BIBLE STUDY: PREFIGURES OF CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

 

PREFIGURES OF CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

The Old Testament is Fulfilled in The New Testament

God’s revelation throughout the Old Testament prefigures, anticipates, and announces beforehand the redemption that he would accomplish in the person of Jesus Christ his only Son incarnated. There are many prefigures of Christ in the Old Testament. Jesus is the second Adam, the perfect law keeper, Noah, Joseph, Moses, etc… God announced beforehand, in type and shadow, promised and prophesied the redemption he would accomplish through his incarnate Son. How can a collection of books written over a period of a thousand years by many authors find its fulfillment in a single individual? God over history ordered events and intervened in history so as to reveal himself and his redemptive purposes to his people (ex. Ex. 7:3–5). This same God superintended the recording and interpretation of those events as he inspired individuals to compose the books (cfr. 2 Tim 3:16).

First: Christ is present in the Old Testament through his promise, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Gen 3:15). Promise of the Messiah and an announcement of the work – he will accomplish.

A second way – Christ is present in the Old Testament is through prophecy which time and again heralds the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of Israel, “The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Is 7:14).

Thirdly: Christ is present in the Old Testament in the form of types and shadows. The Old Testament types are signs that pointed believers to the reality (what theologians call the antitype) which is Christ himself. Along with people and places, a thing can also be a type of Christ. For example, the bronze serpent raised in the wilderness brought healing.

Adam is a prefigure of the Messiah. Adam and Christ are related to one another as a photographic negative to its positive print.  What Adam did, Jesus undid. Adam was the first born of physical humanity, where Jesus is the firstborn from the dead (Col 1:18). Adam was the first human to sin (well, technically he was the second), and therefore brought death to all men; Jesus was the first human sinless. Adam made men unrighteous and Jesus made men righteous through his blood.

Melchizedek king of Salem (Jerusalem) meets Abraham. He was both priest and king. Melchizedek was the temporal king of physical Jerusalem, while Jesus is the spiritual king of the spiritual Jerusalem (Jn 18:36,37). He is the prince of peace. 

Joseph is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ. Joseph and Jesus’ Brethren were indifferent toward their suffering (Gen 37:25; Mt 27:41); Joseph and Jesus were sold for the price of slaves (Gen 37:28b Mt 26:15); Joseph and Jesus were “Resurrected” out of the Pit (Gen 37:25b–28a) and Joseph and Christ offer the “Bread of Life” (Gen 47:13–19; Jn 6:35, 51).

Moses is one of the clearest parallels between the life of Jesus Christ and Moses in the Old Testament. From the event of killing of male child in Egypt to the events in the desert to the Promised land. 

Solomon is a type and shadow of Christ. He is the Son of David. God said he is his Father; he built the house of God; he is a man of peace; he has divine wisdom from God; he rules with justice and righteousness; he has a glorious, magnificent kingdom. Christ built God a house by building the universal church, which is called the temple of God. Paul says to his church of Corinth, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Cor 3:16).

David “My servant David will be king over them; there will be one shepherd for all of them” (Ezk 37:24). It seems that God is just using the name David to refer to the Messiah, the Son of David “I, the Lord, promise that a new time will certainly come when I will raise up for them a righteous branch, a descendant of David (Jer 23:5-6).

Job is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ longed for an Advocate to plead his case:

“Surely even now my witness is in heaven, and my evidence is on high” (Job 16:19); “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil (Job 1:1). Pilate said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person” (Mt 27:24).

Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Mt 12:40). Jesus spent three days and nights interred the heart of the earth. Both Jesus and Jonah are reminders to the Jews that God will be moving his focus away from Jerusalem.

Israel Another typology of Christ we consider is the nation of Israel. Matthew says that the Israel as a type of Christ. Scripture says, “Then he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and went to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died. In this way what was spoken by God through the prophet was fulfilled: “I called my Son out of Egypt” (Mt 2:14-15).

