THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Cyril. The regulations for the offerings made by the Israelites are clear; additionally, he established the sacrifice for the sacred lineage, stating, ‘This is the offering of Aaron and his sons, which they shall offer to the Lord on the day of his anointing: A tenth part of an ephah of wheat flour for a continual sacrifice, half of this for the morning and half for the evening; in a pan in oil it shall be cooked; when it is soaked in oil bring it in pieces, as a grain offering is broken in pieces; bring it in a pleasant savour unto the Lord; and the priest anointed in his place of his sons shall perform these things: this is the everlasting statute of the Lord. All it shall be burnt; and every grain offering of the priest shall all be burnt, and not eaten’ (Leviticus 6:20-23).
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Pay close attention, Palladius, to the precision of this law and the profound understanding embedded in its sacred consistency. Notice that he did not command the offerings from the congregation to be burnt for them, since the life of the congregation is not entirely sanctified; it exists, as it were, between God and worldly matters. He rightly elevated those chosen for the priesthood, commanding that their sacrifice be wholly burnt, with the wheat flour presented as an offering to God consistently throughout the day: For he who is holy consistently and ceaselessly offers spiritual incense, entirely dedicated to their Master and proclaiming: ‘I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me’ (Galatians 2:19-20). The tenth part of the ephah of wheat flour symbolizes a life that is pleasing to God at all times. The phrase ‘in a pan’ and ‘bring it in pieces, fed with oil’ suggests to me a connection to suffering through the pan, while the inclusion of oil hints at joy’s abundance. The command to present it ‘in pieces’ indicates the compassion and comfort of the saints: since the life of the saint is invariably accompanied by perseverance in labor, an abundance of hope in God, and deep comfort. Its least aspect is its indestructibility, for it is written: ‘A broken and humble heart will not be despised by God’ (Psalm 50:19). However, to the hard-hearted, it remains immovable, akin to a stone, as asserted in sacred texts (Job 41:15). This law is everlasting, continued through the unbroken line of the priesthood. We should emulate the commendable deeds of our forebears, replicating the glory of our ancestors as we tread in the path of their service, offering to God a most pleasing aroma, united in our efforts. This seems to express the meaning behind the statement, ‘Every grain offering of the priest shall be burnt entirely.’ Palladius. Thus, we ought to present ourselves and dedicate ourselves to God in sweet fragrance, following the examples of the saints and mirroring their spiritual deeds. Cyril. Indeed, Palladius.