Saturday, January 10 : Saint John Chrysostom

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