807 discourse vii: the death of death gives life to all, has returned to the Father. The heavenly pilgrim has traversed His difficult journey on the earth, the consuming Fire has been extinguished, the River flowing forth from the heavenly Paradise to water the earthly paradise has dried up, the Champion who descended from the highest heaven to run the course grows faint, the Sun of Justice has suffered an eclipse, the Teacher who spoke the words of eternal life has been destroyed by death, the Good Shepherd has laid down His life for His sheep. Jesus “uttered a loud cry, and breathed [H]is last.” What a fate! Lament, O hard marble, Let the stones and rocks split into pieces: Let the sun with the cloud of sorrow clothe the cloudless day: Let the violently shaken earth cry out mightily, All of nature, let it not restrain its heavy pain. You alone, O mortal, prepare the triumph. For indeed death, that murderer of our race, that tyrant of the whole world, suffered total defeat by the death of Life. O what joy! It is most beneficial to expound more eloquently upon this most blessed fight and most glorious victory. Sound the trumpets, O men; the Leader of Life, fastened upon the cross, clashes with death. All others, watch the duel. 1. The most illustrious author Valerius Maximus recalls that a region of Attica, weakened by the vast army of the enemy, was ravaged by sword and by fire. Distrustful of people’s aid, its king [Codrus] sent envoys to the oracle of Apollo at Delphi, asking through them how to bring this bitter war to an end. The answer was: It will only end when the king himself should die at the hand of the enemies. What do you think King Codrus did? [He did] what love for the fatherland dictated. He decided to die. But the clever and devious enemies declared that no one was to
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==