Passover Lamb The Jewish Passover lamb is also a type of Christ. They had the blood of a lamb sprinkled on their doorposts (Ex 12:3-14). Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Every Christian is washed in the precious blood of Christ (1 Jn 1:7-9).

Manna God sending manna from heaven to sustain Israel in the wilderness is also a type of Christ (Ex 16). And God gave us Christ, as bread from heaven, to satisfy and save all who believe in him (Jn 6:30-35).

The Bronze Snake The bronze snake that Moses erected for Israel to save them from death is a type of Christ – “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life (Num 21 = Jn 3:14).

The Rock Paul says that Moses provided water for Israel from a rock that he struck two different times—once near the beginning of their journey and again near the end (Ex 17:1-7, Num 20:2-13); “And all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ (1 Cor 10:1-4).

High Priest In the Old Covenant, God established priests to mediate between the people and God. Jesus becomes the high priest as the sacrifice (Num Heb 4:15-16). For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

The Sacrificial Lamb “… stipulations about sacrificial lambs. The lamb had to be a male without defect; God would accept it as an atoning sacrifice (Lev 1:1-4) -   “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29).

Tabernacle is a type of Christ. While Moses was leading Israel in the wilderness, God had them make a tabernacle (Ex 29:46). John the apostle called Christ our tabernacle, “Now the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14).

The Veil in the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle and temple (often called the Holy of Holies or the Most Holy Place) separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the sanctuary. The Holy of Holies was where God’s presence dwelt. At the death of Jesus, the veil in the temple was torn into two from top to bottom (Mt 27;50-51) – meaning the veil of death and sin is destroyed between God and man. The beginning of a new relationship and friendship of man began with God.

The The Mercy Seat which was located in the Holy of Holies, within the tabernacle and temple (Ex 25:18-22; Rom 3:25 = Heb 9:5) prefigures the merciful Christ sitting on the merciful judgment seat.

The Sabbath Day Paul argues that the Sabbath is a shadow of Christ – and now that Christ has come, believers no longer need to practice the Sabbath. Christ said, “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath” (Mk 2:27); “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Mt 11:28-30); “ The son of man is the Lord of the Sabbath” (Mt 12:8).

Lev. 16:21-22:  “And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness”.

“And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited; and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness”

 

Who is “the live goat” today for you?

“The ignorance of the Bible is the ignorance of Christ” St Jerome

BIBLE STUDY: MY SOUL IS THIRSTING (March 23, 2024)

 

MY SOUL IS THIRSTING

COME LORD JESUS!  YOU ARE MY SAVIOR

 

March 23, 2024

Coming Home….. Never to Return

The Prodigal Son made a demand upon his father, “Give me the portion of goods that falls to me.” This is the spirit of rebellion. The prodigal boy, at home, felt himself harnessed in by the authority of a righteous father. His evil heart yearned for liberty. He wanted to enjoy the desires of his flesh. Thus, it was that the younger son became restless and demanded from his father his portion of the goods. The younger of the two sons is the representation of the sinner left to the freedom of his own will, and falling into an estate of sin and misery. The parable of Prodigal son finds its setting in the Divine love and infinite compassion of God. The original relation of man to God is that of a son to the father. God lets men try to live without God.

Strictly speaking, both the sons here sketched are lost,—the one through the unrighteousness that degrades him, the other through the self-righteousness which blinds him. The essence of sin presents itself to us in the younger son as Self-seeking. This awakens in him discontent with the good that he enjoys in the house of his father, impels him to seek independent freedom, sensual enjoyment and honor, and makes him a wretched slave of his unfettered, passions.

From the root of self-seeking grow two different branches, the sins of sensuality on the one hand and those of pride on the other. Through false craving for freedom the Prodigal Son falls into unhappy wandering; through wandering into wretched slavery; through slavery into an unspeakable depth of misery.

Sensuality degrades man, blinds him and leads him finally to the brink of the abyss, but God is far from abridging the sinner’s use of his freedom. He permits him, on the other hand, to walk his own ways, and makes even the bitter fruits of evil serviceable to his healing and recovery.

