Homilies on Genesis and Exodus

Homily X

HOMILY X On Rebecca, when she went out to draw water and Abraham's servant met her SAAC, SCRIPTURE SAYS, "GREW'" and became strong, that is, Abraham's joy grew as he looked not at those things "which are seen, but at the things which are not seen."2 For Abraham did not rejoice about present things nor about the riches ofthe world and the activities of the age. But do you wish to hear why Abraham rejoiced? Hear the Lord saying to the Jews: "Abraham your father desired to see my day, and he saw it and was glad."3 In this way, therefore, "Isaac grew";4 that vision of Abraham, in which he saw the day of Christ, and the hope which is in Christ were increasing his joys. And would that you too might be made Isaac and be a joy to your mother the Church! But I fear that the Church is still bearing sons in sadness and sorrow. Or does it not cause her sadness and sorrow when you do not gather to hear the word of God? And scarcely on feast days do you proceed to the Church, and you do this not so much from a desire for the word as from a fondness for the festival and to obtain, in a certain manner, common relaxation. What then shall I do, to whom the dispensation of the word is committed?" Although I am "an unprofitable servant,"6 I have, nevertheless, received from the Lord "to distribute the measure of wheat to the master's servants."7 But behold what the word of the Lord adds: "to distribute the measure of wheat 1 Cf. Gn 21.8. 2 Cf. 2 Cor 4.18. 3 In 8.S6. 4 Cf. Gn 21.8. SCf. 1 Cor 9.17. 6 Cf. Lk 17.10. 7 Cf. Lk 12.42. 157 158 ORIGEN in due season."B What, then, shall I do? Where or when shall I find your due season? You spend most of this time, no rather almost all of it in mundane occupations; you pass some of it in the marketplace, some in business; one has time for the country , another for lawsuits, and no one or very few have time to hear the word of God. But why do I reproach you about occupations? Why do I complain about absences? Even when you are present and placed in the Church you are not attentive, but you waste your time on common everyday stories; you turn your backs to the word ofGod or to the divine readings. I fear that the Lord may say to you also that which is said through the prophet: "They turned their backs to me and not their faces."9 What, then, shall I do, to whom the ministry of the word is entrusted? The words which have been read are mystical. They must be explained in allegorical secrets. Can I throw "the pearls"l0 of the word of God to your deaf and averted ears? The Apostle did not do so. Forsee what he says: "You who read the Law," he says, "do not hear the Law. For Abraham had two sons," etc.,ll to which he adds: "Which things are allegorical."12 Did he open the secrets of the Law to those who neither read nor hear the Law? But he said to those who read the Law: "You do not hear the Law."13 How, then, shall I be able to open and make known the mysteries and allegories of the Law, which we are taught by the Apostle, to these for whom both the hearing and the reading of the Law are unknown? Perhaps I seem rather harsh to you, but I cannot "whitewash " a falling "wall."14 For I fear that which is written: "0 my 8 Lk 12.42. 9 Cf. Jer 39.33 (LXX). 10 Cf. Mt 7.6. II Gal 4.21-22. The quotation of Gal 4.21, as preserved here, conflates the reading ofthe Vulgate and that of the Greek text. The Vulgate reads: legem non legistis. The Greek text has: ton nomon ouk akouete. Both verbs play an important role in the exposition which follows. The verse is quoted in the same form in Gn. Hom. 7.2 (except that the verbs are perfect instead of present tense), but no comments are made there regarding either clause. 12 Gal 4.24. 13 Gal 4.21. 14 Cf. Ez...