CHAPTER 2
THE BIRTH OF THE HEAVENLY FRIEND
Finding no place in the in inn to be born in, He came to us in a manger; but opened the gates of heaven, to let the simple shepherds hear the angelic voice congratulate them for the great joy that dwelt upon the whole people. Being brought as a babe into the temple, he opened the eyes of Simon the elder, who, perceiving the light proclaimed to the nations, he joyfully longed to set forth to paradise; And opened up the tongue of the prophetess Anna to sing a hymn of praise; And in his 12 years of age, He entered the temple to impress the elders by His teachings.
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1- The birth of our Heavenly Friend |
1 – 7 |
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2- Giving the good tidings to the shepherds |
8 – 20 |
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3- The circumcision of the Lord |
21 |
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4- Offering a sacrifice |
22 – 24 |
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5- The hymn of praise, sung by Simon the elder |
25 – 35 |
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6- The hymn of praise by Anna, daughter of Phenoel |
36 – 37 |
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7- The return to Nazareth |
39 – 40 |
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8- Jesus in the temple
1- THE BIRTH OF OUR HEAVENLY FRIEND: |
41 – 52 |
In the last chapter we saw God’s amazing plan to prepare for the birth of our heavenly friend; We saw how heaven opened up to send the archangel Gabriel to give the good news of the birth of John the forerunner of the Lord to his father Zecharias; and to enunciate the good news of the holy conception to the girl of Nazareth… ; We saw how Elizabeth was filled with the Holy
Spirit when she heard the voice of greeting of Mary, and how the fetus exultingly leaped in her womb................ ; We saw how
Zecharias’ tongue opened up to sing praise of thanks to God, and to bless the God of Israel, not for the sake of the birth of John, but rather for Him, for whom John came to prepare the way; as by the eye of prophecy, he saw how the fathers and prophets who departed, exult on the fulfillment of God’spromise of the coming of the Savior Messiah. Now he simply talks about the
birth of the Lord, to tell us how God used even the human tools (like the Roman census, made the Jewish way), to realize His divine goals, and to fulfill the prophecies. The Evangelist says:
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David” (1- 4)
In the days of Emperor Cais, or Octavius Caipias, whom the senate granted him the title ‘Augustus’, meaning in Latin (the reverend); the decree was issued that all the world, namely all the countries under the Roman dominion, should be registered, to satisfy the ego of the emperor, to show off the extension of his authority; and to help him collect the taxes. According to the Roman style, the census could be carried out in any place without the need for any one to go to the city where he was born; but as a compliment to the Jews, it was done the Jewish way. So Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem to be registered, for being of the house and the lineage of David; a task difficult on the elder Joseph and on the pregnant Mary; specially when the city was so crowded by those who came to do the same. Finding no place for themselves in the inn, they had to spend the night in a manger, where Mary had to deliver her firstborn.
According to appearances, all those circumstances came according to the Emperial decree of census, done according to the Jewish style; but the hidden fact is that all happened according to a divine plan which the prophets have previously proclaimed,
saying: “But you Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me, the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5: 2).
The following are the comments of some fathers on the verses 1 -4:
+ “A decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should register”
Which implies that Christ was born in Bethlehem during the reign of Augustus Caesar. Someone may wonder why the Evangelist cared to mention all those details, as happening during the reign of Augustus Caesar. The answer for this is that it was imperative to fix the date when the Savior was born; being written: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah; nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people” (Genesis 49: 10). And it was to teach us that, at the birth of the Redeemer, there was no king of the house of David on Israel; for Judah in that era was under the dominion of he Romans.
+ “Because he (Joseph) was of the house and lineage of David”
The Holy Book referred to Joseph’s lineage to King David; a reference which implies that the virgin Mary, as well, was from the tribe of Judah; on account of that, according to the divine statutes marriage had to be carried out within the same tribe; namely the man and the woman, to marry, had to belong to the same tribe. This was also confirmed by the interpreter of the divine facts, the great apostle Paul, who testified that: ”It is evident that our Lord arose from Judah” (Hebrew 7: 14)
+ “With Mary his betrothed wife, who was with child” (5)
According to the holy Evangelists, Mary was betrothed to Joseph; which indicates that the pregnancy took place during the period of betrothal, and that ‘Emanuel’ was born by a miracle that contradicts the natural laws. The virgin Mary did not conceive by a human seed; for, according to the holy books, Christ is “the Firstborn of all”; and He is “the second Adam”, who was born by the Holy Spirit, to convey to us by His spiritual birth, the grace and the Truth; as God intended for us to be, not any more, the children of man, but the children of God our Savior, according to the new spiritual birth, first by Christ who precedes us, being “The Firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1: 15).
(St. Cyril the Great)
+ What would be my benefit to read this narration about how the first census was carried out in the days of Augustus Caesar, when Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem among those crowd, to register in that record of the census, the coming of Jesus Christ to the world?!
As His coming to the world implied a super-natural secret, the name of Jesus had to be registered in that census, together with everyone else; to save all mankind, to sanctify them, and to grant them to live, with Him, one and the same life! By such a register, God intended to register, together with Him, all whose names are in the book of life (Philippians 4: 3), “to rejoice because their names are written in heaven” (Luke 10: 20), together with the saints.
(The scholar Origen)
+ What is the relationship between issuing a decree from a human authority, and the birth of Christ, but to proclaim the divine ordinance! For the human decree had the divine will as its source ; and had to be carried out in the name of the heavenly King and not the earthly one.
That decree of census did not actually come from Augustus Caesar, by from Christ to the whole world.............. ; “For the
earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness; the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 23: 1).
(St. Ambrose)
St. Joseph, together with St. Mary, went forth to Bethlehem, meaning (the house of the bread), for there, “The Bread of Life” was to be
born ………His name was registered together with all men in the census, to partake of everything with us, for in the census
He was counted as one of us; even though, later on, “He was numbered among the transgressors” (Isaiah 53: 12), to have us counte in
His divine book as His friends.
“While they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped
Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (6, 7)
The following are comments by some fathers on the expressions: “Her firstborn Son”; and on that “He was born in a manger”:
+ Here we say that every “only begotten son” is a firstborn; but not every firstborn is “an only begotten son”. We understand that the word ‘firstborn’, does not imply that he will be followed by others; but implies that no one has preceded him in birth. God says to Aaron: “Everything that first opens the womb of all flesh, which they bring to the Lord, whether man or beast, shall be yours, nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem” (Numbers 18: 15). According to the words of God, the firstborn is the one who first opens the womb; or else, if the term only means he who has brothers younger than him, it would be impossible for the priests to decide who is the firstborn, until they see if there will be others following him; for if not, he would be firstborn, on account of that he is the only begottenson.
