Sermons 249 part 5/5

Why do we suppose this number is recorded in the loaves? I judge that by the gift of Christ's grace seven Churches were established, through whose sevenfold number all peoples are fed in Christ; but also seven baskets remain full, because the grace of the Churches is never diminished, but they are always heaped up by the bounty of the Holy Spirit. This sevenfold Church holds within itself a perfect number, just as also the seven days are completed in the perfection of the world, and seven thousands of years are said to be set for the consummation of this same world. For in the Apocalypse (chap. 5) also seven eyes of the Lord are spoken of, which behold the world, and seven stars in the hands of God.

For thus the seven baskets are shown to remain full, so that the Churches may ever be known to be full of the grace of Christ. Likewise concerning the blind man given light, it was said in what follows, that again the Lord Jesus Christ, seeing a man blind from his birth, healed him thus: 'He spat,' it says, 'on his eyes, and laid his hand upon him, and asked him if he saw anything; and he said: I see men as trees, walking.' And again he laid his hand, and he saw all things clearly. This blind man, to whom his birth had not given light, but who had received a shipwreck of sight in his very birth, now obtains healing from the Lord:

the true light of our Saviour, who enlightened his eyes and their darkness, removed the captivity of his sight, and granted him the vision of free light. After long darkness, irradiated by the onrush of light, at first with wavering eyes he saw as it were trees walking; then, when the touch was repeated... just as the first... they received... this one first received... Simon, who is called Peter; to the son... and Israel... to reckon the names... Moses did not say the first held... in simple discourse held... Simon... but now, granting great pre-eminence and singular honour to blessed Peter, the Evangelist says:

'First Simon, who is called Peter,' and Peter is interpreted 'clothed over' — clothed over those things which are in the law, with the purity of grace, on account of which he was pastor of the Church, and moreover pastor of the flock. 'Feed,' Jesus said to him, 'my sheep' (John 21). Therefore a disciple, and foundation of the Church, and apostle, and moreover a martyr, he was crucified head downward at Rome: for all these things he was doubly crowned. Therefore fittingly is Peter interpreted 'clothed over.' Andrew his brother is interpreted 'shut in'... then... is interpreted 'encompassed'... enduring pain, in which indeed... death, and he despised the pain.

When his head was cut off by Herod... in this he encompassed... the unjust devil, when he swiftly passed from this world into the heavenly kingdoms, and John his brother. For John is interpreted 'obedient to the Lord.' And who so obeyed the Lord as John himself, who was commanded to follow him, and reclined upon the breast of the Lord? He too was surnamed 'son of thunder' together with James, as one destined by spiritual and heavenly power to thunder at the last in the holy Church. But after these Philip, who is interpreted 'confounded,' yet nonetheless living; whence Paul also says: 'We are made a spectacle to this world; and as it were the refuse...'

Now also Bartholomew is interpreted 'most beloved son.' For this reason therefore he called him to the apostolate, and named him a most beloved son. Would that we all too might conduct ourselves in the adoption of sons, that we may be numbered among the most beloved sons of God. Then Thomas, who is interpreted 'abyss,' or 'depth,' or 'unsearchable,' like a vessel of the Holy Spirit, as it were a temple of the Paraclete, who searches all things, who seeks out all the deep things in those things that have been made, both among angels and among men. And Matthew, who is interpreted 'gift of life.' For the most magnificent Matthew was made a twofold gift of life to this world;

both in that he was an apostle, and in that he was an evangelist. For the Hebrews specially he wrote this Gospel in Hebrew, and for the Gentiles specially, through which this Gospel was proclaimed to the Gentiles. But 'Matthew,' he says, 'the publican'... naming from his father, or from his grandfather, or from his royal... nation. But yourself, O blessed Matthew, from the publican: for what reason do you accuse Matthew, O blessed evangelist? Why do you rebuke the evangelist? O blessed apostle, and most truly a disciple of the Lord, for what reason do you not spare yourself? 'I,' he says, 'am called Matthew the evangelist, and I am most certainly an apostle.' Therefore I do not cut down Matthew, but much more I magnify him, that he from a publican should become an apostle;

nor do I rebuke the evangelist, but rather praise him as a wonderful herald of the truth. It is therefore not so great a thing that someone should be good among the good, but this is exceedingly splendid, that someone should be shown to be good among the wicked. I call myself a publican, that all may believe that this writing of mine is most truthful, and my preaching without flattery. For I do not speak of myself... nor will I speak. If I do not speak in flattery of myself, how shall I speak in flattery of him concerning whom I make this preaching, that is, of the Only-begotten God? Matthew the publican. But James the son of Alphaeus, which is interpreted 'circumventing doctrine,' not only he, but also all the blessed apostles, through spiritual doctrine circum-

-encompassed first the devil, then all the wise of this world. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. Thaddaeus in the beginning was called by his parents Lebbaeus, which is 'heart, discipline, mind'; he received the increase of this name. When Thaddaeus was called by the Lord, which is 'praise of life,' as though praising eternal life to many, or praising and evangelizing the Lord himself, who is the eternal life of all. Then Simon the Canaanite, which is 'obedience,' or 'prepared,' as blessed Simon was, and all the apostles, both obedient and prepared. Therefore he quickly obeyed the Lord, and readily followed after him, as did the others. And we too, dearest brethren, ought to be obedient and prepared...

lest there be need of a good discourse... walking in the footsteps of the most blessed apostles, that we may be able to obtain rest in the day of concealment. But let us not be silent about Judas either, inasmuch as the blessed evangelist did not pass him over. 'Judas,' he says, 'Iscariot, who also betrayed him,' last of all, hindmost of all, worthily and fittingly, as one preparing this for himself, as one providing this for himself; and it is not only a great thing that he is named last, but it is an infinite longsuffering, that he too should be named here at all. 'Judas,' he says; which is interpreted 'confessing of his own accord.' What did he confess? That he betrayed just blood. 'I have sinned,' he says, 'in that I have betrayed just blood' (Matt. 27). You yourself confess, O Judas;

but you confess too late, but you confess wickedly. Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him — not only, that is, is he himself confounded and dishonoured on account of his own wicked audacity, but also his province and the region in which he was born, which is called Iscarioth; through his occasion, therefore, it is named, and bears rebuke and carries a curse, because it produced such a one. As therefore the provinces and nations of the saints are magnificently exalted and honoured because of them, so likewise the nations of the unjust are remembered unto their generations for the greater rebuke of those who sprang from thence. These twelve apostles Jesus now sent to enlighten the dark things, to correct the crooked things,

to seek out the things that are lost, to enlighten this world, and to convert all into the way of life. These twelve Jesus sent to teach all men religion, to enlighten all with faith, to commend to all the singular sovereignty of the unbegotten Father, to demonstrate to all the obedience of this sent Son, to make manifest to all the singular illumination of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. These twelve therefore Jesus sent, charging them and saying: 'Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and enter not into the cities of the Samaritans' (Matt. 10).