Readings

March 9: Gregory of Nyssa, Bishop and Theologian, c. 394

The Collect of the Day

Gregory of Nyssa

Almighty God, who has revealed to your Church your eternal Being of glorious majesty and perfect love as one God in Trinity of Persons: Give us grace that, like your bishop Gregory of Nyssa, we may continue steadfast in the confession of this faith, and constant in our worship of you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

Gregory of Nyssa

Almighty God, who hast revealed to thy Church thine eternal Being of glorious majesty and perfect love as one God in Trinity of Persons: Give us grace that, like thy bishop Gregory of Nyssa, we may continue steadfast in the confession of this faith, and constant in our worship of thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; who livest and reignest now and for ever. Amen.

Gregory was a man enchanted with Christ and dazzled by the meaning of his Passion. He was born in Caesarea in Cappadocia around 334, the younger brother of Basil the Great and, in his youth, was a reluctant Christian.

When he was twenty, the transfer of the relics of the Forty Martyrsof Sebaste to the family chapel at Annesi quickened Gregory’s faith, and he became a practicing Christian and a lector. He later abandoned this ministry, however, to become a rhetorician like his father.

His brother Basil, in his struggle against the Emperor Valens, compelled Gregory to become Bishop of Nyssa, a town ten miles from Caesarea. Knowing himself to be unfit for the charge, Gregory described his ordination as the most miserable day of his life. He lacked the important episcopal skills of tact and understanding, and had no sense of the value of money. Falsely accused of embezzling church funds, Gregory went into hiding for two years, not returning to his diocese until Valens died.

Although he resented his brother’s dominance, Gregory was shocked by Basil’s death in 379. Several months later, he received another shock: his beloved sister Macrina was dying. Gregory hastened to Annesi and conversed with her for two days about death, the soul, and the meaning of the resurrection. Macrina died in her brother’s arms.

The two deaths, while stunning Gregory, also freed him to develop as a deeper and richer philosopher and theologian. He reveals his delight in the created order in his treatise, On the Making of Man. He exposes the depth of his contemplative and mystical nature in his Life of Moses and again in his Commentary on the Song of Songs. His Great Catechism is considered second only to Origen’s treatise On First Principles and his treatise On Virginity is a masterpiece of ascetical theology.

Gregory’s theological writings have received a resurgence of interest among Christian theologians starting in the mid-20th century, and he is regarded as one of the “Cappadocian Fathers” together with his brother Basil and their friend Gregory of Nazianzus. Gregory died on March 9th, probably in Nyssa, around the year 394.

Lessons and Psalm

First Lesson

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Psalm

1Happy are they whose way is blameless, *who walk in the law of the Lord!

2Happy are they who observe his decrees *and seek him with all their hearts!

3Who never do any wrong, *but always walk in his ways.

4You laid down your commandments, *that we should fully keep them.

5Oh, that my ways were made so direct *that I might keep your statutes!

6Then I should not be put to shame, *when I regard all your commandments.

7I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *when I have learned your righteous judgments.

8I will keep your statutes; *do not utterly forsake me.

Beth

In quo corrigit?

9How shall a young man cleanse his way? *By keeping to your words.

10With my whole heart I seek you; *let me not stray from your commandments.

11I treasure your promise in my heart, *that I may not sin against you.

12Blessed are you, O Lord; *instruct me in your statutes.

13With my lips will I recite *all the judgments of your mouth.

14I have taken greater delight in the way of your decrees *than in all manner of riches.

15I will meditate on your commandments *and give attention to your ways.

16My delight is in your statutes; *I will not forget your word.

Gimel

Retribue servo tuo

17Deal bountifully with your servant, *that I may live and keep your word.

18Open my eyes, that I may see *the wonders of your law.

19I am a stranger here on earth; *do not hide your commandments from me.

20My soul is consumed at all times *with longing for your judgments.

21You have rebuked the insolent; *cursed are they who stray from your commandments!

22Turn from me shame and rebuke, *for I have kept your decrees.

23Even though rulers sit and plot against me, *I will meditate on your statutes.

24For your decrees are my delight, *and they are my counselors.

Daleth

Adhaesit pavimento

25My soul cleaves to the dust; *give me life according to your word.

26I have confessed my ways, and you answered me; *instruct me in your statutes.

27Make me understand the way of your commandments, *that I may meditate on your marvelous works.

28My soul melts away for sorrow; *strengthen me according to your word.

29Take from me the way of lying; *let me find grace through your law.

30I have chosen the way of faithfulness; *I have set your judgments before me.

31I hold fast to your decrees; *O Lord, let me not be put to shame.

32I will run the way of your commandments, *for you have set my heart at liberty.

He

Legem pone

33Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, *and I shall keep it to the end.

34Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; *I shall keep it with all my heart.

35Make me go in the path of your commandments, *for that is my desire.

36Incline my heart to your decrees *and not to unjust gain.

37Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; *give me life in your ways.