And according to the Holy Book, as well: “And those redeemed of the devoted things, you shall redeem when one month old according to your valuation, for five shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the Sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs. But the firstborn of a cow, the firstborn of a sheep, or a firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem, they are holy; ….. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar” (Numbers 18: 16, 17). So was the divine command to sanctify every firstborn that first opens the womb of the clean animals; but the unclean animals will be redeemed, and their price will be given to the priests Now, how can I, or the priest, discern if the animal is a first born; for it may, or may
not be followed by others. Shall I tell the priest, he has to wait until the matter becomes clear, or else, he shall get nothing from me ! Such would be foolishness; A firstborn is the first to open the womb, whether he will be followed
by others or not.
(ST. Jerome)
+ Her firstborn does not mean that he is a brother among many, but of the firstborns; for the divine books used the word the “firstborn”, or the “first” in many locations, yet mean by the word only one meaning; for it is written: “I am the First, and I am the Last; Beside Me there is no God” (Isaiah 44: 6).
The word ‘First’ is added to the born, to mean that the virgin had no son except for Jesus the Son of God, according to the inspiration saying: “Also I will make Him My Firstborn; the Highest of the kings of the earth” (Psalm 89: 27); and the apostle Paul says: “When He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him’” (Hebrew 1: 6).
How did Christ, the firstborn, enter into the world when He is above the world by His nature, and differs from the nature of men?
He enters into it when God became Man. And even though He is the only begotten Son of God, yet, for us, He is the firstborn, because we are all His brothers, by which we all became the sons of God.
Notice that Christ is called “the firstborn” according to us; and “the only begotten Son” according to the One God. Christ is the “only begotten Son” for He is the Word of the Father; with no one to partake of this sonhood with Him; for the Son is united to the Father; the One and only God; but Christ is “a firstborn” for us because He has chosen to condescend to the level of the natural creatures; hence you find the divine books refer to Christ the Son of God, as: “The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father” (John 1: 18). But when the Holy Book uses the word ‘the firstborn’, the holy Inspiration interpret it in what it implies,: “that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8: 29); and also: “the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1: 18), because He partook of everything in us except for sin; and because He is risen from the dead.
Besides, Christ, by His nature, is the only begotten Son of God; a God from God; an only begotten from an only begotten; and Light from Light. But He is the firstborn according to us, that whoever intends to be like Him will be saved by Him; for He is the firstborn, and we are His brethren.
(St. Cyril the Great)
+ Honor the manger; for even though man has lost sense (and became like an animal), in the manger he will find the Word as food.
(St. Gregory the Nezianzen)
+ Finding out that man has got down to the level of animal, God put Himself as food in the manger, so that, if we reject our animal nature, we would rise up to the level of understanding and perception befitting of the human nature. By approaching the manger, His special banquet, we shall find, not material food, but heavenly Bread – the living body.
(St. Cyril the Great)
+ He was born in the manger to lift you up to the altar.
He came down to earth to lift you up to heaven.
He found no place for Himself except in the manger, to prepare places for you in heaven (John 14: 2); and as the apostle says: “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8: 9). My inheritance is the poverty of Christ; and my strength is the weakness of Christ.
(St. Ambrose)
+ O monks!............... When the Lord was born on earth, He had no “cell” like you have, to be born in, nor a place in an inn.
The human race had their place; but the Lord when born had none. He found for Himself no place among men, neither in ‘Plato’, nor in “Aristotle’, but only in a manger, among the simple and the innocent. Hence, in the gospel, the Lord Himself says: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Lukeb9: 58).
(St. Jerome)
- GIVING THE GOOD TIDINGS TO THE SHEPHERDS:
The birth of the Lord Christ took place in a manger away from people, unheard of, for kings, and elites; nor perceived by priests, high priests, scribes, Pharisees, or Sadducees Even though the earth so received its Creator in utter silence; yet it was
not possible for heaven to do the same; for an angel came to a group of shepherds, faithfully watching over their herds; who, in the simplicity of their hearts might have been preoccupied with their salvation.
“He came to them, stood before them and the glory of God shone around them, and they were greatly afraid; Then the angel said to them: ’Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (10-12).
The following include comments by some fathers on that joyful tidings:
+ The prophets have proclaimed the Lord Christ being born according to the flesh, and taking the image of man in the fullness of times; And the heavenly creatures sang the song of joy and exultation for the birth of the Savior Redeemer. The shepherds in Bethlehem were the first to get the good tidings; being symbols of the spiritual shepherds to whom the Lord Jesus appears to preach His name everywhere, so did the shepherds of Bethlehem who preached Christ to their town, once they heard the pure angels sing the songs of joy and exultation.
The angels were, therefore, the first to declare the birth of Christ to the world, and to proclaim the glory of Christ, the incarnate God, amazingly born by a woman.
Someone may ask: How could the heavenly hosts glorify such a babe, covered with lowly swaddled cloths, and put in a manger, as God and Lord?!
Now, man! You should think deeply in this great mystery. Even though God appeared taking the body of man; yet he was never separated from His Godhead. Could you not understand that the only begotten Son of God,
incarnated and chose to be born by a woman for the sake of His love for us, to take away the curse that dwelt upon ‘Eve’ the first woman, to whom it was said: “In pain you shall bring forth children” (Genesis 3: 16).?!..................................................................................................................................... By the birth
Of the incarnate Emmanuel, that curse was taken away.
Besides, According to the apostle Paul: “For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit” (Roman 8: 3-4).
What is the meaning of “in the likeness of sinful flesh”?
It implies that the law of sin lies in the flesh, together with the vain evil desires, and the corrupt tendencies. But when Christ incarnated, and took on Himself our image, His flesh became holy and pure. Christ therefore, became like us, yet without our vain evil desires; and corrupt tendencies, that make us do the cursed, lowly, and mean things.
Whenever you happen to see the swaddled babe Jesus, do not look at Him in the flesh, but in His divine glory; and lift up your mind to the heaven of heavens to see His exalted glory “sitting on a throne, high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6: 1); and to hear the songs of the Seraphim presenting glory, honor, and worship, to the Lord Jesus Christ, who fills the earth with His glory and greatness.
You should look at the glory of Christ on earth, shining with light on the shepherds; while the multitude of angels sing the songs of joy and gladness. About which the prophet Moses, many centuries ago, prophesied, saying: ”Rejoice, O Gentiles with His people” (Deuteronomy 32: 44).
