Sermons & Letters 25

CHAP. I. — Rejoice in the Lord, dearly beloved; again I say, rejoice (Philippians 4:4): since after a short interval of time following the solemnity of Christ's nativity, the festival of His manifestation has shone forth; and Him whom the Virgin bore on that day, the world acknowledged on this. For the Word made flesh (John 1:14) so tempered the beginnings of His taking-up of our nature, that Jesus, being born, was both manifest to believers and hidden from persecutors. Even then therefore the heavens declared the glory of God (Psalm 19:1) and the sound of truth went out into all the earth (Romans 10:18), when both an army of angels appeared to the shepherds as announcer of the Saviour brought forth (Luke 2:13), and a preceding star led the magi to adore Him (Matthew 2:2):

so that from the rising of the sun even to its setting the generation of the true king might shine forth, when both the kingdoms of the East learned the truth of the matter through the magi, and the Roman empire was not left in ignorance. For even the savagery of Herod, wishing to extinguish the beginnings of the king suspected by him, unknowingly served this dispensation; so that while, intent upon an atrocious crime, he pursues the child unknown to him by an indiscriminate slaughter of infants, the birth of the Ruler announced from heaven might be spoken of more notably everywhere — a birth which both the novelty of the heavenly sign and the impiety of the most bloody persecutor made men readier and more diligent to relate. But then the Saviour was carried into Egypt, that a nation given over to ancient errors might now be called to the nearby salvation through hidden grace;

and that which had not yet cast superstition out of its soul, might now receive the truth. CHAP. II. — Deservedly therefore, dearly beloved, this day, consecrated by the manifestation of the Lord, has obtained a special dignity in the whole world, which ought to shine forth in our hearts with worthy splendour, so that we may venerate the order of the deeds done not only by believing, but also by understanding. For how great a giving of thanks we owe to the Lord for the illumination of the nations, the blinding of the Jews proves. For what was so blind, what so alien to the light, as those priests and scribes of the Israelites were? who, when the magi inquired, and Herod asked, where Christ should be born according to the testimony of the Scriptures (Matthew

2:4), they answered this from the prophetic utterance, which the star from heaven was indicating. Which star could assuredly, Jerusalem being passed by, have led the magi by its own signification even to the cradle of the child, as it afterward did; had it not pertained to the confuting of the hardness of the Jews, that the nativity of the Saviour should become known not only by the guidance of the star, but also by their own profession. Already therefore the prophetic word was passing over to the instruction of the nations, and the hearts of foreigners were learning the Christ foretold by ancient oracles; while the unbelief of the Jews brought forth the truth with the mouth, and retained falsehood in the heart. For they were unwilling to acknowledge with their eyes Him whom they had pointed out from the sacred books:

so that Him whom they did not adore, lowly in the weakness of infancy, they might afterward crucify, shining in the sublimity of His mighty works. CHAP. III. — What is this knowledge in you, O Jews, so unlearned, and this teaching so untaught? Asked where Christ should be born (Matthew 2:4), you say truly and from memory what you have read: In Bethlehem of Judah (ibid. 5). For thus it is written by the prophet: And thou, Bethlehem, land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah. For out of thee shall come forth a prince who shall rule my people Israel (Micah 5:2). This prince, born, both the angels announced to the shepherds (Luke 2:13), and the shepherds announced to you (ibid. 18).

This newborn Prince the distant nations of the Eastern peoples came to know through the unusual splendour of a new star. And lest they should be uncertain about the birthplace of the King thus manifested, your own learning made known what the star did not teach. Why do you block for yourselves the road that you open for others? Why does doubt still reside in your unbelief, when the matter is made plain by your own answer? You demonstrate the place of the Nativity from the testimony of the Scriptures; you recognize the present moment from the witness of heaven and earth; and yet, where the mind of Herod blazed up to persecute, there your understanding hardened into refusal to believe. Happier, then, is the ignorance of the infants whom the persecutor slew than your knowledge, which took counsel only in its own confusion.

You were unwilling to receive His kingdom, though you were able to point out His town. They were able to die for Him whom they could not yet confess. Thus Christ, that no moment might be for Him without a miracle, exercised the power of the Word in silence before ever the tongue was used; and, as though He already said, 'Suffer the little ones to come unto Me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven' (Matt. xix, 14), a new glory crowned the infants, and He consecrated the first beginnings of little ones out of His own beginnings: so that it might be learned that no human being is incapable of the divine mystery, when even that tender age was fit for the glory of martyrdom.

Let us therefore acknowledge, dearly beloved, in the Magi who adored Christ the firstfruits of our own calling and faith, and with exulting spirits let us celebrate the beginnings of our blessed hope. For from that time we have begun to enter into the eternal inheritance; from that time the secrets of the Scriptures that speak of Christ were laid open to us; and the truth which the blindness of the Jews does not receive has carried its light to all the nations. Let us therefore honour that most sacred day on which the Author of our salvation appeared; and Him whom the Magi venerated as an infant in the cradle, let us adore as the Almighty in the heavens. And as they offered to the Lord from their treasures mystical kinds of gifts, so let us also bring forth from our hearts what is worthy of God.

For although He is Himself the bestower of all good things, yet He seeks also the fruit of our own diligence: for the kingdom of heaven does not come to those who sleep, but to those who labour and keep watch in the commandments of God; so that, if we do not render His gifts void, through the very things He has given we may deserve to receive what He has promised. Wherefore we exhort your charity that, abstaining from every evil work, you follow after the things that are chaste and just. For the children of light ought to cast off the works of darkness (Rom. xiii, 12). Therefore turn away from hatred, cast off lies, destroy pride by humility, trample down avarice, love generosity: for it is fitting that the members should agree with their head, that we may deserve to be sharers of the promised blessings;

through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, God, unto the ages of ages. Amen.