THE COMMANDMENT of the Lord shines
clearly, enlightening the eyes. Receive Christ, receive power to see, receive
your light, that you may plainly recognize both God and man. More delightful
than gold and precious stones, more desirable than honey and the honeycomb is
the Word that has enlightened us. How could he not be desirable, who illumined
minds buried in darkness, and endowed with clear vision 'the light-bearing
eyes' of the soul? . . .
SING HIS praises, then, Lord, and
make known to me your Father, who is God. Your Word will save me, your song
instruct me. I have gone astray in my search for God; but now that you light my
path, Lord, I find God through you, and receive the Father from you. I become
co-heir with you, since you were not ashamed to own me as your brother.
LET US, then, shake off
forgetfulness of truth, shake off the mist of ignorance and darkness that dims
our eyes, and contemplate the true God, after first raising this song of praise
to him: 'All hail, O light!' For upon us buried in darkness, imprisoned in the
shadow of death, a heavenly light has shone, a light of a clarity surpassing
the sun’s, and of a sweetness exceeding any this earthly life can offer.”
______________________________
From Clement of Alexandria’s Exhortation to the Greeks II, quoted in ANCIENT CHRISTIAN COMMENTARY ON SCRIPTURE:
NEW TESTAMENT II, Mark, edited by
Thomas C. Oden and Christopher A. Hall (Downer’s Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity
Press, 1998).