Many prophets have been born, but the angels were never so exulted in the birth of any of them, as they were in the birth of Christ; on account of that those prophets were humans like us, ministers of the Lord, and bearers of the Word; while this was not the case with Christ, the God and Lord, who sends the prophets and saints; as according to the psalmist: “Who, in the heavens, can be compared to the Lord?”(Psalm 89: 6). . Christ has chosen to grant us the grace of sonhood, we who are under the yoke of the world, and, with our nature, are servants; whereas, by His nature, Christ is the true Son of God the Father, even after His incarnation. For, as I already said, despite taking on a body that was not his before, He remained as He is; as confirmed by Isaiah who prophesied, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil And choose the good” (Isaiah 7: 14-15).
The meaning of all that is that Christ, while still a suckling babe, ate curds and honey; namely, being the incarnate God, He only knew the good, and was without the sin of man; a character only said of God, about whom is said: “No one is good
but One, that is God” (Luke 18; 19); Or according to the prophecy of Isaiah: “Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me: ‘Call his name: ‘Maher- Shalal-Hash-Baz’; for before the child shall have knowledge to cry, ‘My father’, and ‘My mother’, the riches of Damascus will be taken away” (Isaiah 8:
3, 4). By the birth of Christ the thorn of the devil was broken, and his camp was ravaged, where he had many followers in Damascus who worshipped him. But, once the virgin gave birth to Jesus Christ, the power of the devil deteriorated; and his unjust oppressive reign disappeared; for even the pagans themselves came to have knowledge of the appearance of the Morning Star -- the Lord Jesus; and their delegates -- the Magi -- travelled from the East to Jerusalem; with no guide but the star in heaven. Do not, therefore look at the babe born in the manger as just
a suckling, but look at Him as the great, rich, Savior God, and the Redeemer, mightier than the heavenly hosts; worthy to have them proclaim Hisbirth with joy, exultation, and gladness.................................................................................................................................... How beautiful they greeted the infant Jesus
with their songs.
(St. Cyril the Great)
+ Notice the roots of the birth of the Church;.................... Christ was born while the shepherds were watching over the
sheep coming from the Gentiles, in the fold of the Lord, against the probable attacks by the wild beasts; they were watching as the Good Shepherd taught them.
The sheep are the peoples; the night is the world; and the shepherds are the priests.
( St. Ambrose)
+ The angel of the Lord came down to proclaim the good tidings of His birth. He did not go to Jerusalem, nor sought the scribes and the Pharisees; or entered into the synagogue of the Jews; but sought shepherds watching the night watch over their herd.
+ The angel of the Lord came to the shepherds and talked to them............. Now, hear, O angels of the churches; the angel
of the Lord still comes down from heaven to proclaim to you, that ‘there is born to you this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord” . Yes indeed, if that Savior has not come, the shepherds of the churches would not be able to care for their herds on their own; and their care would be a failure, if Christ does not care for it together with them. Here we see how the apostles said, “We are the plantation of God”; the good shepherd is he who follows the lead of his Lord “the Good Shepherd”; who works together with God (the Father), and with Christ.
(The scholar Origen)
+ Behold, the archangels and the angels sing, in harmony; The cherubim sing their joyful songs of praise; and the Seraphim glorify Him;
All have united together to honor that glorified feast; all looking at God on earth, and man in heaven; They see Him who is from above dwell on earth for the sake of our salvation; and see man who belongs down, lifted up high by the divine mercies.
Behold, Bethlehem has become like heaven; there you hear the voices of hymns of praise sung by angels; and instead of the sun, there is the Sun of Righteousness shining on every side.
(St. John Chrysostom)
+ Today the watchers became happy; for the divine Watcher (Daniel 4: 13) came to wake us up................. Who can sleep
tonight, when the whole world is watching?!
Adam, through sin, brought sleep over the world; but the Watcher came down to wake us up from the sleep of sin.
+ Today the higher watchers united with the earthly ones; for the divine Watcher came to create watchers among the creation.
Behold, the earthly watchers became fellow-watchers with the higher ones, and they all sang hymns of praise together with the Seraphim.
Blessed is he who becomes a guitar to praise you; for Your grace will be his reward.
+ The higher watchers uttered peace to the earthly watchers.
The higher watchers came down to proclaim the joyful good tidings to the earthly watchers The higher and earthly watchers mixed together; all rejoiced because the world came to life.
(St.(Mar) Ephraim the Syrian)
Behold, God sent His angel to proclaim the great joy of the good tidings to the earthly watchers; Yet this angel was not just a messenger, but was a partner with humanity in their joy, together with all the heavenly hosts, for whom heaven opened its gate to let them go down to partake of our spiritual gladness. The Evangelist says:
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men’” (13, 14)
+ “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, goodwill toward men”. In heaven (the highest) there is no sin, but glorification and perpetual singing of praise; whereas on earth, where disobedience, dissension and division prevailed, there was an urgent need for peace, that is acquired by prayer; which comes not on all men, but only those of good will.
(St. Jerome)
+ The Evangelist mentioned the appearance of the heavenly hosts who followed the archangel. To whom will the angels raise honor except to their Lord; as it is said: “Praise God in the highest” (Psalm 135).
(St. Ambrose)
+ In case you wish to learn something from the cherubim and the Seraphim, listen to their hymn of praise, proclaiming God’s secret holiness;saying: “Holy, holy, holy, is the lord of host; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6: 3)
(St. John Chrysostom)
Listening to this angelic hymn of praise, the church, longing to sing it together with the heavenly hosts, included it in the ”Prime” prayer, in
the early morning, as is ordained in the laws of the apostles; and is still used to this very day; to start our day exultant with the angels for
the sake of His exalted work through His divine incarnation.
Commenting often on the phrase: “And good will toward men”, St. Augustine confirms that God sanctified the human freedom of will, to be for us an option and not by force; and says somewhere else, [Righteousness belongs to the good will].
“So it was, after the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another: Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us; and they came with haste
and
found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger”(15, 16)
According to St. Ambrose, having believed in what the angel told them, the shepherds hastened to encounter that amazing newborn
…….. to testify to what they had come to know; and so became preachers of it:
“And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds” (18).
St. (Mar) Ephraim the Syrian presents to us a joyful portrait of the encounter of the shepherds with the baby Shepherd; saying: [The shepherds came bearing the best gifts out of their herds: delicious milk, fresh meet, and befittingpraise........................................................................................................................... The
meet they gave to Joseph, the milk to Mary, and the praise to the newborn. They brought a suckling lamb to present it to the Passover Lamb.
They presented a firstborn to the Firstborn; a sacrifice to the Sacrifice; a temporal lamb to the true Lamb. How beautiful to see the Lamb receiving a lamb as a gift;
The shepherds approached Him, and worshipped Him with their staffs; they greeted Him with peace., saying:
“Glory be to God, peace on earth, and goodwill toward men”
Behold, Moses’ staff sings praise to Your staff, O Shepherd of all. Moses, the shepherd praises You, even though his sheep turned into wolves, and his herds into dragons.
