Homily: On the new law from Zion "For out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2:3). The prophet speaks of a new law and of a new word. The old law was given on Sinai and the new law will come from Zion. The old law was given through Moses and the new law, the Lord Christ Himself will bring. That (the old law) was intended in the beginning only for the Jews, and this one (the new law), will be directed to all peoples and all of mankind. Even though these words of the prophet are clear, however, the Jews could not understand them nor do they understand them today. The meaning of these words is closed to them because of their stony hearts. To whom do they (the Jews) apply these words? To no one. How do they (the Jews) interpret these words? They do not. They pass by these words as a blind man passes by an open door. If they were able to comprehend these words, would they have then acted in such a manner as they acted with the prophet and the prophesied One (Christ)? Would they have sawn Isaiah and crucified Christ on the Cross? The Jews considered the law of Moses to be the only and final law of God. That is why they were unable to comprehend the meaning of the prophecy of the new law from Zion, i.e., from the House of David, for David glorified Zion. But if the Jews did not know to comprehend the new law through the old law, we Christians know that through the new law we comprehend the old law. The Jews only had a tree without fruit but we have the tree and the fruit. They only had an image without reality, but we have both reality and the image. They adhered only to promises and that, incorrectly understood, but we have the promises and the fulfillment. O All-rich Lord, Who has enriched us with Thy spiritual law and Thy life-giving words, Thee only do we worship and to Thee only do we pray; grant us wisdom and power to live according to Thy law and to uphold Thy holy word, so that we may not become poor before Thee, Who has made us rich!
Posted on: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 02:00:00 +0000
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