Homilies on Luke

Homily 16. Luke 2.33-34

HOMILY 16 Luke 2.33-34 On the passagefrom, "His father and mother were astonished at these things that were being said about him, " up to the point where it says, "Behold, he has been destined for thefalling and the rising ofmany in Israel. " HE GOSPEL SAYS, "And his father and mother were astonished at these things that were being said about him.'" Let us gather into one those things that were said and written aboutJesus at his birth. Then we shall be able to know the single points, each of which merits our astonishment . Wherefore, both his father-for Joseph has also been called this because he was his foster-father-and his mother were astonished at all that was being said about him. What are these things that had been reported about the infant Jesus? "There were shepherds in that region, who stayed awake and kept the night watch over their flock.'" At the very hour of Jesus' birth, an angel came and said to them, "I announce a great joy to you. Go and you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger."3 The angel had hardly finished speaking and behold, "a great number of the heavenly army'" began to praise and bless God. When the shepherds pondered this message anxiously and "the angel had left them, they said to one another, 'Let us go to Bethlehem and see the event that the Lord has revealed to us. ,,'s They went, and they found the infant. Both they and the parents were astonished at what had taken place. I. Lk 2.33. 3. Lk 2 . 10 and 12. 5. Lk 2.15· 65 2. Lk 2.8. 4. Lk 2.13· 66 ORIGEN 2. Moreover, Scripture also says of Simeon that he added toJesus' fame and even caused much of the amazement. For, he held the boy in his arms and said, "Now, Lord, you dismiss your servant in peace, according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation."6Simeon's discourse was the high point and, so to speak, the pinnacle of what was being said aboutJesus, and what his mother and father were astonished at. For, it was not enough for him to hold the infant and to speak the words that are recorded as his. He blessedJesus' father and mother, and also prophesied about the infant himself . He said, "Behold, this child has been destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that will be contradicted. And a sword will pierce your very soul to reveal the thoughts of many hearts.,,' 3. What does this passage mean? It says, "Behold, this child has been destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel." I found something similar to this written in the Gospel According to John. It says, "I came into this world for judgment , so that those who are blind might see, and those who see might become blind."8He came "for judgment," so that the blind among the Gentiles might see, and those of Israel who had previously had their sight might become blind.9 Thus too, he came "for the falling and the rising of many." For, at the coming of our Lord and Savior, those who previously had stood fell down, and those who had fallen rose up. This is one interpretation of what has been said: "Behold, this child has been destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel." 4. But there is also something more profound to be understood here, most especially in opposition to those who yelp against the Creator.10 From every place in the Old Testament, which they do not understand, they gather testimony "and deceive the hearts of the simple."11 They say, "Behold the god 6. Lk 2.29-30. 7. Lk 2·34-35. 8.Jn 9·39' 9· Cf. Homilies on Leviticus 3·1.2. 10. For Origen 's arguments against Marcion, cf., for example, Homilies on Exodus 6.9; Homilies on Numbers 19.2; and On First P1inciples 2.5. Crouzel notes that "yelp" is typical ofJerome; Origen did not insult his adversaries. 11. Rom 16.18. HOMILY 16 67 of the law and the prophets! See what sort of god he is! He says, 'I shall kill and 1shall make alive. 1shall strike and 1shall heal. There...