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HOMILIES: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
St Macarius the Great Resources Online and in Print
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33 Pages
Page 19
Glory be to his tender mercies and compassion, which surpass all expression and utterance! 5. As the woman that was diseased with an issue of blood, when she had touched the hem of our Lord's garment, was healed immediately, and the impure fountain of her blood was dried up-so every soul that has the incurable wound of sin, the fountain of unclean and wicked thoughts, if she will come to CHRIST, recovers her health; and that fountain which sends forth impure thoughts, only through the power of JESUS, abates and is dried up.
6. To him alone this is possible. For as that woman who had spent all she was worth upon those that had promised to heal her, was yet cured by no man, till such time as she came to the Lord, and touched his hem-so is it with the soul that has been wounded from the be, ginning with this incurable wound of sinful affections; which none of the righteous, neither the fathers, nor the prophets, or patriarchs have been able to cure.
7. Moses came, but was not able to give perfect health. The priests, the gifts, tithes, new-moons, washings, sacrifices, whole burnt-offerings, and every other branch of righteousness, were punctually observed under the law; and yet the soul could not be healed, and cleansed from the impure fountain of sinful thoughts. Neither could all its righteousness avail any thing, till such time as the Savior came himself, the true Physician, who healeth freely-who gave himself a ransom for the race of mankind. He alone wrought the great and saving redemption, and cure of the soul: he it was.that set, it free from the state of bondage, and brought it out of darknesA, having glorified it with his own light. He has dried up the fountain of unclean thoughts; for " behold," says the Scripture, " the Lamb of GOD, which takesaway the sin of the world!" 8. Its own medicines out of the earth, that is, its own righteous actions, were not able to heal it of so great a plague.
But by the heavenly and Divine nature, the gift of the Holy Spirit, was man capable of recovering health, being purified in his heart by the Holy Ghost. Let us therefore have faith in him, and come to him in truth, that he may speedily perform his healing operation within us:-for he has promised to " give to them that ask him, his Holy Spirit; and to open to them that knock; and to be found of them that seek him:" and he that promised cannot lie. To him be glory and might for ever! Amen.
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/macarius/homilies.asp?pg=19