Quite otherwise does moral corruption reveal itself in the elder son. Outwardly he remains in the house of his father and serves him, yet he is guided only by a mechanical obedience, to which the impelling power of love is wanting.

There was lacking the heart, and with this everything, and betrays his inner character by his anger at the gracious reception of his deeply-fallen brother. He believes himself, in his blindness, never to have transgressed a commandment, and yet forgets precisely that which is weightiest in the law, mercy and love. Neither his father nor his brother does he love, and yet believes that he may demand all for himself.

Let us analyze the three characteristics of the Father, of the elder son, and the younger son. And see ourselves in the mirror of these three qualities – which is dominant in us?

 

YOUNGER SON

He sold himself to the works of the flesh, luxuries of the world and became slave to the Devil. In his devastated life, he first reflected on the folly and madness of his former ways. He then resolved that he would return to his father, and implore his forgiveness. Having formed the purpose, he instantly arose to carry it into execution. He first began to see how madly and wickedly he has acted. He feels that he has reduced himself to a wretched and perishing condition of eating food of swine. He resolves that he will go to his father and ask for mercy.

Five stages in his life (Phases of Religious Experience): These five scenes which correspond to the phases of religious experience through which the Prodigal Son passes.

1. Departure from home (Luke 15:1-13) his sin

2. His miserable plight (Luke 15:14-16) his punishment

3. His regrets (Luke 15:17-19) his repentance. “I will arise”; “I will go to my father”

4. His return (Luke 15:20-21) his conversion - “Make me as one of thy hired servants” (Lk 15:19)

5. His restoration to his place as a son (Lk 15:22-24) his justification (Lk 15:18-19)

 

FATHER

1. The father waited for his son every day  

2. The father’s compassion on his son coming to his home

3. The father’s welcome to his son returning to him

“Ran”—The coming of the father to meet his son here figuratively exhibits the sending of the Son of God

“Ran”—The return of the sinner is expressed by the word going (Luke 15:18), but God’s coming to the sinner by running. God makes greater haste to the sinner than the sinner does to God; God makes much of our first inclination, and would not have it fall to the ground.

“Kissed him”— He kissed him repeatedly and fervently—devoured him with kisses.

 

The Elder Brother (Lk 15:28-30)

(1) The elder brother’s displeasure at the kind reception of his prodigal brother

(2) His self-righteous pride

(3) His ungracious complaint

(4) His malicious exaggeration of his brother’s misdeeds; his ignoring the change that taken place in him

(5) His refusal to acknowledge him as his brother and utter lack of sympathy

(6) His years of obedience to his father had been years of grim duty and not of loving service

Who are these Three Persons?

The younger son left for far country and that far country represents this world and its sin. The great big, wicked world is the far country. That world is lost in sin. Its prince is the devil. “Younger son represents historically “the publicans and sinners”. We must remember that they did not leave Palestine or even Jerusalem when separated from the Jewish Church. Foreign country, but the country of forgetfulness of God. He comes to himself. What was squandered, therefore, in the far-off land of forgetfulness of God was moral wealth, the wealth of the heart and mind. In his isolation he begins to see that all the past forgetfulness of God was a mistake; that he was insane to take the course he did; and that in his right mind he must act differently (Lk 15:17-19).

 

These three characteristics are very much in every person. Each of these become active certain times in everyone.

 

Some are like Elder Son

Kings suppose to be like father but they have qualities of elder son

Pilate – “So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves” (Mt 27:24)

Herod - The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her (Mk 6:26)  

 

Some Fathers are like Prodigal Son

Eli – “..because his sons were blaspheming God, and did not retain them (1 Sam 3:13)

Samuel –  his sons “….Joel, and Abijah did not follow in his ways, they took bribes and perverted justice (1Sam 8:2-3)

Laban - Jacob – “He served Laban for another seven years” for Rachel (Gen 29: 20-35)

Saul - wanted Jonathan to be king after him: Jonathan told David, “My father Saul is trying to kill you; therefore be on guard tomorrow morning; stay in a secret place and hide yourself”  (1 Samuel 19:1-13)

Whichever the character is dominant in us right now, However, we need to be like ….

