Today this created world is raised to the dignity of a holy place
for him who made all things.
The fulfilment of the law is Christ himself, who does
not so much lead us away from the letter as lift us up to its spirit. For the
law’s consummation was this, that the very lawgiver accomplished his work and
changed letter into spirit, summing everything up in himself and, though
subject to the law, living by grace. He subordinated the law, yet harmoniously
united grace with it, not confusing the distinctive characteristics of the one
with the other, but effecting the transition in a way most fitting for God. He
changed whatever was burdensome, servile and oppressive into what is light and
liberating, so that we should be enslaved no longer under the elemental spirits
of the world, as the Apostle says, nor held fast as bondservants under the
letter of the law.
This is the highest, all-embracing benefit that Christ has bestowed on us. This is the revelation of the mystery, this is the emptying out of the divine nature, the union of God and man, and the deification of the manhood that was assumed.
This
radiant and manifest coming of God to men most certainly needed a joyful
prelude to introduce the great gift of salvation to us. The present festival,
the birth of the Mother of God, is the prelude, while the final act is the
fore-ordained union of the Word with flesh. Today the Virgin is born, tended
and formed and prepared for her role as Mother of God, who is the universal
King of the ages.
Justly, then, do we celebrate this mystery since it signifies for us a double grace. We are led towards the truth, and we are led away from our condition of slavery to the letter of the law. How can this be? Darkness yields before the coming of the light, and grace exchanges legalism for freedom. But midway between the two stands today’s mystery, at the frontier where types and symbols give way to reality, and the old is replaced by the new.
Therefore, let all creation sing and dance and unite to make worthy contribution to the celebration of this day. Let there be one common festival for saints in heaven and men on earth. Let everything, mundane things and those above, join in festive celebration. Today this created world is raised to the dignity of a holy place for him who made all things. The creature is newly prepared to be a divine dwelling place for the Creator.
From a discourse by Saint Andrew of Crete