The shepherds praise You; for You reconciled the wolves to the sheep in the fold]
“But Mary kept all those things and pondered them in her heart”. (19).
She was so impressed by her encounter with the shepherds; that, according to St. Ambrose: [From the words of the shepherds, Mary cropped the elements of her faith]. He also says: [If Mary was taught in the school of the shepherds; why would you refuse to be taught in the school of the priests? If Marykept the secret in her heart, why would you prefer to teach, rather than to
keep silent?}
3 THE CIRCUMCISION OF THE LORD:
In our study of the book of Genesis, we saw that every male son of Abraham was committed to be circumcised, as a sign of a holy covenant with God, and an entrance into the fellowship in the holy congregation (Genesis 15); and everyone who is not circumcised will have his soul taken away But oncethe Word of God came incarnate, Even though He, Himself, was in
no need to be circumcised for His own benefit; but having consented to bow, by His own free will, as our true friend, and to submit under the law, just like anyone of us (Galatians 4: 4), He lifted us up from under the law; for He alone is not a breaker of the law. The circumcision of the Lord, therefore was a new step walked by the Lord on the way of the cross, and of emptying Himself up, by being submitted under the law for our sake; to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3: 15)
The following are comments by some fathers on the circumcision of the Lord:
+ The babe was circumcised, about whom the prophet Isaiah said: “For unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given”
(Isaiah 9: 6);”He became under the law to liberate those who are under the law”
(St. Ambrose)
+ Now we see Him obey the law of Moses; in other words we see God, the Law-Giver, obey the law He, Himself, has given; Or according to the apostle Paul: “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world; but when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4: 3-5).
Christ, therefore redeemed us from the curse of the law, we, who were enslaved by the law, and who showed complete inability to work by its statutes.
How did He redeem us?.............. by keeping the commandments of the law. In other words, Christ the Redeemer, in our
place, completely obeyed the Father; according to what is written: “For as by one man’s disobedience, many were made sinners; so also by one Man’s obedience, many will be made righteous” (Romans 5: 19).
Christ, as one of us, delivered Himself to the law; for it is befitting of Him to fulfill all righteousness; He took over Himself the image of a servant, came to be one of us, we, who by nature were under the yoke of the law; He even paid half a shekel, put by the Roman government upon individuals of the people… Even though being the Son of God, yet He
had to pay it; for He consented to take our image, completely, upon Himself.
If you, therefore, happen to see Christ obey the law, do not be dismayed, and do not put the Free Christ among the slaves in bondage; but think deeply in the depth of this great secret; the secret of redemption and salvation.
Having been circumcised on the eighth day according to the law, the Redeemer was given the name “Jesus”, meaning (the Savior) of the people.
(St. Cyril the Great)
- OFFERING A SACRIFICE:
According to St. Cyril the Great:
[After the circumcision of the babe Jesus, Mary waited for forty days after giving birth, to fulfill the days of her purification, then carried the Lord Christ, the Word God, who sits at the right hand of the Father to the temple in Jerusalem; there to present Himself, the way we do, before the divine presence in the human form. According to the law, being counted as a firstborn, holy and dedicated to God, His parents had to offer a sacrifice to God……… How wonderful is the secret of redemption and salvation!; “Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God” (Romans 11: 33). He, who is in the bosom of the Father, the Holy Son, the Partner with the Father in the heavenly throne; by whom all things were created, submits to the requirements of the human nature, and has to offer a sacrifice to His Father, the Great God; ………He whom all creation worship and glorify, together with His heavenlyFather.
The offering for Christ, as a firstborn was “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons” (24). Now, let us see what these symbolize:
The turtledove is the most active and noisy among the birds of the field, whereas the doves are meek and quiet. So was the Redeemer like both of them; while He was most compassionate and merciful like a dove, He, as well, like a turtledove, actively went everywhere to give compassion, blessing, and comfort; according to what is written in the Song of songs: “The voice of the turtledove is heard in our land” (Song 2: 12). Christ made us hear the word of the gospel, the word of salvation to the whole world.
The turtledoves and the doves were therefore offered a sacrifice; like the Son who presented Himself before God the Father in the temple; namely, you could see the symbol and the fact in one place.
Christ offered Himself a sweet fragrance, to offer us to God the Father; By that He wiped away the animosity that closely prevailed between man and the Creator, resulting from the disobedience of Adam, the first man, to the law of the great God; and took away the authority of sin that enslaved us all, we who in the old, kept on crying out to God: “Turn Yourself to me; and have mercy on me” (Psalm 25: 16)].
According to St. Jacob El-Serougi: {After, together with His Father, gave the law to Moses on the mountain, Christ came to consummate the ordinance; He came to be circumcised to let no one be offended by His incarnation; He came with the sacrifice, to prove that He is one of us. …….
Mary carried the Receiver of all, together with His offering, to bring forth the sacrifice to the altar of the sanctuary, according to the law; Joseph carried the birds, and came for the sake of the babe; to the sanctuary to present his offering].
According to St. Ambrose:
[That is the meaning of what was written: “You shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb” (Exodus 13: 12). The words of the law were a symbol of the fruition of the virgin’s womb, truly holy with no blemish, a fact confirmed by the words of the angel, saying: “The Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1: 35). The virgin did not conceive by a human seed, but by the Holy Spirit, who dwelt in her and sanctified her. And the Lord Jesus is the only One, completely Holy, among those born by women ……….. .
But, how could we call every male holy, when we see many of them evil?! …… Was Ahab, for example holy?! Of course not! ;
But behold, we have now the One, by whom, alone, it would be possible for the holy virgin church, to give birth to people for God, with an open womb, and to an inheritance without blemish; He is the only One who was delivered by a virgin].
Therefore, presenting her firstborn, holy to the Lord, the virgin presented Him, for whose sake the law made every one who opens the womb holy, as His symbol.
5-THE HYMN OF PRAISE, SUNG BY SIMON THE ELDER:
According the church tradition, Simon the elder, was one of the 72 Jewish elders, chosen by Ptolomy to translate the Torat to the Greek language, known as ‘the Septuagint version’. It was said that while doing the task, when he had the intention to change the word ‘virgin’ in Isaiah’s prophecy “Behold, thevirgin shall conceive and bear a Son ” (Isaiah 7: 14) with the word ‘girl,
because he had some reservation on the former term; the angel of the Lord came to confirm to him that he will not die before he sees that actually takingplace. Now carrying the babe Jesus on his arms, and the Holy Spirit told him that he is the
One, his tongue opened to praise God, longing to set forth from this world, after seeing by the Spirit the salvation of all peoples and nations.
The events of the nativity have actually presented to us a joyful portrait of God’s friendship with all: Behold, a poor virgin conceives and gives birth; a Symbol of the Church that enjoys the spiritual virginity through her unity with the virgin Groom, to give birth to spiritually virgin children; ………A barren oldwoman gives birth; ………A mute priest sings a hymn of praise; A
fetus leaps for joy in his mother’s womb; ………An old widow (Anna) glorifies God;............... And Simon the righteous elder, who
anticipated the comfort of Israel, is led by the Holy Spirit to carry His heavenly friend on his arms.
‘Simon’, whose name means (he who listens) or (he who hears), probably refers to the obedient believers, who, for so long, anticipated the fulfillment of the prophecies, and the enjoyment of the “the desire of all nations” (Haggai 2: 7); and, once they were led by the Holy Spirit into the temple, and carried the Lord on their arms, they genuinely longed to depart from this world, after their hearts found comfort concerning the salvation of the peoples, and the proclamation of God’s glory among the nations.
+ If a woman with the flow of blood was instantly healed by just touching the hem of the Lord’s garment, how much more benefit would Simon the elder get, by carrying him on his arms, to exult for joy?!
Simon is carrying the babe who came to set the captives free from the bonds of the flesh. Knowing for sure, that no one could bring him out of the prison of the body, together with a promise of an eternal life, other than this babe on his arms; he addressed his talk to Him, saying: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation” (29, 30);… These words concern, not only Simon, but all mankind who
anticipated Him.
+ Simon did not enter into the temple by a mere chance, but was actually led by the Holy Spirit… You, as well, in
case you intend to take on yourself the Lord Christ, to carry Him on your arms, and to be qualified to depart out of the prison of the flesh, you should strive to be led by the Holy Spirit into the house of God, where Jesus is, into the church, in the altar set by living stones.
(The scholar Origen)
+ Simon surely confirmed an evidence, and carried a testimony that the servants of God, always have peace, freedom, and comfort. Once we retreat from the tempests of this world, and reach the haven of our eternal city; ……Once death is realized, we would reach eternity.
(Cyprian the martyr)
+ Simon is liberated from the bondage of the body; the snare is broken, and the bird is set free.
(St. Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa)
+ Now, carrying the divine infant on his arms to present Him before God, Simon perceived that he, actually is not the one who present the infant, but the other way round; Namely Simon is the one presented to God by him. For the son is not to be presented to his father by the servant, but it is the son who present the servant to the father………He who depart in peace is actually presented as an offering to the Lord.
(St. (Mar) Ephraim the Syrian)
+ The Lord Jesus was then brought forth into the temple as a suckling babe. And once Simon the blessed elder saw him, he took Him on his arms, and blessed the lord saying:
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel” (29 – 32).
The secret of redemption was from the old, before the foundation of the world, but was not proclaimed except at the fulfillment of time, to become a light to those dwelling in the darkness; those who were possessed by the strong hand of the devil; who worship the creature and not the Creator (Romans 1: 25); who worshipped the dragon, the source of sin
and iniquity; who obeyed the unclean devilish hosts, and worshipped them the way the One God should be worshipped… In spite of allthat, God called those peoples to the light of His true Son; saying on the mouth of
the prophet: “I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will redeem them; and they shall increase as they once increased; I will saw them among the peoples; and they shall remember me in far countries” (Zechariah 10: 8). Yes indeed, those who were lost were a great multitude, yet God called them, received, and redeemed them, and as a guarantee for peace, they have got the grace of adoption by Jesus Christ.
The pure apostles were sown among the peoples; with the result that all those who were far from the divine throne, were brought close; that Paul the apostle sent to them an epistle, saying: “ But now in Christ Jesus, you who once
were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2: 13); and by their approach to Christ, those peoples will be glorified by Him, according to the promise of God the Father.
And He says: “So I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down in His name, says the Lord” (Zechariah 10: 12); and concerning this the blessed psalmist also says: “They walk, O lord, in the light of Your countenance; In Your name they rejoice all day long; and in Your righteousness they are exalted” (Psalm 89: 15, 16); And the prophet Jeremiah supplicates to the Lord, saying: “O Lord, my strength and my fortress; my refuge in the day of affliction; The Gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth, and say, ‘Surely, our fathers have inherited lies, worthlessness, and unprofitable things” (Jeremiah 16: 19).
Christ, therefore, was Light and Glory to Israel; and even though some Jews lost the way, were ignorant of the holy books, and denied Christ, yet some of them have been saved, and were glorified by Jesus, having on their heads the holy apostles, who, by their light, they illuminated the lamp of the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Christ, as well, glorified Israel; on account of that, to them, He belongs in the flesh, even though “He is over all, the eternally blessed God” (Romans 9: 5).
(St. Cyril the Great)
In the praise uttered by Simon the elder, the following are noticed:
- He proclaims the collectiveness of salvation and the Catholicism of the church. If His people Israel, from whom Jesus Christ is incarnated, and amongwhom He dwelt, have been glorified; and if some Jews received faith in Him -- the twelve apostles in
particular;
But “the new Israel” embraced members from all peoples; for he proclaimed that the arms of God are open wide by the practical love on
the cross for the sake of all the Gentiles; saying: “For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all
peoples; a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles” (30, 31).
Such a spiritual look has been joyfully adopted by the Church; being said:
+ He who gathers all in Him, was hanged on a tree.
+ Having been lost to us through a tree, by the tree, as well, He was proclaimed to all, showing Himself, the height, the length, the breadth, and the depth. And as we are told by one of the early fathers, Through spreading His hands, He reunited the two peoples in God; His two hands refer to two peoples spread all over the earth; and one head, refers to One God.
(St. Erinaos)
+ The cross is the way to bond the entire world together.
(St. Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa)
+ The cross is the ladder of Jacob;
This tree with its heavenly dimensions, raised from the earth to heaven, has set itself an eternal plantation between heaven and earth; to raise the world up.
And to embrace together different kinds of human natures.
(St. Hypolitus)
If the church, in her gladness with the angelic hymn of praise (Glory to God in the highest................. ) came to sing it
every morning;….............. In her gladness with the hymn of praise, sung by Simon the elder: (Lord, You are letting Your
servant depart in peace ………….), came to sing it in the midnight praise, as well as in that before going to sleep..
- Hearing this hymn of praise, Mary and Joseph marveled, that what was proclaimed to them by God, came to be clearly proclaimed to
Simon the elder, as well.
“Then Simon blessed them and said to St. Mary: ‘Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against” (34)
If God the Father has sent His only begotten Son for the salvation of the world (John 3: 16) through the sign of the cross; yet, not all the people of Israel have accepted this sign, nor responded to God’s exalted love; but some opposed and were offended by it. On another aspect, the fall and rising of many, refer to the fall of what is evil in our life, for the sake of the rising of the kingdom of heaven in us; for it is the work of the Lord Christ to destroy the old man to set the new one in his place; to uproot the thorns, to sow in us the tree of life.
