wordcraft for the feast of st. cyril of alexandria:
O where is the power of our good news?
in the Name of God, how we burden and bruise
…what is it that we do with the sacred honor of God?
…shout curses down on a sleeping city?
…strike terror in the hearts of the children of men?
…shun the sojourner and stranger from a lack of pity?
…scatter the seeds of weeds and proclaim 'amen'?
O – if we only could listen and obey
and chase after the liberating Saviour’s Way
…might trustworthy tidings from a humble Heart be heard
[as my friend kevin rains says: "In some mysterious way all of us are seekers, saints, and sinners - though perhaps in varying degrees." saints are not born with halos around their heads...and cyril, recognized as a great teacher of the church, began his career as archbishop of alexandria, egypt, with impulsive, often violent, actions. he pillaged and closed the churches of the novatian heretics, participated in the deposing of st. john chrysostom and confiscated jewish property, expelling the jews from alexandria in retaliation for their attacks on christians. most consider cyril's significance for theology and church history to lie in his championing the cause of orthodoxy against the heresy of nestorius.]
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2 comments:
I was just telling a date (a conservative Anglican) how I thought that John Chrystostom as someone who had the Holy Sprit at work in his life in his century. I had the pleasure of being in his church in my travels in Asia Minor.
..Sometimes the work of the Holy Spirit may, incredulously, be to set us against the works of another believer. IMO, FWIW, Chrystostom was right.
...and in such ways, if we can set aside our pride, we just may sharpen each other...unfortunately pride hangs oon stubbornly for all of us...
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