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HOMILY 5 Jeremiah 3.22–4.8 On “Return, you sons, and when you return I will heal your afflictions,” up to, “for these things gird yourselves with sackclothes.” t is written clearly in the Acts of the Apostles that the Apostles first came into the synagogues of the Jews,1 announcing to them, as descendents of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob,2 what had been written concerning the coming of Jesus Christ.3 But when these did not receive what was said, it was necessary that there be other hearers of what was said. Then after explaining to them, they left them. For it was written that there ought to be announced to you the word of God. But since you did not think yourselves worthy, behold we turn to the pagan nations.4 Though this is clearly mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, it has been said implicitly very often by the Prophets. For the Holy Spirit primarily speaks through the Prophets to those people, but if at some point, after having said many things, he is not heard, he prophesies to the pagan nations the word which was preached. (2) And this is also reflected at the beginning of what was read today, since it is said just before to those from Israel: “And you will call me father and not turn away from me, for as a wife shows disdain toward him who lives with her, so also the house of Israel has shown disdain toward me,” says the Lord.5 And when these statements concerning Israel were originally said and 40 1. Cf. Acts 13.14. 2. Cf. Acts 13.26. 3. Cf. Acts 13.33–35. 4. Cf. Acts 13.46. 5. Jer 3.19–20. HOMILY 5 41 the sons of Israel heard that 6 they were unrighteous in their ways and forgot their holy God,7 then the Holy Spirit next places the word among us who are from the pagan nations and says, Return ,8 you sons, and when you return I will heal your afflictions.9 For we are those who are filled with afflictions. For each, once cleansed and recovered from the afflictions, would say: We were once unbelieving, foolish, deceitful, slaves to many desires and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, a loathed people who hated others. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, by a washing of regeneration, he poured out his mercy upon us.10 And indeed, though that text of the Apostle was mentioned once before, I am persuaded to present it more clearly. For he did not say: “for we then were foolish and deceitful.” But Paul, the Apostle from Israel, one blameless according to the justice in the Law11 does say: For we also, those from Israel, were then deceitful, foolish.12 So not only those from the pagan nations13 were foolish, nor only those from the pagan nations were deceitful, nor only sinners, but we also, who have been taught the Law, were such before the coming of Christ. Thus, after the words are spoken to Israel, it is said to us from the pagan nations: Return, you sons, and when you return, I will heal your afflictions.14 6. “That” (o{ti), a correction of Cordier from LXX. S has e{n. 7. Jer 3.21. 8. “Return.” The words ejpistrevfein and ejpistrofhv have many levels of meaning and tone in such a work as this. The common English translation is “to convert.” While there are places where this seems right, I avoid it because it has certain unfortunate connotations. It has, for example, a very forceful religious tone and does not reflect the movement. Usually I translate with the more literal and root meaning: to turn back or to return (to where you once were). This translation also conforms to the idea in Origen’s thought of how souls were, before the fall, with God, and will “return” to God. 9. Jer 3.22. 10. An abridged version of Titus 3.3–6. 11. Phil 3.6. 12. Titus 3.3. 13. “From the pagan nations”: I have translated this phrase literally, since it is unlikely that Origen means to include all of those from the pagan nations, nor all of the Israelites, but only those “from” these peoples who do or will accept God’s invitation and teaching. 14. Jer 3.22. [3.145.119.199] Project MUSE (2024-04-24...

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