This view concerning the fall and rising of many in Israel; namely the fall of the deniers, and the rising of the believers; the
fall of evil in us to raise the righteousness of God inside us instead, was clear in the writing of the fathers:
+ “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2: 15). He says that among those who are saved and those who are perishing, the gospel continues its befitting work. Even though the light is counted as darkness for the blind, yet it is still light; and even though honey tastes bitter in the mouth of the sick, yet it is still sweet by nature… So isthe gospel, with its sweet fragrance.
Even if some perish, because of not believing in it; it would not be the cause of their perdition, but it is their going astray
……… By the Savior, many will fall, and many will rise; and yet, He remains the Savior and the Healer, even if tens of thousands perish ………….
(St. John Chrysostom)
+ Behold, Simon in his turn prophesies that our Lord Jesus Christ came for the fall and rising of many, when He deals with the work of the wicked and the righteous, and, as a true and just Judge, He gives each according to his works, whether by torment or by life.
(St. Ambrose)
+ I believe that the Lord came for the fall and rising of many, not only because some fall and others rise; but because He lets what is evil in us fall, to set what is better in its plce. His coming is for the destruction of the evil desires, and for setting the features of the good soul; as according tothe apostle Paul: “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2
Corinthians 12: 10). In the same person there are what is weak and what is strong; he may be weak in flesh, but strong in the spirit.
Whoever rises, his sin falls and dies; while he lives in righteousness; that is what we get from the graces pertaining to our belief in Christ.
Let what is evil in us fall, to give the chance to what is better to rise! For if adultery does not fall in us, purity will not rise; and if what is contrary to reason in us is not destroyed, our mind will not reach perfection. That is the meaning of “for the fall and rising of many”.
(St. Basil the Great)
The Lord Christ is therefore “the chief Cornerstone, laid in Zion by the Father, elect, precious; and he who believes in Him will by no means be put to shame” (1 Peter 2: 6); if it falls on the nonbeliever, it will crush him to powder, and if he falls on it, he will be bruised (Luke 20: 28). Such precious Stone is proclaimed in our inner Zion, to destroy every corruption, and to crush every evil in us, to set instead the inner building of Christ in uprightness and righteousness.
Being the Stone that is not set on the wrong foundation; it is “for the fall and rising of many”.
Whenever we speak of the Lord Christ, we speak of Him as being “The Crucified”; hence Simon the elder goes on saying: “For a sign which will be spoken against”; which, according to St. Basil the Great, and to St. Cyril the Great: [this sign refers to the cross]; and according to the apostle Paul: “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1: 18). So you can see that, while the sign of the cross is foolishness to some, it is mercy and life to others.
Again, according to St. Basil the Great, the sign, opposed by the heretics, is the truth of “The incarnation of Christ”, for some of them claimed that it is no more than a heavenly body, by which they deny the truth of the incarnation of Christ, the same the Gnostics did; Some others said it is a body that existed since before the time began, while still others said that Christ’s existence began with Mary; by which they denied His Godhead.
- If the Lord Christ who came for the salvation of the world, was the object of oppression, St. Mary, as well, partook of the cross together
with her Son, being a representative of the Church that bears the image of her oppressed Groom..................... The Evangelist
says:
“Yes, a sword will pierce your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (35)
According to St. Cyril the Great:[By the sword is meant the severe pain that came upon Mary, seeing her Son crucified, when she still had no knowledge that her Son was stronger than death, and will certainly rise from the dead. It was the same with the disciples who had no knowledge of this fact; for if the disciple Thomas has not put his hand in the side of the Lord after His resurrection, and felt the places of the nails in his body, he would not have believed that His Lord resurrected from the dead]. In the end prayer of the ninth hour it came: [When the mother saw the Lamb and Shepherd, the Savior of the World, hung on the cross, she said while weeping: “The world rejoices in receiving salvation, while my heart burns as I look at Your crucifixion which You are enduring for the sake of all, my Son, and my God”].
St. Ambrose gives us another concept of the sword that pierced the soul of St. Mary, that it is “the Word of God”; which is befitting of us to receive in ourdepths as a two-edged sword (Hebrew 4: 12), to separate evil, to fall, from good, torise…................................................................................................................................ [There is
no indication in the Holy Book nor in history that St. Mary was martyred; and the material sword, which does not pierce the spirit
but the body, is “the Word of God, which is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit” (Hebrew 4: 12)].
- What does he mean by saying: “that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (35)? If the sword -- whether it is the physical pain, or the Word of God – pierces the soul of St. Mary, will expose the thoughts and heart of many, like the scribes and the Pharisees, who pretend to keep the law, and to have zeal on the statutes; for, before God’s work with St. Mary, their inner truth will be exposed, and their vain hypocrisy will be
1- THE HYMN OF PRAISE OF ANNA DAUGHTER OF PHANOEL:
As all categories had to rejoice in that amazing child, the Evangelist Luke presents to us the widow as a prophetess who praises the Lord; as though on behalf of all widows. If Simon the elder used to come to the temple as a priest to minister in his shift; that widow “did not depart from the temple for about 84 years, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day” (37). Once she saw the babe, she “stood” despite her very old age of about 100 years, and “spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem”. Her mouth set forth to praise, and her mouth opened to prophesy.
When writing to the widow ‘Furia’, St. Jerome presented Anna to her as a living example, saying: [If you wish to know how widows should be, read the gospel according to Luke, who talked about the prophetess Anna of the tribe of Asher. ‘Anna’ meaning (grace or compassion of God) ‘Phanoel’ meaning (the face of God), and ‘Asher’ may be translated as (riches) or (blessing); who since her youth endured widowhood for as long as 84 years, did not depart from the temple, and worshipped God with fasting and prayers night and day; hence she has got grace spiritually, was worthy of being called ‘the daughter of God’s face’, and enjoyed a portion in the ‘riches and the blessing’, belonging to Him.
2- THE RETURN TO NAZARETH:
“So when they have performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” (39, 40)
If the conception with the Lord Christ and his birth have brought joy to heaven and earth: the heavenly creatures exulted and set forth to the earth to bless it; humans rejoiced, like the simple shepherds; the wise man like the Magi; priests like Zecharias and Simon the elder; married women like Elizabeth; virgins like Mary; widows like Anna daughter of Phanoel; and children like John the Baptist, etc................ Yet, after being taken into the temple at theage of 40 days, he returned to Nazareth in complete
anonymity to practice the human life like anyone of us. According to St. John Chrysostom: [He did not intend to perform miracles in his childhood and youth, until He started His ministry at His thirty years of age, in order to practice our life, and to proclaim the truth of emptying Himself That is confirmedby the Evangelist John who proclaimed that turning the water to wine in the
wedding of Cana of Galilee, was the first miracle performed by Jesus (John 3).
