The Word of Life was seen and touched

The Word of Life was seen and touched

"Given that this same John also said, 'No one has ever seen God' (John
1:18, 1 John 1:4:12), how can he assure us that the living Word of
Life has been seen and touched? It is clear that it was in his
incarnate and human form that he was visible and touchable. What was
not true of him by nature became true of him in that way, for he is
one and the same indivisible Word, both visible and invisible, and
without diminishing in either respect he became touchable in both his
divine-human nature. For he worked his miracles in his divinity and
suffered for us in his humanity."
 by Severus of Antioch (488-538 AD) (excerpt from CATENA)

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January 2nd - St. Macarius, Hermit
(c. 300-390 A.D.)

St. Macarius the Elder was one of the greatest of the Christians who
pioneered the monastic life in the deserts of Egypt. Many anecdotes
have come down to us of his struggle for perfection in a crude world.

Macarius started off as a cattle-raiser in the Upper Nile district.
But while still a youth he sensed a personal call to undertake the
life of a desert hermit, a life of prayer, austerity and labor.

During the early period of his apprenticeship, he became the object of
a vicious slander that brought upon him undeserved mistreatment. A
woman of the desert locale, for some unknown motive, accused him
publicly of having assaulted her. She must have talked a good case,
for the people of the neighborhood accepted the charge. They upbraided
Macarius as a wolf in sheep=E2=80=99s clothing; they seized him bodily,
paraded him through the streets, and beat him severely.

What was the hermit=E2=80=99s reaction? In true Christian meekness, he deci=
ded
not to defend himself, and to work extra hard at his manual tasks in
order to provide for the care of the infant with whom his accuser was
pregnant. Surely, he thought to himself, the real father would not
provide for that child!

Fortunately, the truth came out through other circumstances. When the
woman=E2=80=99s hour had come, the birthing was hard until she admitted tha=
t
the father was other than Macarius. Shaken by this confession, the
neighbors who had been so ready to blame the hermit now changed their
tune, praising him for his humility.

Macarius no doubt thanked God for rescuing his reputation, but he by
now had had enough of public opinion. He fled to the mountainous
desert of Skete near the delta of the Nile. Then about 30, he would
pass the remaining 60 years of his life at that place as the spiritual
director of the multitude of other monks who hastened to place
themselves under his tutelage. Up to now, Macarius, like most of the
Egyptian hermits, had been a layman. After a while, however, the local
bishop ordained him a priest so that he might provide the sacraments
for his followers.

The monks of Skete were especially noted for their austerity. Although
this was sometimes excessive, it was nevertheless impressive. Later on
Macarius himself would declare, =E2=80=9CI have never once eaten, drunk or
slept as much as nature required.=E2=80=9D Yet he kept warning his disciple=
s
against becoming proud of their fasting.

Macarius=E2=80=99 chief teaching, however, continued to be, =E2=80=9CLeave =
everything
that happens, good or bad, in God=E2=80=99s hands.=E2=80=9D Even when couns=
eling on
prayer, he said that the best prayers are not always those that are
long or eloquent. Short ones are equally pleasing to God, like =E2=80=9CO G=
od,
come to my assistance=E2=80=9D; or =E2=80=9CLord, show me mercy as you know=
 best.=E2=80=9D
This absolute mildness and patience communicated itself, and was
responsible for many conversions.

Yet the saint kept studying self-control.

Once God pointed out to him that two married women who lived nearby
were holier than he was. He therefore went to see them and learn of
their dispositions. =E2=80=9CWhat are your methods for achieving holiness?=
=E2=80=9D he
asked. They answered, =E2=80=9CWe live in humility and patience, charity an=
d
conformity to the dispositions of our husbands. We carefully avoid
idle or rash conversations, and by consecrating all our powers of body
and soul to the glory of God, we sanctify every action by prayer.=E2=80=9D
Such was the revealing lesson that these two wives taught to the
celibate monk.

A disciple once asked St. Macarius how to begin to live in Christ. The
saint told him to go to the cemetery and first scold all the dead, out
loud, and then praise them. When he returned, the Master asked what
reply the dead had made to the reproof and the praise. =E2=80=9CNothing,=E2=
=80=9D the
disciple answered. Macarius (thinking perhaps of his earlier suffering
from slander), said, =E2=80=9CGo then and learn neither to be moved by prai=
se
or flattery. If you die to the world and to yourself, you will begin
to live in Christ.=E2=80=9D

St. Macarius was not spared trials from without. At one point the
heretical bishop of Alexandria exiled him and his monks to an island
in the Nile. But the exiles lost no time, and converted the pagan
islanders. At length they were released. The people loved them too
much to allow that to happen again.

Macarius, then, still advises us: =E2=80=9CDo not fear false accusations: G=
od
always knows the truth.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=93Father Robert


Saint Quote:
Beside each believer stands an Angel as protector and shepherd,
leading him to life.
-- St. Basil the Great

Bible Quote:
18 But the path of the just is like shining light,
that grows in brilliance till perfect day.*
19The way of the wicked is like darkness;
they do not know on what they stumble.  (Proverbs 4:18-19)


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O Jesus, Dear Holy Child
By St Th=C3=A9r=C3=A8se of the Child Jesus (1873 =E2=80=93 1897)

O Jesus, dear Holy Child,
my only treasure,
I abandon myself to Thy every whim.
I seek no other joy
than that of calling forth Thy sweet Smile.
Vouchsafe to me, the graces and the virtues
of Thy Holy Childhood,
so that, on the day of my birth into Heaven,
the Angels and Saints
may recognise in Thy Spouse,
Th=C3=A9r=C3=A8se of the Child Jesus.
Amen