Homilies on Luke

Homily 14. Luke 2.21-24

HOMILY 14 Luke 2.2I-24 On the passage from, "But, when the days ofhis circumcision werefulfilled, " to the point where it says, "a pair of turtle doves or two young doves. " HEN CHRIST DIED, "he died to sin"l-not that he himselfsinned ; "for he did not commit sin, and treachery was not found in his mouth."2 He died so that, once he had died to sins, we who were dead might no longer live to sin and vices. Hence Scripture says, "If we have died with him, we shall also live with him."3So, when he died, we died with him, and, when he rose, we rose with him. So too we were circumcised along with him. After the circumcision, we were cleansed in a solemn purification. Hence, we have no need at all for a circumcision of the flesh. You should know that he was circumcised on our account. Listen to Paul's clear proclamation . He says, "All the fullness of divinity dwells in him bodily. You are filled in him, who is the head of every rule and power. In him you have been circumcised by a circumcision done without hands, when the body of the flesh was despoiled in the circumcision of Christ. We were buried with him in Baptism, and we have risen up with him through faith in the work of God, who raised him from the dead."4 Therefore, his death, his resurrection, and his circumcision took place for our sake. 2. Scripture says, "When the days for circumcising the child had been fulfilled, his name was called 'Jesus,' which he had 1. Rom 6.10. 3. Rom 6.8. 56 2. 1 Pt 2.22. 4. Col 2.9-12. HOMILY 14 57 been called by the angel before he was conceived."5The word 'Jesus" is glorious, and worthy of all adoration and worship. It is "the name above every name."6It was not fitting that this name should first be given by men or brought into the world by them, but by some more excellent and greater nature. The evangelist indicated this when he added, "His name was called Jesus,' which he had been called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.'" 3. Then the Gospel says, "When the days of their purification were fulfilled, according to the law ofMoses, they brought him into Jerusalem."8The passage says, on account of "their" purification. Who are "they"? If Scripture had said, "on account of 'her' purification"-that is, Mary's, who had given birth-then no question would arise.9 We would say confidently that Mary, who was a human being, needed purification after childbirth. But the passage reads, "the days oftheir purification ." Apparently it does not signify one, but two or more. Did Jesus therefore need purification? Was he unclean, or polluted with some stain? Perhaps I seem to speak rashly; but the authority ofScripture prompts me to ask. See what is written in the book ofJob: "No man is clean of stain, not even if his life had lasted but a single day. "'0The passage does not say, "No man is clean of sin," but, "No man is clean of stain." "Stain" and "sins" do not mean the same thing. "Stain" is one thing, "sin" another. Isaiah teaches this clearly when he says, "The Lord will wash away the stains of the sons and daughters ofZion, and he will cleanse the blood from their midst. By the spirit ofjudgment he will purge the stain, and by the spirit of burning the blood."" 4. Every soul that has been clothed with a human body has its own "stain."'2 ButJesus was stained through his own will, because he had taken on a human body for our salvation. 5. Lk 2.21. 7. Lk 2 . 21. g. Cf. Homilies on Leviticus 8.2. 11. Is 4-46 . PhiI2.g. 8. Lk 2.22. lo.Jb 14.4-5. 12. Cf. Homilies on Leviticusg.6-4- Cf. also Tertullian, Against Marcion 3.7.6 and Against theJews 14·7. 58 ORIGEN Listen to the prophet Zechariah. He says, 'Jesus was clothed with stained garments."13 Zechariah says this to refute those who deny that our Lord had a human body, but say that his body was made of heavenly and spiritual substance.!4 They say this bodywas made ofheavenly matter or, they falsely assert, of sidereal...