THE HEXAEMERON:
Meditations of St. Basil The Great
THE FOURTH DAY
Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmaments of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth," and it was so. Then God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the fourth day."
In
the same way, the luminous bodies have been fashioned as a vehicle for
that pure, clear, and immaterial light. The Apostle speaks to us of certain
light which shines in the world without being confounded with the true
light of the world, the possession of which made the saints luminaries
of the souls, which instructed and drew from the darkness of ignorance.
This is why the Creator of all things, made the sun in addition to that
glorious light, and placed it shining in the heavens.
And this is precisely what Scripture says, "God divided the light from the darkness." Thus, darkness fled at the approach of light, the two being at their first creation divided by a natural antipathy. Now God commanded the sun to measure the day, and the moon, whenever she rounds her disc, to rule the night. For then these two luminaries are almost diametrically opposed; when the sun rises, the full moon disappears from the horizon, to reappear in the east at the time the sun sets. It matters little to our subject if in other phases the light of the moon does not correspond exactly with night. It is nonetheless true that when at its perfection it makes the stars to turn pale and lightens up the earth with the splendor of its light, it reigns over the night, and in concert with the sun divides the duration of it in equal parts.
But enough on the greatness of the sun and moon. May He, who has given us intelligence to recognize in the smallest objects of creation the great wisdom of the Contriver, make us find in great bodies a still higher idea of their Creator. However, compared with their Author, the sun and moon are but a fly and an ant. The whole universe cannot give us a right idea of the greatness of God; and it is only by signs, weak and slight in themselves, often by the help of the smallest insects and of the least plants, that we raise ourselves to Him. Content with these words let us offer our thanks, I to Him who has given me the ministry of the Word, you to Him who feeds you with spiritual food; Who, even at this moment, makes you find in my weak voice the strength of barley bread. May he feed you forever, and in proportion to your faith grant you the manifestation of the Spirit in Jesus Christ our Lord, to Whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
Selected Readings from the Hexaemeron