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PotOnWheel
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 9890
| Posted 1/5/2002 6:40 AM (GMT -6) |   | DYNAMIS, Christ's Baptism, January 6, 2002, Theophany
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Sunday, January 6, 2002
THE THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Epistle: Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7
Gospel: St. Matthew 3:13-17
Christ's Baptism: St. Matthew 3:13-17, especially vss. 14, 15: "...John
tried to prevent Him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by You and are You
coming to me?' But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now,
for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.'" While John
the Forerunner lived silently in the desert, the Lord Jesus remained quietly
unrecognized in Nazareth. Then, as described in yesterday's Gospel reading,
"the word of God came to John" (Lk. 3:2), and he began "preaching a baptism
of repentance for the remission of sins" (Lk. 3:3). It was "time for the
Lord to act." Therefore the Lord "came from Galilee to John...to be
baptized by him" (Mt. 3:13), not to observe, nor talk, nor listen to him, but
to be baptized by him.
Since the baptismal rite which the Forerunner offered was for
"repentance" (Lk. 3:3), one might wonder if there were not some contradiction
in Jesus accepting a ritual signifying personal repentance. After all, the
Apostle Paul asserts that He "was in all points tempted as we are, yet
without sin" (Heb. 4:15)! Our expectation is inverted: the all-holy God-man
is baptized by John, the teacher of baptism for repentance. Why does Christ
ritually unite His sinless humanity with our corrupt humanity? Why does He
subject His Light to our darkness and sin?
St. John, filled as he was with the Holy Spirit, saw the contradiction
clearly: "And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by
You, and you are coming to me? '"(vs. 14). But Christ understood that what
is to be saved must be fully assumed. In His baptism He was not repenting.
Rather, He was uniting His all-pure Self to our corrupt nature in order to
restore us to Himself, despite our sinfulness. He was using His own humanity
as a bridge from His holiness to our sinfulness. As St. Paul said in another
place: "He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21).
The Holy Fathers note that, when the Lord was baptized, "the whole
universe [was] watered by mystical streams." Hence, the whole created order,
by the entry of the All-pure Person of God the Word, was "lighted from on
high....the land and the sea have divided between them the joy of the world,
and the world hath been filled with rejoicing. The waters saw Thee, O God,
the waters saw Thee; they were afraid. Jordan turned back when it beheld the
fire of the Godhead coming down and descending upon it in the flesh" (and see
Ps. 113:3-5 LXX).
Thereby, the Lord's purpose in being baptized was grand in scale, yes,
even cosmic in its scope. Not only are men restored to God Who unites Himself
to them again in Jordan's waters, but the "whole creation [which] groans and
labors with birth pangs together until now" (Rom. 8:22) begins its wondrous
process of renewal.
By the mystery of Christ's Baptism, the waters of earth which suffused
His Body were spiritually transformed into a means by which the Holy Spirit
may be conveyed to men. Hence Holy Baptism, as now the Spirit acts in water
and we are united with Christ. Part of Christ's purpose in Baptism was to
prepare all of earth's waters for our new birth in the Spirit (Jn. 3:5).
The capstone that completes God's "arch of intention" in the Lord's
Baptism was the descent of the Holy Spirit and the spoken affirmation by God
the Father: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I Am well pleased" (Mt. 3:17)
In the Lord Jesus' Baptism, the mystery of the Holy Trinity is disclosed for
the first time in a complete revelation of the Divine nature of three
Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Christ's Baptism is an
eternity-filled moment which discloses the eternal glory, nature and purpose
of the Godhead.
Great art Thou, O Lord, and wondrous are Thy works, and there is no word
that sufficeth to hymn Thy wonders!
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PotOnWheel
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 9890
| Posted 1/5/2002 6:48 AM (GMT -6) | | Discourse On the Day of the Baptism of Christ
St John Chrysostom,
Archbishop of Constantinople
We shall now say something about the present feast. Many celebrate the feastdays and know their designations, but the cause for which they were established they know not. Thus concerning this, that the present feast is called Theophany -- everyone knows; but what this is -- Theophany, and whether it be one thing or another, they know not. And this is shameful -- every year to celebrate the feastday and not know its reason.
