Ornament - Ram
Materials - Black card-stock, white pipe cleaner, white yarn, twine for hanging
Read Genesis 22:1-18
-St Romanos the Melodist - Vol. II: On the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
Did not the faithful Sarah, long ago, before her son Isaac was born, desire to give birth, even though
she was sterile? She received the Lord in human form, along with two archangels; And His word to her
on this occasion was: "You, Sarah, will have a child," Now, rejoicing, she Cries to the world: The
barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God And the nurse of our life.
-St. Ephrem the Syrian
In two things then was Abraham victorious: that he killed his son although he did not kill him and that
he believed that after Isaac died he would be raised up again and would go back down with him. For
Abraham was firmly convinced that He Who said to him, 'through Isaac shall your descendants be
named,' was not lying.
-A Homily by St. John Chrysostom
Now pay attention, for this is a subtle point. We are going to say how Sarah's barren womb leads us by
the hand, as it were, to faith in the Resurrection. How, then, does it lead us? Just as her womb, being
dead, was resurrected by the Grace of God and brought forth the living body of Isaac, so also Christ,
having died, was resurrected by His own power. And listen to Paul testifying that our exegesis is not
forced: [the Prophet Abraham] considered not...the deadness of Sarahs womb...but was strong in faith,
giving glory to God and being fully persuaded that what He had promised He was able also to perform
(Romans 4:19-21). That is, God was able to bring it about that a living son be born from dead bodies.
Then, leading us from that belief to this one, he adds: It was not written for his sake alone, that it was
imputed to him, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus
our Lord from the dead (Romans 4:23-24). What he is saying is this: God raised up Isaac from dead
bodies; so also did He raise up His Son, Who had become dead. Do you want to learn what else
barrenness symbolizes? The Church was to give birth to the multitude of the Faithful. Therefore, in
order that you might not disbelieve that She who was infertile, unfruitful, and barren gave birth, one
who was barren by nature preceded Her, preparing the way for Her who was voluntarily barren, and
Sarah thus became a type of the Church. For, just as she, being barren, gave birth in old age, so also the
Church, being barren, gave birth in the last times. Hear how Paul testifies that this is true: We are
children of the free woman (Galatians 4:31). For, since Sarah, the free woman, is a type of the Church,
for this reason he adds that we are children of the free woman.
From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, December 13
And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear
not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee (Genesis 26:24).
Brethren, from time immemorial, the path upon which the righteous walk has always been difficult.
From time immemorial, they have been hard pressed either by those who do not believe in God or by
those who maintain an incorrect belief. Abel was hard pressed by his brother Cain; Noah and Lot, by a
completely corrupt generation; and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, by the pagans. However, God does not
forsake the righteous to walk the difficult path alone. This we also see with Isaac: I am the God of
Abraham thy father; fear not. Isaac understood these very meaningful words. By these words, God
encouraged and reminded him. He was saying: ``Because of Abraham, I will bless thee also; and, as I
protected Abraham among the pagans, so in a like manner will I protect thee.'' And further: ``Be faithful
to Me as was Abraham thy father.'' Isaac followed the example of his father and did not turn away from
God at any time in his life. Isaac was a farmer and a cattle-breeder as was his father; he was righteous
and meek, avoiding strife with men and doing good for people. We saw certainly that the Lord was
with thee (Genesis 26:28), as his haters and persecutors finally had to admit. And Isaac was made
worthy that God be called His God: just as God was called the God of Abraham, so later He was called
the God of Isaac.
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