02 June 2007

Patristic Quote of the Day

Taken separately, we are many, and Christ sends the Spirit, who is both the Father's Spirit and His own, to dwell in each of us. Yet that Spirit, being one and indivisible, gathers together those who are distinct from each other as individuals, and causes them all to be seen as a unity in himself. Just as Christ's sacred flesh has power to make those in whom it is present into one body, so the one, indivisible Spirit of God, dwelling in all, causes all to become one in spirit. - St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of St. John (Christian Prayer, p. 2004)

1 comment:

Canadian said...

William,
Nice quote.
And here it is again. I have seen other places in the Fathers where our BODY is nourished and strengthened for eternal life by Christ's body and blood. Here our union with His body brings union to His mystical body the Church. This is so foreign to evangelicalism. In regard to my previous reference to the unity Christ prayed for in John 17, maybe this is how some of that unity is fleshed out. (pun intended)
The effects of the Incarnation reach everywhere into our Christian existence.
Darrin.