First of all therefore, it is necessary to say that there is not one Theophany, but two: the one actual, which already has occurred, and the second in future, which will happen with glory at the end of the world. About this one and about the other you will hear today from Paul, who in conversing with Titus, speaks thus about the present: "The grace of God hath revealed itself, having saved all mankind, decreeing, that we reject iniquity and worldly desires, and dwell in the present age in prudence and in righteousness and piety" -- and about the future: "awaiting the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" (Tit 2:11-13). And a prophet speaks thus about this latter: "the sun shalt turn to darkness, and the moon to blood at first, then shalt come the great and illuminating Day of the Lord" (Joel 2:31). Why is not that day, on which the Lord was born, considered Theophany -- but rather this day on which He was baptised? This present day it is, on which He was baptised and sanctified the nature of water. Because on this day all, having obtained the waters, do carry it home and keep it all year, since today the waters are sanctified; and an obvious phenomenon occurs: these waters in their essence do not spoil with the passage of time, but obtained today, for one whole year and often for two or three years, they remain unharmed and fresh, and afterwards for a long time do not stop being water, just as that obtained from the fountains.
Why then is this day called Theophany? Because Christ made Himself known to all -- not then when He was born -- but then when He was baptised. Until this time He was not known to the people. And that the people did not know Him, Who He was, listen about this to John the Baptist, who says: "Amidst you standeth, Him Whom ye know not of" (Jn.1:26). And is it surprising that others did not know Him, when even the Baptist did not know Him until that day? "And I -- said he -- knew Him not: but He that did send me to baptise with water, about This One did tell unto me: over Him that shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding upon Him, This One it is Who baptiseth in the Holy Spirit" (Jn. 1:33). Thus from this it is evident, that -- there are two Theophanies, and why Christ comes at baptism and on whichever baptism He comes, about this it is necessary to say: it is therefore necessary to know both the one and equally the other. And first it is necessary to speak your love about the latter, so that we might learn about the former. There was a Jewish baptism, which cleansed from bodily impurities, but not to remove sins. Thus, whoever committed adultery, or decided on thievery, or who did some other kind of misdeed, it did not free him from guilt. But whoever touched the bones of the dead, whoever tasted food forbidden by the law, whoever approached from contamination, whoever consorted with lepers -- that one washed, and until evening was impure, and then cleansed. "Let one wash his body in pure water -- it says in the Scriptures, -- and he will be unclean until evening, and then he will be clean" (Lev 15:5, 22:4). This was not truly of sins or impurities, but since the Jews lacked perfection, then God, accomplishing it by means of this greater piety, prepared them by their beginnings for a precise observance of important things.
Thus, Jewish cleansings did not free from sins, but only from bodily impurities. Not so with ours: it is far more sublime and it manifests a great grace, whereby it sets free from sin, it cleanses the spirit and bestows the gifts of the Spirit. And the baptism of John was far more sublime than the Jewish, but less so than ours: it was like a bridge between both baptisms, leading across itself from the first to the last. Wherefore John did not give guidance for observance of bodily purifications, but together with them he exhorted and advised to be converted from vice to good deeds and to trust in the hope of salvation and the accomplishing of good deeds, rather than in different washings and purifications by water. John did not say: wash your clothes, wash your body, and ye will be pure, but what? -- "bear ye fruits worthy of repentance" (Mt 3:8). Since it was more than of the Jews, but less than ours: the baptism of John did not impart the Holy Spirit and it did not grant forgiveness by grace: it gave the commandment to repent, but it was powerless to absolve sins. Wherefore John did also say: "I baptise you with water...That One however will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Mt 3:11). Obviously, he did not baptise with the Spirit. But what does this mean: "with the Holy Spirit and with fire?" Call to mind that day, on which for the Apostles "there appeared disparate tongues like fire, and sat over each one of them" (Acts 2:3). And that the baptism of John did not impart the Spirit and remission of sins is evident from the following: Paul "found certain disciples, and said to them: received ye the Holy Spirit since ye have believed? They said to him: but furthermore whether it be of the Holy Spirit, we shall hear. He said to them: into what were ye baptised? They answered: into the baptism of John. Paul then said: John indeed baptised with the baptism of repentance," -- repentance, but not remission of sins; for whom did he baptise? "Having proclaimed to the people, that they should believe in the One coming after him, namely, Christ Jesus. Having heard this, they were baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus: and Paul laying his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them" (Acts 19:1-6). Do you see, how incomplete was the baptism of John? If the one were not incomplete, would then Paul have baptised them again, and placed his hands on them; having performed also the second, he shew the superiority of the apostolic Baptism and that the baptism of John was far less than his. Thus, from this we recognise the difference of the baptisms.
