Father, to whom the Son is clearly obedient in all things.
The Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for the sheep, came in search of the straying sheep to the mountains and hills on which you used to offer sacrifice. When he found it, He took it on the shoulders that bore the wood of the Cross, and led it back to the life of Heaven.
Christ, the light of all lights, follows John, the lamp that goes before Him. The Word of God follows the voice in the wilderness; the bridegroom follows the bridegrooms friend, who prepares a worthy people for the Lord by cleansing them by water in preparation for the Spirit.
We need God to take our flesh and die, that we might live. We have died with Him, that we may be purified. We have risen again with Him, because we have died with Him. We have been glorified with Him, because we have risen again with Him.
For it is not small to one who has nothing."
"Give something, however small, to the one in need.
For it is not small to one who has nothing."
For it is not small to one who has nothing."
Saint Gregory Nazianzen
Saint Gregory Nazianzen (329-390) - "God takes our flesh and dies so that we may live"
This site is dedicated to Our Lord Jesus Christ
in the Most Holy Virgin Mary,
for the Glory of God
The Apostolic Blessing by the Holy See in Rome is bestowed (October 28, 2013)
Cooperatores Veritatis
Cooperatores Veritatis
Omnia ad majoren Dei Gloriam!
(All for the greater glory of God)
Contact/email us by writing to [email protected]
Design and some materials ©2013-2022 by CatholicTruth.Net - All Rights Reserved
Some works are open license - others are copyrighted by their respective intellectual property owners, as noted.