THEOSISGregory the Great
My bones cling to my skin; my flesh has withered away (Job 19:20). The term 'bones' represents strength, while 'flesh' reflects the body's frailty. Hence, considering that Christ and the Church are united as one entity, what do 'bones' symbolize if not the Lord Himself? And what does 'flesh' signify if not the saved disciples, who in His hour of suffering displayed weakness? The 'skin,' which is more exposed than the flesh, symbolizes the holy women who, to ensure the preservation of His body, served Him through their outward acts of devotion. When His disciples were spreading the faith among people, the flesh was close to His bones; at the same time, the holy women, by making preparations for essential needs, acted as 'skin' surrounding the body.
Read more (485 words)
Yet, during the time of the Cross, overwhelming fear due to the Jewish persecution gripped His disciples, causing them to flee, while the women stayed close to Him. Thus, in a sense, the 'flesh' had departed, and 'the Lord's bones were clothed with His skin,' because the women remained steadfast by His strength when the disciples abandoned Him during His Passion. Peter, for a time, stayed nearby but ultimately denied Him out of fear. John also remained, to whom it was spoken at the moment of the Cross, "Behold thy mother" (Jn 19:27), but he could not persist. Consequently, it is noted that "a certain young man followed Him, wrapping a linen cloth around his naked body; but the soldiers seized him. And he left the covering and fled from them naked" (Mark 14:51-52). Though he later returned to hear the words of his Savior at the hour of the Cross, he initially experienced fear and fled. In contrast, the women neither succumbed to fear nor fled; instead, they stood alongside Him and buried Him. Thus, we can say, "My bones cling to my skin; my flesh has withered away," indicating that "those who followed Me and were close to Me in My strength during My Passion have departed in terror, while those I appointed for outward service remained steadfast and united with Me without fear." It is evident that the words that follow have a deeper, mystical meaning: "And the lips only remained about my teeth" (Job 19:20). What is represented by 'about our teeth,' if not 'lips,' even when we are not beset by trials and tribulations? And what do 'lips' symbolize if not the power of speech, while 'teeth' represent the holy Apostles? They were established within the Church's body to correct the life of the flesh and to break it away from its hardness and obstinacy. Hence, it was said to the foremost Apostle, set as a tooth within His Body, "Stab and eat" (Acts 10:13). However, during His Passion, these 'teeth,' fearing death, lost their power of correction, their confidence, and the effectiveness of all practices. Thus, when two of them, after His death and resurrection, remarked, "And we hoped it should be he that should deliver Israel" (Lk 24:21), it can be appropriately stated here that "And the lips only remained about my teeth." They continued to speak of Him, but their belief in Him had waned. Hence, "the lips only remained about my teeth," for they had parted with the strength of effective deeds and retained only words about Him. They had lost the power of correction and were left with mere speech. Thus, "lips only remained about my teeth," since although they knew how to talk about Him, they feared speaking boldly or correcting the wayward paths of non-believers. In concluding his discourse as the Head of the Church, blessed Job returns to his own expression, stating: