Homily 50 #

On the Fifth Saturday of Lent, a laudation by Saint John Chrysostom in honor of our Most Holy and Glorious Maiden God-bearer.

Today, brothers, the radiant Sun of Righteousness has shone upon us—He who is before all rising by nature, the eternal Light who enlightens all things. He has delivered us from darkness, and yet I cannot bear His radiance. He is born, and once again I am overwhelmed with awe. I rejoice at His birth, and yet the mystery unsettles me. I see a new spring gushing forth, and I behold the old stream vanishing. I saw an infant being born, and the heavens bowing down in worship before Him.

I behold a Mother giving birth to her Creator, and yet her womb is not torn. Her virginity is sealed even in giving birth. She who bore God had no husband, and the Son is born without an earthly father. I see a star shining and an infant wrapped in swaddling cloths—He who upholds all things. A manger is made the image of the heavenly throne, and cattle are placed as though in the presence of the cherubim. Lights shine forth, angels rejoice, shepherds proclaim, the magi offer theological witness—while the high priests blaspheme God. Herod falls, death is undone. Adam is loosed, and hell is bound. Eve rejoices, and the serpent mourns.

Those once in captivity are now set free, while the tormentors are cast into torment. The Infant drinks milk and is nourished—yet He is the One who nourishes all creation. He is carried in human arms—yet He bears all things.

Therefore I am struck with awe, and I tremble before this mystery. Let me believe the words of Gabriel and cast away fear, for he spoke to Mary and revealed the wonder, saying:

“Rejoice,thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee! Rejoice, O Glorious One, and Exceedingly Rejoicing, living temple! Rejoice, O Favoured One, dwelling equally of heaven and earth! Rejoice, O Full of Grace, gentle field of the heavenly wheat! Rejoice, O Full of Grace, true vine and undeceitful Virgin, Mother of God! Rejoice, O Full of Grace, worthy vessel of the Birth of Him who is beyond growth! Rejoice, O Full of Grace, spacious dwelling of the nature that cannot be contained! Rejoice, O Favoured One, brilliance of those in darkness! Rejoice, O Favoured One, chaste bridehood of a widowed world! Rejoice, O Full of Grace, thou who hast woven the crown of all creation not made by hands! Rejoice, O Full of Grace, dwelling of the Divine Fire! Rejoice, O Full of Grace, treasury of the Light! Rejoice, O Full of Grace, thou who within thy womb didst engulf the death of our first mother! Rejoice, O Full of Grace, refuge of the world, bringing forth a return without error! Rejoice, O Full of Grace, inexhaustible storehouse for the nature that perished of hunger!”

She was troubled by his words, and avoiding his gaze, she stood with her arms crossed, trembling so that even her feet were unsteady with fear. She dared neither to flee nor to stand her ground. Seeing the bodiless one standing before her in the form of a man, she was filled with shame, honoring her virginity. She dared not ask a question, trembling before the incorporeal one.

And the Virgin’s face was as a mirror of fear, saying within herself:
“What kind of greeting is this? And who is this who kisses me? He shines more brightly than the sun and speaks with a song. He comes from the heavenly throne, and he kisses a maiden. He is not clothed in flesh, yet he stands before me; he walks upon the earth as with wings for feet—what seeks he from one who is earthly?

An angel appears to me, yet speaks as a man. His voice reveals itself to be from among the bodiless holy ones and is offered to me. His face shines brighter than the sun, and he is clothed in a garment whiter than snow. I see a youth not clothed in flesh, walking upon the earth, yet leaving no trace of footsteps. He has no tongue, yet he speaks of a kiss; he has no lips, yet proclaims to me joy. Does he not know what I am thinking?

What a strange vision! If I cannot understand the one who is sent, how shall I comprehend the One who sent him? If I call him ’terrible’—He who sent him is more terrible still. If this brightness darkens my eyes, with what face shall I endure the Righteous Sun? If the creature terrifies me, how shall I bear the Creator? If I tremble before a servant, how shall I give birth to the Master?”

Then the angel said to her:

“Fear not, Mary, for it is not the serpent who speaketh to thee. Fear not, Mary, for I call thee Theotokos. I do not claim thou art equal to God. Fear not, Mary, for I bring thee joy, that thou stumble not as did Eve. From her came a fruit that brought death, but from thee shall come the Cross that bringeth life; from her, deception, but from thee, love; from her, the separation of man from his Creator, but from thee, the unspeakable union of God with flesh; from her, the dark sleep of hell, but from thee, a radiant Lamp for the whole world; from her, a curse, but from thee, blessing; from her, condemnation, but from thee, redemption; from her, sorrow, but from thee, joy; from her, tears, but from thee, the river of living water; from her, toil, but from thee, rest; from her, the thorn-bearing earth, but from thee, life of the Trinity; from her, hatred between brethren, but from thee, love for mankind; from her, the flood, but from thee, the immortal font; from her, a murderer, but from thee, resurrection for the dead; from her, the twelve tribes of corruption, but from thee, the twelve apostles, beloved of God; from her, death spreading through the world—but it shall fall when it draws near to thee; from her, the fall, but from thee, the rising."

“Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bear a Son—He who is in the Father and also in the flesh. Thou shalt bear a Son older than Adam; thou shalt bear a Son higher than the heavens; thou shalt bear a Son who is above the cherubim; thou shalt bear a Son, the Creator of all; thou shalt bear a Son co-eternal with the Father; thou shalt bear a Son whom all worship; thou shalt bear a Son whom the invisible ones hymn; thou shalt bear a Son whose face no one can see; thou shalt bear a Son before whom I myself stand in trembling.”

And when the days were fulfilled for her to give birth, she bore her firstborn Son—whom no man had sown; she bore a Son who had no earthly father; she bore a Son not planted by human seed nor formed by the will of the flesh; she bore a Son, the Maker of man. She bore Him in a cave, and He was revealed in Persia.

When Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea, behold, wise men came from the East to Jerusalem, saying:

“Where is He that is born King of the Jews? Where is He who sent before Him the star? Where is He who guides us through the unknown by the light of its rays? Where is He who shelters the world with the peace of His hand? Where is He who appears everywhere, yet hides Himself in the flesh? Where is He who has delivered us from deception and leads us to true grace? Where is He who appeared to Abraham as the Trinity under the oak of Mamre? Where is He who burned not the bush, nor corrupted the womb? Where is He who is invisible from the Father, and born of a Mother without defilement? Where is He who dried up the Red Sea, and now is nourished with milk? Where is He who drowned Pharaoh and now hides Himself from Herod? Where is He who bound the serpent? Where is He whom the angels did not behold, and yet He is now seen by men?”

And behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.

To Him be glory, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.