Meditation of the day. Bring the Finest Robe Do you see, dear friend, how patient God is? For when he said, Adam, where are you?(Gn 3:9), and when Adam did not at once confess his sin but said: I heard the sound of you, O Lord, and realized that I am naked and hid myself(Gn3:10), God was not angered, nor did he immediately turn away. Rather, he gave him the opportunity of a second reply and said, Who told you that you are naked? Unless you ate of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat (Gn3:11). Consider how profound are the words of Gods wisdom(cf.Rom11:33). He says: Why do you say that you are naked, but hide your sin? Do you really think that I see only your body, but do not see your heart and your thoughts? Since Adam was deceived he hoped that God would not know his sin. He said something like this to himself, If I say that I am naked, God in his ignorance will say, Why are you naked? Then I shall have to deny and say,I do not know, and so I shall not be caught by him and he will give me back the garment that I had at first (cf. Lk15:22). If not, as long as he does not cast me out, as long as he does not exile me! While he was thinking these thoughts-as indeed many do even now (and I myself am the first) when they hide their own evil deeds-God, unwilling to multiply his guilt, says, How did you realize that you are naked? Unless you ate of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat (Gn3;11). It is as though he said, Do you really think that you can hide from Me? Do I not know what you have done? Will you not say, I have sinned? Say, O wretch, Yes, it is true, Master, I have transgressed your command.... I am greatly at fault for...disobeying your word, have mercy upon me! Saint Symeon the New Theologian (+1022) was a spiritual master and a monk in Constantinople. **************************************************************** PSALM 103 THE LORD IS KIND AND MERCIFUL. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being,bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 20:08:19 +0000
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