He
is called a Samaritan and a demoniac; but He saves him that came down from
Jerusalem and fell among thieves; the demons acknowledge Him, and He drives out
demons, and sinks in the sea legions of foul spirits, and see the Prince of the
demons falling like lightning.
He
is stoned, but is not taken.
He
prays, but He hears prayer.
He
weeps, but He causes tears to cease.
He
asks where Lazarus was laid, for He was man; but He raises Lazarus, for He was
God.
He
is sold, and very cheap, for it is only for thirty pieces of silver; but He
redeems the world, and that at a great price for the Price was His own blood.
As
a sheep He is led to the slaughter, but He is the Shepherd of Israel, and now
of the whole world also
As
a lamb He is silent, yet He is the Word, and is proclaimed by the Voice of one
crying in the wilderness.
He
is bruised and wounded, but He healeth every disease and every infirmity.
He
is lifted up and nailed to the Tree, but by the Tree of Life He restoreth us; yea,
He saveth even the robber crucified with Him; yea, He wrapped the visible world
in darkness.
He
is given vinegar to drink mingled with gall. Who? He who turned the water into wine, who is the
destroyer of the bitter taste, who is Sweetness and altogether desire.
He
lays down his life, but He has power to take it again; and the veil is rent, for
the mysterious doors of heaven are opened; the rocks are cleft, the dead rise.
He
dies, but He gives life, and His death destroys death.
He
is buried, but He rises again; He goes down into Hell, but He brings up the
souls; He ascends to Heaven, and shall come again to judge the quick and the
dead….
~St.
Gregory of Nazianzus, 328-389
My Jesus, I have found You whom
my soul loves.
I hold You and will not let You
go.
(cf. Songs 3:4)
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