Gregory Nazianzus: Human Life is Brief

This Sunday we will be looking at Psalm 103, which includes the following verses:

¹⁵As for man, his days are like grass;
   he flourishes like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
   and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷ But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
   and his righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸ to those who keep his covenant
   and remember to do his commandments.

A well known figure in church history is Gregory Nazianzus. His brother Caesarius died around A.D. 369 and for the funeral Gregory said this as part of his speech there:

Such, my brethren, is our existence, who live this transient life, such our pastime upon earth: we come into existence out of non-existence, and after existing are dissolved. We are unsubstantial dreams, impalpable visions, like the flight of a passing bird, like a ship leaving no track upon the sea, a speck of dust, a vapour, an early dew, a flower that quickly blooms, and quickly fades. As for man his days are as grass, as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. Well hath inspired David discoursed of our frailty, and again in these words, "Let me know the shortness of my days;" and he defines the days of man as "of a span long." 

Gregory takes his cues from David here. What a sobering reminder of our mortality.
Come this Sunday at 10am to hear more about this!

 SOURCE: Gregory Nazianzus: Panegyric On His Brother S. Caesarius.Oration 7.19.