Why do we Christians make such a big deal about one person killed as
a common criminal, condemned by His own people. Has nothing like
this ever ocurred in History? Has no one ever been crucified?
We live in a world of pain and grief. In our own pain, we often tend
to belittle the passion of our Lord.
Some thoughts to share with friends of IOIF in this Passion Week
of our Lord:
Sure, many others have been killed in similar horrific fashion. There
may have been many crucified before and after Christ. What makes this
death so important to us?
Only the realization that this death was of a person who was and is
Lord of all things, who by His abundant Mercy created the Universe,
including man; who emptied Himself to Redeem mankind, which is but a
minute handiwork of His mighty Hands, can help us to understand the
magnitude of the significance of that one death and passion.
When man spat on His Creator, man was doomed. Do not be surprised if
swords of the mighty angels like Gabriel and Michael had been drawn
at that very moment, to strike down the very existence of man, only
waiting fervently for one command from the suffering Master.
But Man was probably saved from that terror because the Master had no
anger. He had only sympathy. Calvary is an eternal witness to that
unimaginable love for His unworthy and undeserving creation.
The Sun and the Moon had seen many deaths till then and since then,
but only during that one death, when they saw their Master lying
naked on the cross, did they ever dim their brightness in shame at the
work of man.
Many had died since, but only that once did God Almighty die.
Many had been killed before this one murder, but only once did man
ever kill God.
God had seen man kill ever since Cain had killed, but only during
that one death did He watch helplessly as His only Beloved Son was
being ruthlessly nailed to the cross and killed. Yes, God became
helpless at that moment so that man's cause may be helped.
That one death, defeated death. It ended the terror of death from the
face of the earth. We also share that great hope that we will not
die, for "He is Risen!".
"O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?"
- Paschal Sermon by St. John Chrysostom (Archbishop of Constantinople)
That one death made it clear to Satan that He is doomed. Death was
His greatest weapon. But Christ's death blunted that weapon of
Satan's. Satan has been trying ever since to try and re-establish the
fear of death in people. But the Church, the Body of Christ thwarts
His efforts on the earth, and the Orthodox Faith proclaims that
defeat of Satan in each of our Liturgical Worship as we praise in
communion with the people who have "passed away".
May the Passion Week bring us closer to our Master.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/2517
a common criminal, condemned by His own people. Has nothing like
this ever ocurred in History? Has no one ever been crucified?
We live in a world of pain and grief. In our own pain, we often tend
to belittle the passion of our Lord.
Some thoughts to share with friends of IOIF in this Passion Week
of our Lord:
Sure, many others have been killed in similar horrific fashion. There
may have been many crucified before and after Christ. What makes this
death so important to us?
Only the realization that this death was of a person who was and is
Lord of all things, who by His abundant Mercy created the Universe,
including man; who emptied Himself to Redeem mankind, which is but a
minute handiwork of His mighty Hands, can help us to understand the
magnitude of the significance of that one death and passion.
When man spat on His Creator, man was doomed. Do not be surprised if
swords of the mighty angels like Gabriel and Michael had been drawn
at that very moment, to strike down the very existence of man, only
waiting fervently for one command from the suffering Master.
But Man was probably saved from that terror because the Master had no
anger. He had only sympathy. Calvary is an eternal witness to that
unimaginable love for His unworthy and undeserving creation.
The Sun and the Moon had seen many deaths till then and since then,
but only during that one death, when they saw their Master lying
naked on the cross, did they ever dim their brightness in shame at the
work of man.
Many had died since, but only that once did God Almighty die.
Many had been killed before this one murder, but only once did man
ever kill God.
God had seen man kill ever since Cain had killed, but only during
that one death did He watch helplessly as His only Beloved Son was
being ruthlessly nailed to the cross and killed. Yes, God became
helpless at that moment so that man's cause may be helped.
That one death, defeated death. It ended the terror of death from the
face of the earth. We also share that great hope that we will not
die, for "He is Risen!".
"O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?"
- Paschal Sermon by St. John Chrysostom (Archbishop of Constantinople)
That one death made it clear to Satan that He is doomed. Death was
His greatest weapon. But Christ's death blunted that weapon of
Satan's. Satan has been trying ever since to try and re-establish the
fear of death in people. But the Church, the Body of Christ thwarts
His efforts on the earth, and the Orthodox Faith proclaims that
defeat of Satan in each of our Liturgical Worship as we praise in
communion with the people who have "passed away".
May the Passion Week bring us closer to our Master.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/2517
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