I had a share in the image {of God}; I did not keep it; He partakes of my flesh that He may both save the image and make the flesh immortal. He communicates a second Communion far more marvellous than the first, inasmuch as then He imparted the better Nature {through breathing His breath into man}, whereas now Himself partakes of the worse {through taking on our flesh}. This is more godlike than the former action, this is loftier in the eyes of all men of understanding.
(Oration 38:13)
...the Good Shepherd, He who lays down His life for His sheep, came to seek for that which had strayed upon the mountains and the hills... and found the wanderer; and having found it, took it upon His shoulders... and having taken it, brought it back to the higher life; and having carried it back, numbered it amongst those who had never strayed (cf. Jn 10:11; Lk. 15:3-7). Because He lighted a candle--His own Flesh--and swept the house, cleansing the world from sin; and sought the piece of money, the Royal Image that was covered up by passions. And He calls together His Angel friends on the finding of the coin, and makes them sharers in His joy... (cf. Lk 15:8-10)
(Oration 38:14)
...God is seen by men; on the one hand through His own descent from His lofty abode, on the other through His drawing us up from our abasement on earth, that the Incomprehensible may be in some degree, and as far as is safe, comprehended by a mortal nature. For in no other way is it possible for the denseness of a material body and an imprisoned mind to come into consciousness of God, except by His assistance. Then therefore all men do not seem to have been deemed worthy of the same rank and position; but one of one place and one of another, each, I think, according to the measure of his own purification.
(Oration 45:11)
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