Thursday, April 17, 2014

Maundy Thursday - Let us Imitate the Eternal High Priest


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Dear brothers and sisters, the Russian author Leo Tolstoy writes in a short story about a strict ruler who asked his priests and wise men to show God to him, so that he might see him. The wise men were unable to satisfy this desire. So a shepherd, who was just coming home from the fields, offered to take upon himself the task of the priests and wise men. The king learned from him that his eyes were not sufficient to see God. But then the king wanted to know at least what it was that God did. "In order to reply to your question," the shepherd said to the ruler, "we must exchange clothing." With hesitation, but driven by curiosity, the ruler consented: he handed over his regal garments to the shepherd, and had himself dressed in the simple clothing of the poor man. Then came the answer: "This is what God does."
·       the Son of God – true God from true God – left behind his divine splendor: "he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself [...] even to death on a cross" (cf. Philippians, 2:6ff). 

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