Friday, April 1 : A Greek 4th century homily

I’m not presenting you with a fabrication of unheard of novelty but the very same thing the prophets wrote about beforehand in the Old Testament. Haven’t you heard Moses’ cry: “The Lord will raise up for you among your brothers a prophet like myself”? (Dt 18:18). Haven’t you heard Isaiah proclaim: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son”? (Is 7:14)… Haven’t you heard David declare: “He will descend like rain on the fleece” (Ps 71:6)… Believe the prophets, then; understand the reality they show forth and you will find Jesus the Nazarene (Mt 2:23). Behold, I have shown you the way: let him who wishes follow it! See, I have lit the torch: come out of the darkness! Jesus the Nazarene: I speak his name and country… I am not saying: Jesus, who spread out the vault of heaven, who set alight the rays of the sun, who traced the constellations in the sky, who lit the lamp of the moon, who appointed its time to the day, who assigned its course to the night, who established dry land on the waters, who checked the sea by his word… Jesus the Nazarene: he of whom Nathanael exclaimed in his doubt: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” “Jesus the Nazarene,” the apostle Peter said, “the man whose mission God made known by accomplishing mighty deeds, wonders and signs through him”… Yes! “Jesus the Nazarene, the man whom God himself has commended to you” (Acts 2,22).

maronite readings – rosary,team