Homilies on Luke

Homily 6. Luke 1.24-32

HOMILY 6 On the passagefrom, "But, when Elizabeth conceived, she kept herself hidden, " up to thepoint where it says, "He will be great. " HEN ELIZABETH CONCEIVED, "she kept herselfhidden for five months. She said, 'The Lord did this for me when he showed concern for me and took away the reason people reproach me."" I ask why she avoided public notice after she realized that she was pregnant.2 Unless I am mistaken, the reason is this. Even those who arejoined in marriage do not consider every season free for intercourse. At times they abstain from the use of marriage. If the husband and wife are both aged, it is a disgraceful thing for them to yield to lust and turn to mating. The decline of the body, old age itself, and God's will all inhibit this act. But Elizabeth had relations with her husband once again, because of the angel's word and God's dispensation.3 She was embarrassed because she was an old and feeble woman, and had gone back to what young people do. 2. Hence "she kept herself hidden for five months"-not until the ninth month, when childbirth was impending, but until Mary also conceived. When Mary conceived and came to Elizabeth, and "her greeting resounded in [her] ears, the child in [Elizabeth's] womb leapt for joy.'" Elizabeth prophesied . She was filled with the Holy Spirit. She spoke the words 1. Lk 1.24-25. 2. Cf. Ambrose, Exposition ofthe Gospel According to Luke 1.43. 3. The Greek word ot,tOvo~\la, literally "the management ofa household," was used by the Fathers to designate God's plan of salvation, and particularly the Incarnation.Jerome translated it with dispensatio. 4. Lk 1.44· 23 24 ORIGEN recorded in the Gospel account, and "these words spread through the entire hill country."5 A rumor spread among the people that Elizabeth bore a prophet in her womb, and that what she was carrying was greater than a man. Then she does not hide her condition. In full freedom she appears in public and rejoices, because she is bearing the precursor ofthe Savior in her womb. 3. Scripture then relates that, six months after Elizabeth conceived, "the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, to a Virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph of the house of David, and the Virgin's name was Mary."6Again I turn the matter over in my mind and ask why, when God had decided that the Savior should be born of a virgin, he chose not a girl who was not betrothed, but precisely one who was already betrothed.7 Unless I am mistaken , this is the reason. The Savior ought to have been born of a virgin who was not only betrothed but, as Matthew writes, had already been given to her husband, although he had not yet had relations with her.8 Otherwise, if the Virgin were seen growing big with a child, the state of virginity itself would be a cause of disgrace. 4. I found an elegant statement in the letter of a martyr-I mean Ignatius, the second bishop ofAntioch after Peter. During a persecution, he fought against wild animals at Rome. He stated, "Mary's virginity escaped the notice of the ruler of this age."gIt escaped his notice because ofJoseph, and because 5. Lk 1.65. 6. Lk 1.26-27. 7. Cf. Ambrose, Exposition ofthe Gospel According to Luke 2.1. 8. Cf. Mt 1.24. 9. Ignatius of Antioch, Ephesians 19.1. Origen quotes accurately but shortens the sentence. Ignatius wrote, "Now, Mary's virginity and her giving birth escaped the notice ofthe prince ofthis world, as did the Lord's death-those three secrets crying to be told, but wrought in God's silence," in the translation of Cyril C. Richardson (in Early Christian Fathers, LCC 1 [Philadelphia: Westminster, 1953], p. 93)· Ignatius'S meaning has long been disputed; see William R. Schoedel, Ignatius ofAntioch: A Commentary on the Letters (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1985) on the passage. Tradition makes Ignatius the third bishop ofAntioch, after Peter the Apostle and Evodius. Ignatius was condemned to death under Trajan (100-118) and transported to Rome for execution, probably about A.D. 110. Seven of his letters, written during his journey to Rome, are extant. Cf. also Ambrose , Exposition ofthe Gospel According to Luke 2.3. [13.58.150.59] Project MUSE (2024-04-19 22...