38Fulfill your promise to your servant, *which you make to those who fear you.

39Turn away the reproach which I dread, *because your judgments are good.

40Behold, I long for your commandments; *in your righteousness preserve my life.

Waw

Et veniat super me

41Let your loving-kindness come to me, O Lord, *and your salvation, according to your promise.

42Then shall I have a word for those who taunt me, *because I trust in your words.

43Do not take the word of truth out of my mouth, *for my hope is in your judgments.

44I shall continue to keep your law; *I shall keep it for ever and ever.

45I will walk at liberty, *because I study your commandments.

46I will tell of your decrees before kings *and will not be ashamed.

47I delight in your commandments, *which I have always loved.

48I will lift up my hands to your commandments, *and I will meditate on your statutes.

Zayin

Memor esto verbi tui

49Remember your word to your servant, *because you have given me hope.

50This is my comfort in my trouble, *that your promise gives me life.

51The proud have derided me cruelly, *but I have not turned from your law.

52When I remember your judgments of old, *O Lord, I take great comfort.

53I am filled with a burning rage, *because of the wicked who forsake your law.

54Your statutes have been like songs to me *wherever I have lived as a stranger.

55I remember your Name in the night, O Lord, *and dwell upon your law.

56This is how it has been with me, *because I have kept your commandments.

Heth

Portio mea, Domine

57You only are my portion, O Lord; *I have promised to keep your words.

58I entreat you with all my heart, *be merciful to me according to your promise.

59I have considered my ways *and turned my feet toward your decrees.

60I hasten and do not tarry *to keep your commandments.

61Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, *I do not forget your law.

62At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, *because of your righteous judgments.

63I am a companion of all who fear you *and of those who keep your commandments.

64The earth, O Lord, is full of your love; *instruct me in your statutes.

Teth

Bonitatem fecisti

65O Lord, you have dealt graciously with your servant, *according to your word.

66Teach me discernment and knowledge, *for I have believed in your commandments.

67Before I was afflicted I went astray, *but now I keep your word.

68You are good and you bring forth good; *instruct me in your statutes.

69The proud have smeared me with lies, *but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.

70Their heart is gross and fat, *but my delight is in your law.

71It is good for me that I have been afflicted, *that I might learn your statutes.

72The law of your mouth is dearer to me *than thousands in gold and silver.

Yodh

Manus tuae fecerunt me

73Your hands have made me and fashioned me; *give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.

74Those who fear you will be glad when they see me, *because I trust in your word.

75I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right *and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

76Let your loving-kindness be my comfort, *as you have promised to your servant.

77Let your compassion come to me, that I may live, *for your law is my delight.

78Let the arrogant be put to shame, for they wrong me with lies; *but I will meditate on your commandments.

79Let those who fear you turn to me, *and also those who know your decrees.

80Let my heart be sound in your statutes, *that I may not be put to shame.

Kaph

Defecit in salutare

81My soul has longed for your salvation; *I have put my hope in your word.

82My eyes have failed from watching for your promise, *and I say, “When will you comfort me?”

83I have become like a leather flask in the smoke, *but I have not forgotten your statutes.

84How much longer must I wait? *when will you give judgment against those who persecute me?

85The proud have dug pits for me; *they do not keep your law.

86All your commandments are true; *help me, for they persecute me with lies.

87They had almost made an end of me on earth, *but I have not forsaken your commandments.

88In your loving-kindness, revive me, *that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.

Lamedh

In aeternum, Domine

89O Lord, your word is everlasting; *it stands firm in the heavens.

90Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another; *you established the earth, and it abides.

91By your decree these continue to this day, *for all things are your servants.

92If my delight had not been in your law, *I should have perished in my affliction.

93I will never forget your commandments, *because by them you give me life.

94I am yours; oh, that you would save me! *for I study your commandments.

95Though the wicked lie in wait for me to destroy me, *I will apply my mind to your decrees.

96I see that all things come to an end, *but your commandment has no bounds.

Mem

Quomodo dilexi!

97Oh, how I love your law! *all the day long it is in my mind.

98Your commandment has made me wiser than my enemies, *and it is always with me.

99I have more understanding than all my teachers, *for your decrees are my study.

100I am wiser than the elders, *because I observe your commandments.

101I restrain my feet from every evil way, *that I may keep your word.

102I do not shrink from your judgments, *because you yourself have taught me.

103How sweet are your words to my taste! *they are sweeter than honey to my mouth.

104Through your commandments I gain understanding; *therefore I hate every lying way.

Gospel

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John 14:23–26

23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. 25 ”I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

Wisdom 7:24–8:1

24 For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things. 25 For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. 26 For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. 27 Although she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets; 28 for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom. 29 She is more beautiful than the sun, and excels every constellation of the stars. Compared with the light she is found to be superior, 30 for it is succeeded by the night, but against wisdom evil does not prevail. 1 She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other, and she orders all things well.