Now it is necessary to say, for whom was Christ baptised and by which baptism? Neither the former the Jewish, nor the last -- ours. Whence hath He need for remission of sins, how is this possible for Him, Who hath not any sins? "Of sin, -- it says in the Scriptures, -- worked He not, nor was there deceit found in His mouth" (1 Pet 2:22); and further, "who of you convicteth Me of Sin?" (Jn 8:46). And His flesh was privy to the Holy Spirit; how might this be possible, when it in the beginning was fashioned by the Holy Spirit? And so, if His flesh was privy to the Holy Spirit, and He was not subject to sins, then for whom was He baptised? But first of all it is necessary for us to recognise, by which baptism He was baptised, and then it will be clear for us. By which baptism indeed was He baptised? -- Not the Jewish, nor ours, nor John's. For whom, since thou from thine own aspect of baptism dost perceive, that He was baptised not by reason of sin and not having need of the gift of the Spirit; therefore, as we have demonstrated, this baptism was alien to the one and to the other. Hence it is evident, that He came to Jordan not for the forgiveness of sins and not for receiving the gifts of the Spirit. But so that some from those present then should not think, that He came for repentance like others, listen to how John precluded this. What he then spoke to the others then was: "Bear ye fruits worthy of repentance"; but listen what he said to Him: "I have need to be baptised of Thee, and Thou art come to me?" (Mt 3:8, 14). With these words he demonstrated, that Christ came to him not through that need with which people came, and that He was so far from the need to be baptised for this reason -- so much more sublime and perfectly purer than Baptism itself. For whom was He baptised, if this was done not for repentance, nor for the remission of sins, nor for receiving the gifts of the Spirit? Through the other two reasons, of which about the one the disciple speaks, and about the other He Himself spoke to John. Which reason of this baptism did John declare? Namely, that Christ should become known to the people, as Paul also mentions: "John therefore baptised with the baptism of repentance, so that through him they should believe on Him that cometh" (Acts 19:4); this was the consequence of the baptism. If John had gone to the home of each and, standing at the door, had spoken out for Christ and said: "He is the Son of God," such a testimony would have been suspicious, and this deed would have been extremely perplexing. So too, if he in advocating Christ had gone into the synagogues and witnessed to Him, this testimony of his might be suspiciously fabricated. But when all the people thronged out from all the cities to Jordan and remained on the banks of the river, and when He Himself came to be baptised and received the testimony of the Father by a voice from above and by the coming-upon of the Spirit in the form of a dove, then the testimony of John about Him was made beyond all questioning. And since he said: "and I knew Him not" (Jn 1:31), his testimony put forth is trustworthy. They were kindred after the flesh between themselves "wherefore Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, hath also conceived a son" -- said the Angel to Mary about the mother of John (Lk. 1: 36); if however the mothers were relatives, then obviously so also were the children. Thus, since they were kinsmen -- in order that it should not seem that John would testify concerning Christ because of kinship, the grace of the Spirit organised it such, that John spent all his early years in the wilderness, so that it should not seem that John had declared his testimony out of friendship or some similar reason. But John, as he was instructed of God, thus also announced about Him, wherein also he did say: "and I knew Him not." From whence didst thou find out? "He having sent me that sayeth to baptise with water, That One did tell me" What did He tell thee? "Over Him thou shalt see the Spirit descending, like to a dove, and abiding over Him, That One is baptised by the Holy Spirit" (Jn 1:32-33). Dost thou see, that the Holy Spirit did not descend as in a first time then coming down upon Him, but in order to point out that preached by His inspiration -- as though by a finger, it pointed Him out to all. For this reason He came to baptism.
