Author Archives: Stefan Gramenz

A Prayer for Advent II

Lord Jesus, who once came into the world to save sinners, and who will come again to judge the quick and the dead, let us in repentance and faith find Thee in Thy manger and on the cross, so that we may see Thee with joy upon the clouds and on Thy throne. C.F.W Walther,Continue reading “A Prayer for Advent II”

St. John Chrysostom on the Ascension

And now, we who before were deemed unfit to dwell upon the earth are raised up to heaven; we who were unworthy of earthly dignity now ascend to a heavenly kingdom, and enter into heaven, and take our place upon a royal throne; and this nature of ours, because of which the Cherubim guarded theContinue reading “St. John Chrysostom on the Ascension”

Ascension – John Donne

Salute the last, and everlasting day,Joy at the uprising of this Sun, and Son,Ye whose true tears, or tribulationHave purely wash’d, or burnt your drossy clay.Behold, the Highest, parting hence away,Lightens the dark clouds, which He treads upon;Nor doth he by ascending show alone,But first He, and He first enters the way.O strong Ram, whichContinue reading “Ascension – John Donne”

A sacrifice, yet a high priest; a supplicant, yet God.

He prayed; but who was it who heard the prayer of the supplicant? He was a sacrifice, yet a high priest; a supplicant, yet God. He dedicated His blood to God and cleansed the whole world. A cross raised Him aloft, yet it was sin that was fixed by the nails. St. Gregory Nazianzen, Personal Poems,Continue reading “A sacrifice, yet a high priest; a supplicant, yet God.”

Leontius of Byzantium on the Trinity

These three persons differ from one another in nothing except their “properties.”…The Son and the Spirit differ only in that the Son is generated from the Father, and the Spirit proceeds from Him. How the one is generated and the other proceeds we are not concerned to know. Leontius of Byzantium, De Sectis I

He speaks to God, His Father, in a human voice…

Jesus takes our human nature—yours and mine—to the heart of God and he speaks to God his father in a human voice. In heaven the language they speak is human (not just angelic). Our words (human words) are heard at the very centre of the burning heart of reality. The Rt. Rev. Rowan Williams, sermon forContinue reading “He speaks to God, His Father, in a human voice…”

St. John Chrysostom on Babel

God gave a common language to everyone. This was part of His loving-kindness toward the human race. They did not use the gift rightly, however, and lapsed into utter foolishness. Therefore He took away what He had given. For when they had one common speech they were foolish enough to want to build a towerContinue reading “St. John Chrysostom on Babel”

St. Gregory Nazianzen on Pentecost

The old confusion of tongues was praiseworthy when people who had a common language—even as some now venture to have—were building their tower in wickedness and impiety. By confusing their language, their unity of purpose was destroyed, as was the project they were undertaking. Thus the present miracle is all that much more praiseworthy. TheContinue reading “St. Gregory Nazianzen on Pentecost”