MEDITATIO

“Behold the Lamb of God,” John the Baptist says. Jesus himself does not speak; it is John who says it all. It is usual for the bridegroom to act like this; as yet he says nothing to the bride but comes and stands there in silence. Others announce him and present the bride to him. When she appears the bridegroom does not take her himself but receives her from the hands of another. But after he has received her from the other in this way he binds himself to her so strongly that she no longer calls to mind those she left to follow him. This is what took place with regard to Jesus Christ. He came to wed humanity; he himself said nothing, all he did was to come. It was John, the friend of the Bridegroom, who placed into his hand the hand of the Bride – in other words man’s heart – convinced by his preaching. Jesus Christ then received them and filled them with such blessings that they returned no more to the one who had led them astray… He drew his Bride from her lowliness to lead her into his Father’s house… Only John, the friend of the Bridegroom, was present at this wedding; he it was who carried out everything at that time. Seeing Jesus coming, he said: “Behold the Lamb of God” and thus he showed that, not only with his voice but even more with his eyes, he bore witness to the Bridegroom. He looked on the Son of God and, in beholding him, his heart leapt for happiness and joy. He looked on him present and made known the gift that Jesus came to bring: “Behold the Lamb of God”. It is he, he said, who takes away the sin of the world and he does so unceasingly, not just at the time of the Passion when he suffered for our sake. If it is the case that he offers his sacrifice for the sins of the world only once, this single sacrifice cleanses the sins of all mankind once for all until the end of the world.

maronite readings – rosary,team

In the beginning the Lord, who had created humankind, used to talk to man himself in such a way that man could hear him. That is how he used to talk to Adam… and, later, with Noah and Abraham. So too, even when humankind had thrown itself into the abyss of sin, God did not break his relationship with them, even though it was necessarily less familiar since they had made themselves unworthy of it. He consented to renew his kindly feelings towards them although as by letters, as with an absent friend. Thus, in his goodness, he could bind all humankind to himself again. Moses was he who was the bearer of the letters God sent us. Let us open these letters : what are their first words ? “ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ” Isn’t that wonderful ?… Moses, who came into the world many centuries afterwards, was truly inspired from above to give us an account of the wonders God made at the world’s creation… Doesn’t he appear to tell us clearly : “ Did men teach me what I’m about to make known ? Not at all. The Creator alone, who wrought all these marvels, is the one who guides my tongue to teach you them. From now on, I beg you, put to silence every argument of human reasoning. Don’t just listen to this account as though it were only Moses’ word. It is God himself who speaks to you ; Moses is only his interpreter ”… So, brethren, let us receive the Word of God with thankful and humble hearts… For God is he who created all things, he it is who prepares everything and sets it wisely in order… He it is who leads man by what can be seen to a knowledge of the Creator of the universe. He it is who teaches man to contemplate the supreme Worker in his works in such a way that he might be able to worship his Creator.
maronite readings – rosary,team