And there is a second reason, about which He Himself spoke -- what exactly is it? When John said: "I have need to be baptised of Thee, and Thou art come to me?" -- He answered thus: "stay now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill every righteousness" (Mt 3:14-15). Dost thou see the meekness of the servant? Dost thou see the humility of the Master? What does He mean: "to fulfill every righteousness?" By righteousness is meant the fulfillment of all the commandments, as is said: "both were righteous, walking faultlessly in the commandments of the Lord" (Lk 1:6). Since fulfilling this righteousness was necessary for all people -- but no one of them kept it or fulfilled it -- Christ came then and fulfilled this righteousness.
And what righteousness is there, someone will say, in being baptised? Obedience for a prophet was righteous. As Christ was circumcised, offered sacrifice, kept the sabbath and observed the Jewish feasts, so also He added this remaining thing, that He was obedient to having been baptised by a prophet. It was the will of God then, that all should be baptised -- about which listen, as John speaks: "He having sent me to baptise with water" (Jn 1:33); so also Christ: "the publicans and the people do justify God, having been baptised with the baptism of John; the pharisees and the lawyers reject the counsel of God concerning themselves, not having been baptised by him" (Lk 7:29-30). Thus, if obedience to God constitutes righteousness, and God sent John to baptise the nation, then Christ has also fulfilled this along with all the other commandments.
Consider, that the commandments of the law is the main point of the two denarii: this -- debt, which our race has needed to pay; but we did not pay it, and we, falling under such an accusation, are embraced by death. Christ came, and finding us afflicted by it -- He paid the debt, fulfilled the necessary and seized from it those, who were not able to pay. Wherefore He does not say: "it is necessary for us to do this or that," but rather "to fulfill every righteousness." "It is for Me, being the Master, -- says He, -- proper to make payment for the needy." Such was the reason for His baptism -- wherefore they should see, that He had fulfilled all the law -- both this reason and also that, about which was spoken of before. Wherefore also the Spirit did descend as a dove: because where there is reconciliation with God -- there also is the dove. So also in the ark of Noah the dove did bring the branch of olive -- a sign of God's love of mankind and of the cessation of the flood. And now in the form of a dove, and not in a body -- this particularly deserves to be noted -- the Spirit descended, announcing the universal mercy of God and showing with it, that the spiritual man needs to be gentle, simple and innocent, as Christ also says: "Except ye be converted and become as children, ye shalt not enter into the Heavenly Kingdom" (Mt 18:3). But that ark, after the cessation of the flood, remained upon the earth; this ark, after the cessation of wrath, is taken to heaven, and now this Immaculate and Imperishable Body is situated at the right hand of the Father.
Having made mention about the Body of the Lord, I shall also say a little about this, and then the conclusion of the talk. Many now will approach the Holy Table on the occasion of the feast. But some approach not with trembling, but shoving, hitting others, blazing with anger, shouting, cursing, roughing it up with their fellows with great confusion. What, tell me, art thou troubled by, my fellow? What disturbeth thee? Do urgent affairs, for certain, summon thee? At this hour art thou particularly aware, that these affairs of thine that thou particularly rememberest, that thou art situated upon the earth, and dost thou think to mix about with people? But is it not with a soul of stone naturally to think, that in such a time thou stand upon the earth, and not exult with the Angels with whom to raise up victorious song to God? For this Christ also did describe us with eagles, saying: "where the corpse is, there are the eagles gathered" (Mt 24:28) -- so that we might have risen to heaven and soared to the heights, having ascended on the wings of the spirit; but we, like snakes, crawl upon the earth and eat dirt. Having been invited to supper, thou, although satiated before others, would not dare to leave before others while others are still reclining. But here, when the sacred doings are going on, thou at the very middle would pass by everything and leave? Is it for a worthy excuse? What excuse might it be? Judas, having communed that last evening on that final night, left hastily then as all the others were still reclining. Here these also are in imitation of him, who leave before the final blessing! If he had not gone, then he would not have made the betrayal; if he did not leave his co-disciples, then he would not have perished; if he had not removed himself from the flock, then the wolf would not have seized and devoured him alone; if he had separated himself from the Pastor, then he would not have made himself the prey of wild beasts. Wherefore he (Judas) was with the Jews, and those (the apostles) went out with the Lord. Dost thou see, by what manner the final prayer after the offering of the sacrifice is accomplished? We should, beloved, stand forth for this, we should ponder this, fearful of the coming judgement for this. We should approach the Holy Sacrifice with great decorum, with proper piety, so as to merit us more of God's benevolence, to cleanse one's soul and to receive eternal blessings, of which may we all be worthy by the grace and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, to with Whom the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, power, and worship now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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PotOnWheel
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 9890
| Posted 1/5/2002 4:41 PM (GMT -6) | | http://www.arimathea.co.uk/theopha.htm
Theophany
The Feast of Theophany celebrates the Baptism of Jesus the Anointed in the Jordan by John the Forerunner. It is the festival of the manifestation to humanity of Jesus' Godhead and of the revelation of the Holy Trinity, as the voice of the Father declares him The "Beloved Son" and the Spirit in the form of a dove hovers above his Anointed.