Nebuchadnezzar:  Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king's command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that utters blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way” (Dan 3:28-29)

 

What encouragement has the sinner to confess his sins unto God?

1. God is a Father

2. His delight is salvation

3. He has made ample provision for the redemption of the sinful

4. He invites all to take advantage of it

 

 

Laudate Deum  (October 4, 2023 Apostolic Exhortation)  Pope Francis

Calls once again on all people of good will to care for the poor and for the Earth

1.      Climate change is real and caused by human activity: “No one can ignore the fact that in recent years we have witnessed extreme weather phenomena, frequent periods of unusual heat, drought and other cries of protest on the part of the earth”.  And it is not a matter of other natural cycles: “events of natural origin that usually cause warming, such as volcanic eruptions and others, are insufficient to explain the proportion and speed of the changes of recent decades.”

2.       He says that we as people of faith can cooperate in the building of a better future, where the good gifts of Creation are abundant and shared by all, as God intended. This is key to solving the climate crisis.

3.      Pope Francis recalls that the human person is also a part of creation, and cannot be separated from it, no matter how powerful scientific developments become.

4.      “I ask everyone to accompany this pilgrimage of reconciliation with the world that is our home and to help make it more beautiful” (LD 69)

5.      “Nonetheless, every little bit helps, and avoiding an increase of a tenth of a degree in the global temperature would already suffice to alleviate some suffering for many people” (LD 70)

6.      “Civil society with its organizations is capable of creating effective dynamics that the United Nations cannot” (LD 37)

7.      “The demands that rise up from below throughout the world, where activists from very different countries help and support one another, can end up pressuring the sources of power” (LD 38)

8.      A Christian response to the climate crisis is not about recycling or buying an electric car. Repackaged consumerism will not be enough, though Laudate Deum clarifies that wealthy countries like the United States are obligated to renounce extractivism and overconsumption.

9.      when human beings claim to take God’s place, they become their own worst enemies.”

10.   Francis is inviting the whole church to a renewed vision of community and solidarity, where Catholics are willing to stand alongside their poor and exploited brothers and sisters as prophets of another better world.

 

“Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in Thy sight” Ps 51:4

మన దేవుడు వచ్చి మనలను రక్షిస్తాడు: బారూకు 5:1-9; ఫిలిప్పి 1:4-6,8-11; లూకా 3:1-6 (ఆగమన C 2)

 

మన దేవుడు వచ్చి మనలను రక్షిస్తాడు

బారూకు 5:1-9; ఫిలిప్పి 1:4-6,8-11; లూకా  3:1-6 (ఆగమన C 2)

“ఇదిగో, గొఱ్ఱెపిల్ల.  చాలా కాలంగా ఎదురుచూస్తున్నది. క్షమాపణతో స్వర్గం నుండి క్రిందికి వచ్చింది”                                                     (Divine Office)

 

ఈ వారం మరియు తదుపరి వారం సువార్త పఠనాలు యేసు రాకడ గురించిన బాప్తిస్మ యోహాను ఎడారి ప్రసగాలను ప్రస్తావిస్తున్నాయి. బాప్తిస్మ యోహాను బహుముఖ ప్రవక్తల సంప్రదాయంలో మనకు కనిపిస్తాడు. ఇజ్రాయెలు ప్రజలకు పశ్చాత్తాపం మరియు సంస్కరణను బోధించాడు. పశ్చాత్తాపం చెందిన వాళ్ళ  పాప క్షమాపణ కోసం బాప్తిస్మము ఇస్తూ, యేసు మోక్ష మార్గాన్ని అతను సిద్ధం చేశాడు. నేడు, దేవుడు తన జీవ వాక్యాన్ని బాప్తిస్మ యోహాను ద్వారా మనకు తెలియ చేస్తున్నాడు. మన జోర్దాను నది నేటి దివ్య పుజాబలి సంస్కారము కావచ్చు. ఇది పోపు ఫ్రాన్సిసు చేసిన ఒక ట్వీట్ కుడా కావచ్చు! తన ట్వీట్లో "క్రైస్తవ సాక్ష్యపు కంటెంటు అనేది ఒక వ్యాస రచన కాదు. దాని కంటే మిన్న అయినది యేసు-వ్యక్తి. పునరుత్థానమైన క్రీస్తు, సజీవుడు అందరి ఏకైక రక్షకుడు" అని మనకు గుర్తు చేస్తున్నాడు. క్రీస్తు ఒక వ్యాస రచన  కానందున దేవుడు మన జీవిత కథలోకి ప్రవేశించాడు. యేసు క్రీస్తు అంటే ఒక ఆధ్యాత్మిక అభ్యాసం, దాతృత్వం మరియు కరుణ.

