September 16, 2009 + The Greatest Miracle of All

by Theodore Ziton

from The Word, September 1969

All the acts of God are wonderful and mysterious. Each one of His works, being a divine manifestation bears the stamp of the mysterious and the incomprehensible. But the Blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion is the greatest of all the miracles that our Lord wrought upon earth.

The little, fragile, unpretentious Lamb which we adore upon our altars out views the very stars of heaven in their infinity and splendor; it outweighs the whole universe, filled though it be with the wonders of the Almighty. Not only one miracle, but a whole chain of miracles envelop it like the crystal, and encompass it like the gold and the precious stones of the Chalice. “Manhu, what is it?” exclaimed the people of Israel in joyful surprise when the manna fell like snowflakes from heaven. “Manhu, what is it?” we may likewise exclaim, when we gaze upon our “Bread” from heaven and meditate on the wonders manifested in that miraculous Food.

In this inspiring Sacrament two golden chains of divine love unite. One extends from heaven to earth the other ascends from earth to heaven.

The chains of love, springing from the Heart of God and from the soul of man, meet in the Sacred Lamb upon our altars, and are linked together in the closest and most intimate union. In the humble little Lamb, heaven and earth celebrate their espousals! But what makes this marvel of love still greater is the consideration of Our Lord’s profound humility whereby He has made this miracle possible. Under the commonest elements of food and drink, He veils His majesty and splendor, that, far from trembling or flying from before His face, as Israel once did, man may approach Him with childlike confidence. And this miracle will cease only with time. As a continual, an eternal memorial of His love, Jesus Christ dwells as a hidden God upon our altars, giving “food to them that fear Him.” If you were to ask a well-meaning pagan to guess the means whereby our Saviour, in His ardent love for men, had managed to hide His continual presence amongst us, what object would he name as most likely to have been chosen as the veil of the Godhead? Would it not be something of gold or silver, some precious jewel, or some rare and costly fruit? “Surely,” he would say, “it would or must be some noble and valuable object, under which the Divinity would choose to hide Himself!” Listen to the word of truth: “He took bread, and blessed it and gave it to His disciples, saying, take eat, this is my body! And having taken the chalice, and giving thanks, He gave it to them; and they all drank of it.” He chose bread and wine, for the species of the greatest Sacrament, His most stupendous miracle of love.

Admire herein His wisdom! Bread and wine are the most ordinary elements of our nourishment, and as such He chose them, because only through them could He unite Himself to and make Himself one substance with man.

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Great Martyr Euphemia - September 16

Troparion of St. Euphemia, Tone 3

In love thy contest was radiant and thou didst run to the fragrance of Christ. O virtuous Virgin-Martyr, thou hast entered the bridal chamber and dost send healing into the world. Save those who cry to thee: Rejoice, O holy Euphemia.

Kontakion of St. Euphemia, Tone 4

Thou didst win thy martyr's contest and dost now sanctify us with streams of miracles, O holy Euphemia. We honour thy repose and stand before thy relics to be delivered from our souls' diseases and obtain the grace of miracles.