HOMILY on the Word of God revealed in the flesh
And the Word was made flesh (John 1:14).
By Saint Nikolai Velimirovich
Here, brethren, is a new, blessed and salvific beginning for us-the
beginning of our salvation. Adam was in the flesh when he fell under the
authority of sin and death. Now the Creator of Adam has appeared in the
flesh, to deliver Adam and Adam's posterity from the power of sin and
death. The Son of God-the Word, Wisdom, Light and Life-descended among
men in human flesh and with a human soul. He was incarnate but not
divided from His Divinity. He descended without being separated from His
Father. He retained all that He had been and would be for all eternity,
and yet He received something new: human nature. His eternal attributes
were not diminished by the Incarnation, neither was His relationship to
the Father and the Spirit changed. Lo, the Father testified to this,
both on the Jordan and on Mount Tabor: This is my beloved Son! He
did not say: ``This was my Son,'' but ``This is my Son.'' The Holy
Spirit was with Him at His bodily conception and throughout His mission
on earth. The divine and human nature were united in Him, but not
intermingled. How? Do not ask, you who do not even know how to explain
yourself to yourself, and cannot say how your soul and body are united
in you. Only know this: God came to visit the earth, bringing
unspeakably rich treasures for mankind-royal gifts, incorruptible,
eternal, priceless and irreplaceable gifts. Know this and let your heart
dance for joy. Strive to cleanse your hands, purify your senses, wash
your soul, whiten your heart, and set your mind straight, that you may
receive the royal gifts. For they are not given to the unclean.
O Lord Jesus Christ, help us to cleanse and wash ourselves by Thy blood
and Thy Spirit, that we may be made worthy of Thy royal gifts.
To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
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