 

పూరించడానికి మనలో మనకు అనేక లోయలు ఉన్నాయి. నునుపు చేయడానికి మనలో అనేక కరకు తావులు ఉన్నాయి. అలాగునే తొలగించడానికి అనేక గర్వ పర్వతాలు ఉన్నాయి. మనం దేవుని దయపై ఆధారపడినట్లయితే, వాటిని సరిచేయడానికి అవసరమైన మార్గాలలో లోటు ఉండదు! మన ప్రభువు దాపున మనం నివసించినట్లయితే ఆతని కొరకు మనం ఒక బారుకు ప్రవక్త లాగున, ఒక బాప్తిస్మ యోహాను లాగున ఉండగలుగుతాము. ఆయన సాక్షులుగా ఉండడానికి మనం పిలువబడ్డాము. శరీరానికి ఆత్మ ఎలా దీపంగా ఉంటుందో, లోకానికి క్రైస్తవులు కూడా అలాగునే వుంటారు. ఒక వేద పండితుడు, “మనం జీవిస్తున్న లోకాన్ని మన హృదయంతో ప్రేమించాలి. సృష్టిని  దాని మూలకాలను, ప్రతీ ఆకును, ప్రతీ కాంతి పుంజంను, జంతువులను, మొక్కలను సంపూర్ణంగా ప్రేమించాలి. వాటిని ప్రేమిస్తున్నప్పుడు, వాటి దైవిక రహస్యాన్ని మనం అర్థం చేసుకోగలము. దీనిని అర్థం చేసుకున్న తర్వాత మాత్రమె మనం విశ్వవ్యాప్తంగా మొత్తం ప్రపంచాన్ని ప్రేమించగలుగుతాము” అని అంటాడు.

 

పునీత బాప్తిస్మ యోహాను పిలుపు "అతని మార్గాలను సరిదిద్దండి" అనేది కొత్తదేమీ కాదు. అనేక శతాబ్దాల క్రితమే బరూకు ప్రవక్త కూడా: “ఇశ్రాయేలీయులు దేవుని మహిమలో సురక్షితంగా పురోగమించేలా ప్రతీ ఎత్తైన పర్వతాన్ని మరియు పురాతనమైన కొండలను తగ్గించాలని, లోయలు సమతలంగా ఉండేలా లోయలను నింపాలని దేవుడు ఆజ్ఞాపించాడు” (బారుకు 5:7) అని ఇలాగే ప్రవచించాడు. ఈ ప్రవక్తలు మనకు అదే హెచ్చరికను ఇస్తున్నారు. ఇశ్రాయేలీయులు దేవుని వాక్కును  విన్నారు. యెహోవా సీయోను బందీలను తిరిగి వచ్చేలా చేశాడు. అహంకారపు కొండలు మరియు వెచ్చదనం లేని లోయల వంటి అడ్డంకులను మనం తిరస్కరించినట్లయితే, ఆనంద బాష్పాలతో: “యెహోవా మనకు గొప్ప పనులు చేసాడు; ఓహ్, మేము ఎంత సంతోషంగా ఉన్నాము!” (కీర్తన 126:3) అని పాడుతాము.

