following the Lamentations of Great, Holy Friday.
...Tonight, brothers and sisters, we chanted the long lamentations before the tomb of Christ. And now, we will venerate the icon of Christ being prepared for the winding sheet in which His life-giving body will be wrapped and tied.
....In truth, what is it that we are venerating? When we see Christ on the Cross, and now prepared for burial, we must recall first of all the great co-suffering love of God for mankind. Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ abandoned His glory and took on the inglorious nature of man for the sake of our Salvation. As we approach now to venerate the icon of His burial, let be aware with all our hearts that, more correctly, we are venerating His ineffable love for mankind. In truth, it is love that we are venerating, and not mere love, but a love that is beyond all description, a love that can be aspired to by never attained. The King of Glory, the Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them is today laid before us as one dead and bereft of glory. Who can name the love, who can describe it in mere human tounges? Let us, therefore, with contrition of heart, with a joyous sorrow and in awe, prostrate ourselves before the life-giving love of Christ our Saviour, and with tears, kiss the holy icon of His ineffable sacrifice for us. And let each then silently depart to his own home, full of prayer and expectation, looking with anticipation of heart and soul to the glorious Resurrection which we will experience on the third day. Keep your mind, for these three days, on Christ and His love, and on the hope of our own resurrection and everlasting life. Glory to God for all things.
....In truth, what is it that we are venerating? When we see Christ on the Cross, and now prepared for burial, we must recall first of all the great co-suffering love of God for mankind. Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ abandoned His glory and took on the inglorious nature of man for the sake of our Salvation. As we approach now to venerate the icon of His burial, let be aware with all our hearts that, more correctly, we are venerating His ineffable love for mankind. In truth, it is love that we are venerating, and not mere love, but a love that is beyond all description, a love that can be aspired to by never attained. The King of Glory, the Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them is today laid before us as one dead and bereft of glory. Who can name the love, who can describe it in mere human tounges? Let us, therefore, with contrition of heart, with a joyous sorrow and in awe, prostrate ourselves before the life-giving love of Christ our Saviour, and with tears, kiss the holy icon of His ineffable sacrifice for us. And let each then silently depart to his own home, full of prayer and expectation, looking with anticipation of heart and soul to the glorious Resurrection which we will experience on the third day. Keep your mind, for these three days, on Christ and His love, and on the hope of our own resurrection and everlasting life. Glory to God for all things.
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