“The commandment of the Lord shines
clearly, enlightening the eyes.”
Receive Christ, receive power to
see, receive your light, “that
you may plainly recognize both God
and man.”
“More delightful
than gold and precious stones, more
desirable than honey and the honeycomb,” is
the Word that has enlightened us.
How
could he not be desirable, he who
illumined minds buried in darkness,
and endowed with clear vision “the
light-bringing eyes” of the soul?
“Despite the other stars, without the sun the whole world would be plunged
in darkness.” So likewise we ourselves, had we not known the Word and been
enlightened by him, should have been no better off than plump poultry fattened
in the dark, simply reared for death.
Let us open ourselves to the light, then,
and so to God. Let us open ourselves to the light, and become disciples of the
Lord. For he promised his Father: “I will make known your name to my brothers
and sisters, and praise you where they are assembled.”
Sing his praises, then, Lord, and make known to me your Father, who is God. Your
words will save me, your song instruct me. Hitherto I have gone astray in my
search for God; but now that you light my path, Lord, and I find God through
you, and receive the Father from you, I become co-heir with you, since you were
not ashamed to own me as your brother.
Let us, then, shake off forgetfulness of truth, shake off the mist of ignorance
and darkness that dims our eyes, and contemplate the true God, after first raising
this song of praise to him: “All hail, O Light!”
For upon us, buried
in darkness, imprisoned in the shadow of death, a heavenly light has shone, a
light of a clarity surpassing the sun’s, and of a sweetness exceeding any this
earthly life can offer. That light is eternal life, and those who receive it
live.
Night, on the other hand, is afraid of the light, and melting away in terror
gives place to the day of the Lord. Unfailing light has penetrated everywhere,
and sunset has turned into dawn.
This is the meaning of the new creation; for
the Sun of Righteousness, pursuing his course through the universe, visits all
alike, in imitation of his Father, “who makes his sun rise upon all,” and
bedews everyone with his truth.
He it is who has changed sunset into dawn and death into life by his crucifixion;
he it is who has snatched the human race from perdition and exalted it to the
skies.
Transplanting what was corruptible to make it incorruptible, transforming
earth into heaven, he, God’s gardener, points the way to prosperity, prompts
his people to good works, “reminds them how to live” according to the
truth, and bestows on us the truly great and divine heritage of the Father, which
cannot be taken away from us.
He deifies us by his heavenly teaching, instilling
his laws into our minds, and writing them on our hearts. What are the laws he
prescribes? That all, be they of high estate or low, shall know God. “And I
will be merciful to them,” God says, “and I will remember their sin no more.”
Let us accept the laws of life, let us obey God’s promptings. Let us learn to
know him, so that he may be merciful to us. Although he stands in no need of
it, let us pay God our debt of gratitude in willing obedience as a rent, so to
speak, which we owe him for our lodging here below.
(Exhortation
to the Greeks 11: SC 2, 181-83)
Clement
of Alexandria (c. 150-215) was born at Athens of pagan
parents. Nothing is known of his early life nor of the
reasons for his conversion. He was the pupil and the assistant
of Pantaenus, the director of the catechetical school of
Alexandria, whom he succeeded about the year 200. In 202
Clement left Alexandria because of the persecution of Septimus
Severus, and resided in Cappadocia with his pupil, Alexander,
later bishop of Jerusalem. Clement may be considered the
founder of speculative theology. He strove to protect and
deepen faith by the use of Greek philosophy. Central in
his teaching is his doctrine of the Logos, who as divine
reason is the teacher of the world and its lawgiver. Clement’s
chief work is the trilogy, Exhortation to the Greeks, The
Teacher, and Miscellanies.