 

ప్రభువైన యేసు మనలను పాపపు బానిసత్వం నుండి విడిపించాడు. మనలను సంపూర్ణం చేశాడు. మన శరీరం, మనస్సు మరియు ఆత్మలో స్వస్థతను తీసుకురావడానికి సిద్ధంగా ఉన్నాడు. ఆయన దయ మనకు పాపపు శక్తి నుండి, హానికరమైన కోరికల నుండి, వ్యసనాల బంధం నుండి విముక్తిని కలుగ చేస్తాడు. స్వస్థపరిచే యేసు శక్తి నుండి మనల్ని దూరం చేయగలిగే ఎలాంటి పర్వత లోయలు వున్నాయి?

“దాహం ఉన్నవారలారా, నీళ్ల దగ్గరికి రండి: ప్రభువు దొరికినప్పుడు ఆయనను వెదకండి. అల్లెలూయా.” (Divine Office)

Our God Will Come and Save Us: Baruch 5:1-9; Phi 1:4-6,8-11; Lk 3:1-6 (Advent C 2)

 

Our God Will Come and Save Us

Baruch 5:1-9; Phi 1:4-6,8-11; Lk 3:1-6 (Advent C 2)

“Lo, the Lamb, so long expected, Comes with pardon down from heav’n” (Divine Office)

 

This week and next, our Gospel readings invite us to consider John the Baptist and his relationship to Jesus. John the Baptist appears in the tradition of the great prophets, preaching repentance and reform to the people of Israel. He baptizes for repentance and forgiveness of sins, preparing the way for God’s salvation. Today, God addresses his word to us through John the Baptist. Our Jordan River can be the Sunday Eucharist. It can be Pope Francis’ tweet reminding us that “The content of Christian testimony is not a theory, ...but better yet a person: the risen Christ, the living and only Savior of all”.  God has entered the story of our life because Christ is not a theory. He is the saving practice, Charity, and Mercy”.

We have many valleys to fill, many paths to smooth, and many mountains to move. But we will not lack the necessary means if we rely upon God’s grace. We shall be precursors insofar as we live near our Lord. We are called to be his witnesses. What the soul is to the body, so are Christians within our world.  We have to love the world we live in with all our heart, as a great writer used to say, “Love Creation in its entirety and its elements, each leaf, each beam of light, the animals, the plants. And, while loving them, you will be given to understand the divine mystery of things. And once this is understood we shall end up loving the whole world with a universal love”.

 

The call of John the Baptist “make straight his paths” is not new. Many centuries ago, prophet Baruch also prophesied the same: “For God has commanded that every lofty mountain and the age-old hills be made low, that the valleys be filled to make level ground, that Israel may advance securely in the glory of God” (Bar 5:7). The same prophets are giving us the same warning. Israel listened to the word of God, and the Lord made the captives of Zion to return back. If we reject the obstacles like hills of pride and valleys of warmth, we will sing with tears in our eyes: “The LORD has done great things for us; Oh, how happy we were!” (Ps 126,3).

 

The Lord Jesus sets us free from slavery to sin and makes us whole. The Lord Jesus is ready to bring us healing in body, mind, and soul. His grace brings us freedom from the power of sin and from bondage to harmful desires and addictions. Do we allow anything to keep us from Jesus' healing power?

“Come to the waters, all you who thirst: seek the Lord while he may be found. Alleluia.” (Divine Office)

“భయపడకుము, మరియ నీవు దేవుని కృపను పొందుకున్నావు”: పునీత అన్సేల్మి

 

“భయపడకుము, మరియ నీవు దేవుని కృపను పొందుకున్నావు”

ఓ కన్యకా! నీ ధన్యతతో ప్రకృతి అంతా ధన్యత పొందింది! (Divine Office)

