Catholic Radio Dramas

The Word Of The Father

From a Discourse “Against the Pagans” by Saint Athanasius Archbishop of Alexandria (297-373)

The Word of the Father Gives Order, Direction and Unity to Creation

Narrated by Frank Dugan, Huntington Beach, California

By his own wisdom and Word, who is out Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the all-holy Father (whose excellence far exceeds that of any creature), like a skillful steersman guides to safety all creation, regulating and keeping it in being, as he judges right. It is right that creation should exist as he has made it and as we see it happening, because this is his will, which no one would deny. For if the movement of the universe were irrational, and the world rolled on in random fashion, one would be justified in disbelieving what we say. But if the world is founded on reason, wisdom and science, and is filled with orderly beauty, then it must owe its origin and order to none other than the Word of God.

He is God, the living and creative God of the universe, the Word of the good God, who is God in his own right. The Word is different from all created things: he is the unique Word belonging only to the good Father. This is the Word that created this whole world and enlightens it by his loving wisdom.

He who is the good Word of the good Father produced the order in all creation, joining opposites together, and forming from them one harmonious sound. He is God, one and only-begotten, who proceeds in goodness from the Father as from the fountain of goodness, and gives order, direction and unity to creation.

By his eternal Word, the Father created all things and implanted a nature in his creatures. He did not want to see them tossed about at the mercy of their own natures, and so be reduced to nothingness. But in his goodness he governs and sustains the whole of nature by his Word (who is himself also God), so that under the guidance, providence and ordering of the Word, the whole of nature might remain stable and coherent in his light. Nature was to share in the Father’s Word, whose reality is true, and be helped by him to exist, for without him it would cease to be. For unless the Word, who is the very image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, kept it in existence it could not exist. For whatever exists, whether visible or invisible, remains in existence through him and in him, and he is also the head of the Church, as we are taught by the ministers of truth in their sacred writings.

The almighty and most holy Word of the Father pervades the whole of reality, everywhere unfolding his power and shining on all things visible and invisible. He sustains it all and binds it together in himself. He leaves nothing devoid of his power but gives life and keeps it in being throughout all of creation and in each individual creature.

Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings

 

 

 

 

Saint Athanasius (d. c. 368) was born at Alexandria in 297, during the struggle between orthodox Christians and followers of the heresy of Arianism, one of the greatest threats Christianity ever faced. Athanasius was well educated especially in Sacred Scripture and theology. He was ordained a deacon and became secretary to Bishop Alexander in his native city about 318. Under several Emperors of the Roman Empire, Athanasius, after his election as bishop of Alexandria, was forced into five separate exiles due to his strong opposition to the schism threatened by the Arianists.

Athanasius was present at the Council of Nicaea which condemned Arianism and excommunicated Arius, its founder. Rulers of the Roman Empire during this conflict included Constantine followed by his sons Constantine II and Constans who jointly ruled a divided empire. These were followed by Emperor Julian the Apostate who was killed in 363 and followed by Emperor Jovian. Jovian died after only an eight-month reign and was followed by Emperor Valens, who banished all orthodox bishops in 365 but revoked the order four months later. During his seventeen years of on-and-off exile Athanasius was forced to flee into the desert where he was protected by the monks living there. The struggle against Arianism was eventually won, and Athanasius returned to his see. He spent the last seven years of his life in Alexandria and died there in 373. His efforts helped build the new Nicene party whose support eventually secured the triumph of orthodoxy over Arianism at the General Council of Constantinople in 381. He was declared a Doctor of the Church and is called the “champion of orthodoxy.” He aided the ascetic movement in Egypt and was the first to introduce knowledge of monasticism to the West. He wrote a number of outstanding works on the Incarnation and redemption and produced major treatises while in exile.