TUESDAY 17/09/2013
Monastic Lectionary Vigils
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| St. Cyril of Alexandria |
First Reading
Hosea 10:1-15
Responsory Hos 5:4; 10:12
Their misdeeds have barred the way back to their God, since t a spirit of harlotry possesses them and prevents them from knowing the Lord.
V. It is time to seek the Lord until he comes to rain justice on you. t A spirit ...
Second Reading
From a commentary by Cyril of Alexandria
Comment. in Hos: PG71 253-256.
Comment. in Hos: PG71 253-256.
Exhortations are usually given in one of two ways. As a rule we either speak of the punishment awaiting those inclined to be careless, to frighten them into changing their way of life and to win them over as soon as may be to a life of virtue; or else we tell of the rewards prepared for the just, to make those we instruct eager henceforth to live a better and more upright life. That is how the God of all creation is working now. He threatened those who had gone astray with wars, disasters, exile among the Gentiles, the burning of their cities, and the brutality of their enemies. But he did not end his exhortations there; he has another way of helping them. He bids them give up the useless things that bring them nothing but misery, and choose instead what is most likely to profit them.
They should be like tillers of the soil, sowing justice, and reaping the fruit of life; for as Saint Paul wrote, Whatever we sow we shall also reap. Those who sow evil will reap evil, says scripture. But the just will have salvation and life in full measure. They will be illustrious and worthy of emulation, and will gather grapes for the wine that gladdens the human heart. Besides this, however, those who want to win God's approval must open their minds and hearts to receive the light of true knowledge, which is lacking in those who worship the creation rather than the Creator.
How we can best go about sowing justice, reaping the fruit of life, and receiving the bright light of knowledge the Prophet shows by adding the words: Seek the Lord until the fruits ofjustice come to you. Not that there is any special place where we should seek God - we should be foolish to think so, since the divinity is not contained in any space. No, God is to be sought by the dispositions of the soul, by the eagerness of minds inclined toward whatever pleases him and reverencing true and clear knowledge containing nothing that deserves censure. When we have found God in this way, we shall be rich in the possession of every other blessing.
Responsorq Hos 6:3; Mt 5:8
Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his coming is as sure
as sunrise; t he will come to us like the rain, like the spring rains that water the earth.
V. Blessed are those whose hearts are pure, for they shall see God. t He will ...
Note:
III. Exegesis of Inter-textual Occurrences
A. Cyril’s Reading of Luke
. . .
B. Cyril’s Reading of Hosea
1. Methodology
2. On the Historicity of Hosea
3. Exegesis of Hosea Passages Quoted in the New Testament
a. Quoted outside of Matthew and Luke
b. Quoted within Matthew and Luke
c. Lukan Allusions
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Excepting Sts. Athanasius and Augustine, his equal as a defender of orthodoxy, can hardly be found in the Church's history. His greatest achievement was the successful direction of the ecumenical council at Ephesus (431), of which he was the soul (Pope Celestine had appointed him papal legate). In this council two important dogmas were defined – that there is but one person in Christ, and that Mary (in the literal sense of the word) can be called the Mother of God (Theotokos). His successful defense of the latter doctrine is his greatest title to honor.
His writings show such depth and clarity that the Greeks called him the "seal of the fathers." He died in 444 A.D., after having been bishop for thirty-two years. In Rome, the basilica of St. Mary Major stands as a most venerable monument to the honor paid Mary at the Council of Ephesus. On the arch leading into the sanctuary important incidents in the lives of Jesus and Mary are depicted in mosaic.
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