పునీత అన్సేల్మి

మహిమోపేత స్త్రీ! ఆకాశ నక్షత్రాలు, భూమి నదులు, పగలు రాత్రి – మానవ శక్తికి లోబడి తన స్వాధీనంలో ఉన్న ప్రతిదీ - తాము కోల్పోయిన అందాన్ని నీ ద్వారా తిరిగి పొందుకోవడంతో వివరించలేనంత నూతన కృపను పొందుకొని ఉన్నాయని సంతోషించు!! సర్వసృష్టి అందులోని సర్వ జీవులు  మరియు సృష్టింపబడిన మానవులు దేవుని స్తుతికి పనికిరావన్న విధంగా చనిపోయాయి. లోకం తన విధికి విరుద్ధంగానూ, విగ్రహాలకు సేవ చేసే మనుష్యుల క్రియల ద్వారా చెడిపోయి కలుషితమైంది. కానీ ఇప్పుడు ఈ లోకం దేవుణ్ణి విశ్వసించే మనుష్యులచే నియంత్రించబడి,  రూపాంతరం చెంది పోగొట్టుకున్న  ఆశోభను తిరిగి పొందుకుంటున్నందుకు సృష్టి సంతోషిస్తుంది. సృష్టి అంతా తిరిగి జీవం పోసుకుంది.

విశ్వమంతా అనిర్వచనీయమైన నూతన ప్రేమతో ఆనందిస్తుంది. కంటికి కనిపించని తన సృష్టికర్త దేవుని ఉనికిని అనుభూతి చెందడమే కాకుండా అతనిని కనులారా చూస్తుంది. విశ్వమంతా పవిత్ర పరచబడింది.  ఈ గొప్ప ఆశీర్వాదాలు కన్య మరియ గర్భ ఆశీర్వాద ఫలం నుండే పుట్టుకొచ్చాయి. నీకు ఇవ్వబడిన కృపా సంపూర్ణత ద్వారా, చనిపోయిన జీవ రాశులన్నీ తమ తమ స్వేచ్చానుసారంగా  సంతోషిస్తున్నాయి. పరలోకంలో ఉన్నవారు కూడా క్రొత్తతనమును పొందుకున్నందుకు సంతోషిస్తున్నారు. నీ కన్యత్వ గర్భానికి మహిమాన్వితమైన ఫలంగా ఉన్న అద్వితీయ కుమారుడు, తన ప్రాణాన్ని ఫణంగా పెట్టె కాలం ముందునాటికి మరణించిన వారి ఆత్మలు బందిఖానా నుండి విముక్తి పొందినందుకు సంతోషిస్తున్నారు. దేవదూతలు తమ ఛిద్రమైన స్థల పునరుద్ధరణకు సంతోషిసున్నారు.

పరిపూర్ణ అనుగ్రహంతో పొంగిపొర్లుతున్న స్త్రీ!  నీ సమృద్ధి వరం నుండి సమస్త సృష్టి కొత్త జీవితాన్ని పొందుతుంది.  సమస్త జీవుల కంటే మిన్నగా ఆశీర్వదింపబడిన కన్యకా! నీ ఆశీర్వాదం ద్వారా సమస్త  సృష్టి ఆశీర్వదించబడింది. సృష్టికర్త చేత సృష్టింపబడిన సృష్టి మాత్రమే కాకుండా, నీ ధన్యత వలన అదే సమస్త సృష్టి చేత సృష్టికర్త కూడా ఆశీర్వదించబడ్డాడు.

 దేవుడు తాను ప్రేమించే తన అద్వితీయ కుమారుణ్ణి మరియకు ఇచ్చాడు. మరియ ద్వారా దేవుడు తనను తాను ఒక కుమారునిగా మలచుకున్నాడు. సృష్టికి భిన్నంగా కాకుండా ఏక స్వభావంలో  దేవుని కుమారునిగానూ మరియు మరియ కుమారునిగా మలచుకున్నాడు. విశ్వమంతా భగవంతునిచే సృష్టించబడితే అదే దేవుడు మరియ నుండి జన్మించాడు. దేవుడు అన్నిటినీ సృష్టించాడు. మరియ దేవునికి జన్మనిచ్చింది. అన్నిటినీ సృష్టించిన దేవుడు మరియ ద్వారా తన రూపాన్ని ఇచ్చి అతను తన స్వంత సృష్టిని చేసుకున్నాడు. శూన్యం నుండి అన్నిటినీ సృష్టించగలిగిన దేవుడు మరియ లేకుండా తన శిధిలమైన సృష్టిని పునర్నిర్మించలేక పోయాడు.