Despite the fact that He never separated from His Godhead, He bore our manhood, to become like us, it is written: “The Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him” (40). The following are commentaries of some fathers on this phrase, and on the one saying: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (52):
+ As saying that the child grew in wisdom, stature, and grace, refers to His human nature, I wish you ponder in the depth of the theory of redemption; how God the Word took upon Himself to be born as mam, even though, by His divine nature, has no beginning; nor is limited by time; How the perfect God, consented to submit to the law of human growth; and to grow in wisdom, even though He is God of wisdom; How the Richbecame poor; the exalted became lowly; how
God the Word emptied Himself through His consent to have the human nature............. God the Word, once He was born,
could have chosen to become a grown-up man, with all body members and tissues; but in such a case, it would seem as fantasy. Hence, the child, according to the laws of human nature, chose to grow in wisdom, stature, and grace.
Therefore, do not get offended in case you are asked by someone: [How could God progress and grow? And how could God, who grants grace to the angels and men, be given wisdom and grace?!
To clarify this amazing secret, I wish you ponder in the phrases that came in the gospel; for the wise Evangelist, by the two mentioned verses, did not refer to the Word, namely to the Divine Nature, but, with no confusion nor vagueness, referred to “Christ”, born as a man from a woman, took our image, and became a human child. Hence the Evangelist said that “He grew in wisdom, stature, and grace”. Therefore you see that the body of the child grew according to the laws of nature; and that His mind progressed with the physical growth.
The human body grew in stature; the soul progressed in wisdom. But concerning God, He is perfect in His divine nature; for He is the source of wisdom and perfection.
(St. Cyril the Great)
+ The words of the gospel clearly show that the growth and progress of our Lord, concern His manhood and not His Godhead.
(St. Gregory, bishop of Nyssa)
+ Godhead dwelt in a human body, and in a human soul as well.................... “He emptied Himself and took the form of a
bond servant” (Philippians 2: 7); And by the same ability to empty Himself, He also “grew”;.............. He took upon Himself
a weak body, but could, as well, grew stronger;................. He grew in wisdom, and even taught the elders in the temple
while He was still a child………
(The scholar Origen)
+ The text adds: “But His mother kept all those things in her heart” (51).
Mary, knowing that, in her Son, there were things that surpassed what concern the natural man, she kept everything in her heart; ………. She watched Him as He grew stronger in wisdom, stature, and grace before God and men ……..
(The scholar Origen)
The progress here concerns the body;............. As a babe, He was carried to the temple; As a child, He remained in the temple
and debated the law with the priests; And as a Man, the Word proclaimed itself in Him; Hence St. Peter, then all the rest of the disciples confessed, saying: “You are the Son of God” (Matthew 16: 16; 27: 54).
The growth of wisdom here, does not mean the growth of Wisdom itself, but the progress of manhood in wisdom (by proclaiming it) Henceit is said: “Wisdom built her house” (Proverbs 19: 1); and gave to itrself growth of her house.
3- JESUS IN THE TEMPLE:
The gospels did not tell us, about the Person of the Lord Christ, after returning from Egypt, while probably three years of age, until He started His ministry in His 30 years of age, other than the episode of His entrance into the temple in His 12 years of age; a unique episode that revealed to us the first words uttered by the Lord Christ, concerning His mission, in the gospels, saying to His parents: “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (49); and also revealed how He was obedient and submissive to His parents. In this episode, the following are noticed:
- According to the law, all Jewish men had to go to Jerusalem every year to celebrate the Feast of the Passover (Exodus 13: 17; Deuteronomy 16: 16); there, to remain eight days, to cover both the Passover and the Feast of the unleavened bread together. The travelers to, and from Jerusalem, used to go in two caravans: one ahead for women and another at the rear for men; the little children used to go with the men or with the women. That is why, when the first day of the return journey passed, and the two caravans mixed together, Joseph and Mary, came to inquire about the whereabouts of the boy, each thinking that he was with the other, they spent a full day inquiring about Him among all men and women of the caravans; and when they realized that He was nowhere to be found, they decided to go back to Jerusalem where they spent a third day. Hence the Evangelist says: ”After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions” (46)
We know nothing about the talk of the 12 years old Lord Christ to the teachers in the temple, but we are told by the Evangelist that
“All who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers” (47); and that St. Mary and St. Joseph “when they saw Him they were amazed” (48).
He could have been talking to the teachers concerning the true Passover, to reveal to them the need to set forth from the symbolic to the true Passover lamb; …………or concerning the “crossover”, not from Egypt to Canaan, but from hell to paradise; ……………or concerning the need for the Messiah,and revealing the prophesies Anyway, talking to them
with authority, all who heard Him were astonished. But “His mother kept all things in her heart” (51)
The Evangelist said that they found Him after three days sitting in the temple in the midst of the teachers (46). The figure 3, as we saw in our study of the book of Joshua, refers to faith in the Holy Trinity; as well as to the resurrection of the Messiah from the dead. It is not possible for the Church to encounter her Groom in His holy Temple except through the Trinitarian faith;…….
through getting in touch with the work of the Holy Trinity in her life;............. and through the experience of the resurrected life
together with the Messiah. In other words, we cannot encounter with the Lord in His sanctuaries, to enjoy His exalted friendship, unless we get sanctified by the Trinitarian faith, and live by His life resurrected in us.
If we practically receive the Trinitarian faith, enjoyed the sonhood to God the Father; if our hearts open to the redemption of the Son; and we got the fellowship of the Holy Spirit; if we have got the heavenly life, resurrected in Christ, we shall see the
Lord Himself in our hearts, as He is in His temple, leading all our inner debates; teaching and training us as a Teacher with authority; guiding our hearts with all their emotions, our thoughts, with all their dimensions; and our bodies with all their feelings! We shall, together with His mother St. Mary, watch Him, and be astonished together with her, for the sake of His work in us!
- Commenting on how St. Mary and St. Joseph searched for the child Jesus, the scholar Origen said: [I shall not find Jesus among the
relatives and acquaintances according to the flesh; I shall not find my Jesus among the multitudes.
You should know where Jesus was found, Take Mary and Joseph with you to find Him. According to the Evangelist, they only found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers listening to them and asking them. You, as well, search for Jesus in the temple of God; search for Him in the Church; search for Him among the teachers who never depart from the temple; there you will find Him.............................. But in case someone claims to havethe talent to teach, without having Jesus, he will be a teacher,
only by name ……….. According the Evangelist, we shall find Jesus among the true teachers.