In his baptism in the Jordan it is not Jesus who is purified and sanctified: he is God Incarnate, utterly without sin, the Holy One who makes others holy. He descends into the living water of the river and his presence sanctifies the waters.
The Spirit hovering above Jesus in the form of a dove reminds us both of the Spirit of God hovering over the primordial waters in the Book Genesis and of the dove sent forth from the Ark by our father Noe the Just, the dove which brought the sign of the Flood's abating and the renewal of the earth by God's mercy, the first sign of the new Covenant between God and Noe, the Covenant that (unlike the later Mosaic Covenants) bound all humanity to God.
Theophany celebrates the salvation and sanctification of matter.
The entire Universe is God's creation. His Wisdom underlies its form and design, his Word brings it into being, his Breath sustains and enlivens it.
So long and so far as matter and energy remain what God makes them they are good.
But the created order has been disrupted by the malignant choices of the rebel powers and of a misguided humanity. The sin of the rebel angels and of a rebel humanity made the world a haunted place, reeking of death and decay. We are not born into a world that simply embodies and manifest's the Creator's loving wisdom; far from it, we find ourselves - or flee ourselves - in a world where matter and energy are exploited to evil ends, material forces are bent to twisted purposes, the mistakes and the follies of past ages have rendered the world damaged and dangerous. The mountains still declare the glory of God and the sublime dance of the heavens proclaims His presence, but matter has also been made to serve demonic purposes.
How much human ingenuity has gone into inventing new weapons, new instruments of torture, new technologies for executions? How much human intelligence was made to serve the planning and the organisation of the wars that in this century have cost tens of millions of lives and left countless millions bereaved, maimed, crippled, orphaned, homeless, impoverished? How much skill is expended in maintaining corrupt forms of government that keep millions in poverty and powerlessness? The intelligence, the ingenuity, the skills that perpetrate these evils are all gifts of God, gifts twisted to evil ends.
Descending into Jordan's flowing waters, Jesus, God the Son of God, who now shares our humanity, makes that living water a sign of his presence his mercy and his power. The Creator who called the primordial waters into being steps down into the waters in which John's disciples sought repentance. The Prophet is astounded. Here is the one whose coming he proclaims, seeking baptism at his hands. But John obeys, and as he immerses Jesus in the waters of repentance the Father's voice reveals to him Who it is he has baptised. The Baptizer who baptizes in water has baptized the Paraclete, the Anointed Advocate of humanity, who baptizes with Spirit and fire.
The Spirit of Life hovered over the primordial waters. Now the Word incarnate, the One Anointed with the Holy Spirit descends into the Jordan's living waters, living but tainted as all this world has become, to restore, to renew, to revivify and sanctify, making the element water once more a sign and vehicle of God's presence. Christ's descent into the Jordan begins the re-creation of matter.
The salvation of matter is a work we are called to share.
The reign of love and peace is fully and totally accomplished in the saints. It is manifested to us and we are mystically incorporated in it in the Mysteries and especially in Baptism and the Eucharist. But the prayer Jesus himself gave us contains the petition "may your Kingdom come, may your will be accomplished on earth as in heaven ..." In the baptismal rite, we are called to renounce, repudiate and spit on the Adversary and all his works and pomps. we are exorcised repeatedly, to drag us from the deluding and corrupting power of demonic thinking. We bow down before Christ as our King and our God, enlisting in his army in the battle with evil. Then we too are immersed in the waters of the Jordan, to put on Christ, to become one with him, and in him and by the power of the Spirit, to become sharers in the divine nature, to be other Christs, so that we too can work in and with him to return the world of matter and energy to the Creator's rule and will.
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