 అప్పుడు దేవుడు సృష్టించబడిన లోకానికి తండ్రి అయితే తిరిగి పునఃరుద్దరించబడిన సృష్టికి మరియ తల్లి. దేవుడు అన్నిటికీ జీవం పోసిన తండ్రి అయితే మరియ తల్లి ద్వారా అన్నింటికీ కొత్త జీవితాన్ని ఇచ్చాడు ఆ దేవుడు. ఎందుకంటే దేవుడు కుమారుణ్ణి పుట్టించాడు. అతని ద్వారా సమస్తాన్ని పునఃరుద్దరించాడు.  మరియ అతనిని విశ్వ రక్షకునిగా జన్మనిచ్చింది. దేవుని కుమారుడు లేకుండా ఏ జీవి లేదా పదార్ధమునకు అస్తిత్వం లేదు. మరియ కుమారుడు లేకుండా ఏదీ విమోచించబడదు. నిజంగా ప్రభువు మీకు తోడుగా ఉన్నాడు. ప్రకృతి అంతా మళ్ళి తనకు తానుగా దేవునకే రుణ పడియున్నట్లు  మీకునూ రుణపడి ఉండాలని ప్రభువు అనుగ్రహించాడు.

"ఈ రోజు నుండి అన్ని తరాలు నన్ను ధన్యురాలని అని పిలుస్తారు;* అతని ప్రేమ నాకు గొప్పది". (Divine Office)

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God”: A Sermon by St Anselm

 

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God”.

O Virgin, by whose blessing all nature is blessed! (Divine Office)

A Sermon by St Anselm

Blessed Lady, sky and stars, earth and rivers, day and night – everything that is subject to the power or use of man – rejoice that through you they are in some sense restored to their lost beauty and are endowed with inexpressible new grace. All creatures were dead, as it were, useless for men or for the praise of God, who made them. The world, contrary to its true destiny, was corrupted and tainted by the acts of men who served idols. Now all creation has been restored to life and rejoices that it is controlled and given splendour by men who believe in God.

  The universe rejoices with new and indefinable loveliness. Not only does it feel the unseen presence of God himself, its Creator, it sees him openly, working and making it holy. These great blessings spring from the blessed fruit of Mary’s womb. Through the fullness of the grace that was given you, dead things rejoice in their freedom, and those in heaven are glad to be made new. Through the Son who was the glorious fruit of your virgin womb, just souls who died before his life-giving death rejoice as they are freed from captivity, and the angels are glad at the restoration of their shattered domain.

  Lady, full and overflowing with grace, all creation receives new life from your abundance. Virgin, blessed above all creatures, through your blessing all creation is blessed, not only creation from its Creator, but the Creator himself has been blessed by creation. To Mary God gave his only-begotten Son, whom he loved as himself. Through Mary God made himself a Son, not different but the same, by nature Son of God and Son of Mary. The whole universe was created by God, and God was born of Mary. God created all things, and Mary gave birth to God. The God who made all things gave himself form through Mary, and thus he made his own creation. He who could create all things from nothing would not remake his ruined creation without Mary.

  God, then, is the Father of the created world and Mary the mother of the re-created world. God is the Father by whom all things were given life, and Mary the mother through whom all things were given new life. For God begot the Son, through whom all things were made, and Mary gave birth to him as the Saviour of the world. Without God’s Son, nothing could exist; without Mary’s Son, nothing could be redeemed. Truly the Lord is with you, to whom the Lord granted that all nature should owe as much to you as to himself.

“From this day forward all generations will call me blessed;* his love for me is great”. (Divine Office)