18 December 2006

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Thus, in Jud 6:38,40 God performs a sign before Gideon so that the dew fell on the spread-out fleece, but the entire ground remained dry; the next morning, the fleece remained dry and the ground was wet. Thus, the pure Virgin Mary alone among women, through the working of the Holy Spirit, received this heavenly Christ-dew, about which Isaiah 45:8 states: Drip down you heavens from above. Later, this dew came upon the entire earth, that is, the fruits of this birth pertain to all mankind; however, Mary once more became a dry pelt, that is, she remained a pure virgin after the birth, just as she was before the birth. - Christmas Day Homily by Johann Gerhard (p. 51, Postilla, translated by Elmer M. Hohle)

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