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Meditations on the Divine Liturgy
Nikolai Gogol, tr. Alexeieff, 1913
1. On the Divine Liturgy
The Divine Liturgy is in a certain sense the perpetual repetition of the great act of love made once for us.
From the ends of the earth humanity, mourning over its disordered state, cried to its Creator. Amid the darkness of heathenism and in ignorance of God, mankind recognized that order and harmony could be restored to the world only by Him Who bade the universe to move aright.
Groaning creation cried aloud to its Creator. Not only incapable of understanding the eloquence of daily recurring events in God’s world, but unable even to discern the least letter, demanding centuries of effort, it awaited enlightenment from the voice of its Creator.
All continued to cry aloud to the Author of their being, and those cries were heard especially from the mouth of the elect and of the prophets. They felt and knew that if the Creator were to stand face to face with man, it would be in the form of His creation made after His own image and likeness.
The Incarnation of God on earth presented itself to all in degree as the idea of the Deity became clearer; but it was only plainly spoken of by the prophets of the chosen people.
His Immaculate Incarnation of a pure Virgin was apprehended even by the heathen, but was plainly foretold only by the prophets. The cries were heard. He by Whom the world was made appeared in the world.
There appeared among us One like unto us, in the likeness of man, as was foretold amid the darkness of heathenism; but not in the form which unsanctified comprehension had pictured. Not in proud splendour and greatness; not as the chastiser of crime; not as a judge come to condemn some and reward others: He came as God alone could come.