Voices ever ancient, ever new. Wednesday-Week24-2013

“They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’” (Luke 7:32)

In commenting on this verse from the Gospel according to Saint Luke from today’s Mass Readings, Saint Cyril of Alexandria writes:

“The prophet’s words will apply to us, “Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil. Who call bitter sweet and sweet bitter. Who put light for darkness, and darkness for light.” This was the character of the Israelites and especially of those who were their chiefs, the scribes, namely, and Pharisees. Christ said about them, “To what shall I liken the men of this generation? (Commentary on Luke, Homily 39)”