As the Lord Jesus was, sometimes asking questions, and sometimes answering questions, and was great in both cases; Let us supplicate to Him to listen and to respond to our prayers.
Let us anxiously search for Him; for it is written: “His mother said t Him: Look: Your father and I have sought for You anxiously”
(48); Let us not search for Him slothfully, carelessly, and hesitantly, as some do, who will never find Him.]
He also says: [I do not think they were anxious for fear that He would probably be lost or died; as it was not possible for Mary to have such doubts; knowing how he was conceived in her by the Holy Spirit, enunciated by the angel, worshipped by the shepherds, and carried by Simon the elder; And it was not possible for Joseph to have the same doubts, knowing how he was commanded by the angel to take the infant and flee to Egypt; and heard the words: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1: 20). Joseph would never fear for the safety of the child, being sure that He is the ‘Word’, the Son of God ……. The anxiety of His parents had therefore, another significance that the regular reader would not be able to understand.................................................... They were anxious to think that He would probably
go away from them to someplace else; or ascended to heaven, to come down again in proper time!
You, as well, If it so happens, some day, that you lost the Son of God, search for Him first in the temple................ Hasten to the
temple, for there, you will find Jesus, the Word, and the Wisdom; namely, “the Son of God”].
- Commenting on the words of St. Mary to her Son, saying: “Look, Your father and I ……”, Augustine says: [Despite the great honor
she has got by the incarnation of the Word of God in her womb, she, with the spirit of humility, mentioned Joseph ahead of her, saying: “Your father and I’. Although she knew that Jesus is not conceived by Joseph’s seed, yet, through the spiritual love that filled the holy family, she counted him as His father, and mentioned his name ahead of hers.
- The first words uttered by the Lord concerning His divine mission, as it came in the holy gospels, were: “Why did you seek Me?
Did you
not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”(49). Those words reveal the nature of the Lord Christ, His mission, as well as, they teach us the following fitting behavior:
- On the aspect of the nature of the Lord Christ; Even though He did not object to be referred to Mary and Joseph, as His parents; when His mother said to Him: “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously?” (48); For Joseph was His father according to the law because of adoption, albeit not of his seed; and Mary was His mother according to the flesh;............................................. But, being the Son of the Most High in Heaven, He confirms His
relation to Him by saying: “I must be about My Father’s business” (49).
Manhhod-wise He is referred to Mary because she gave birth to Him, and took His body from her; but He is not physically referred
to Joseph, except on account of his caring for Him, and his loving bond to Mary; being said:
+ The gospel gave the title “His parents” (41) to Mary because she gave birth to Him, and to Joseph because He cared for Him.
(The scholar Origen)
+ The way Mary was called a mother to the disciple John in love, and not because she gave birth to him; so Joseph was called a father to Jesus, because he cared for Him and raised Him.
(St. Cyril of Jerusalem)
+ Because of the spiritual faithfulness, the two of them were worthy to be called “Jesus’ parents”; according to the mind and to the goal, and not to the flesh. The two of them were called “His parents) according to His humility, and not to His exaltation; according to His weakness (Manhood), and not according to His (Godhead).
(St. Augustine)
+ But saying to His mother: “I must be about My Father’s business” (49) Jesus refers to His tru Father, and reveals His Divinity.
(St. Cyril the Great)
+ There are two sonhoods for Jesus: one to God the Father, and the other to Mary His mother; The first divine, and the
second because He condescended to be one of us by being born from Mary
(St. Ambrose)
- According to experts in education and psychology, the words of the Lord here, saying: “Why did you seek me? Did you not know that I must beabout My Father’s business?”, portrayed a kind of a new (revolt) in the world of
……….. For even though Jesus was “subject to them” (51), a sign of complete obedience to His parents, yet, according to St. Ambrose: [Was itpossible for the Teacher of virtue not to give them their due as Hisparents?................................................................................................................................... He was
actually subject to them , not out of weakness, but of love]. That was how that unique child gave children a living role model of obedience to theirparents St. Jerome wrote to the nun ‘Ostichum’: [Obey your parents, yet filled with
your (divine) Groom]. And according to the scholar Origen: [Let us, my children learn to obey our parents............. for the
child Jesus so did, and became a role model to all children, or to their guardians in case they are orphans................. If
Jesus, the Son of God was subject to Mary and Joseph, shall I not be subject to my Bishop whom God ordained a spiritual father for me? Shall I not be subject to the priest chosen by God?].
If the Lord Christ gave a practical lesson and a living example for the submission and obedience to parents; Yet, by His words, saying: “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’, He proclaimed that it is the right for a child or a young man, to walk, in his mission, according to his own talents and possibilities; and not to be just an irrational tool in the hands of his parents. On another aspect, it would be befitting of the parents to deal with their child, not as a mere extension of their life, and to conforms him according to their own wish and hope, but to let him or her have his or her own talents and possibilities They should deal with him as a person with his own personal
independent identity; and not just their follower.
The religious or the civil laws and statutes which were prevailing in those days, even the Jewish ones, did not give childhood the right for life, as a free human; but some of them, even gave the right to the parents, to kill their child, or to offer him a burnt offering to pagan gods, as the worshippers of Molok or Mollukh used to do… Now the Lord came
to proclaim that the child has the right to practice his life according to what suit his person, talents, and possibilities
………. I shall postpone dealing with this issue for a special research, which will be published in a book entitled “The familial love”, if God allows us to live to do it.
- Commenting on the phrase said by the Evangelist Luke: “But they (Mary and Joseph) did not understand the statement which He
spoke to them. Then He (Jesus) went down with them to Nazareth” (50, 51), the scholar Origen said: [They did not understand the
significance of the words said by Jesus: “I must be about My Father’s business”, namely to be in My father’s house – the temple].
Jesus’ house is up high; and as Mary and Joseph, still, have not reached the perfection of faith, they could not soar together with Him up
high; hence the Holy Book says: “He went down with them” (51)........... As Jesus often did with His disciples, together with whom
He went
down, and did not perpetually remain on the mountain…......... ].
Finally, we end our talk about the Lord Christ in the temple, by the words sent by St. Jerome to to ‘Laeta’ concerning the way she should
raise her daughter ‘Paula’:
[Let her grow together with her groom in wisdom and stature before God and men (2: 52)!............. Let her go, together with herparents to
the temple of her true Father; and not go with them out of it….......... Let them seek her in the ways of the world, among the
crowd and the
relatives, where they will not find her, but will find her in the sanctuary (the temple) of the Holy Book; askijng the prophets and the
apostles about the concepts of the spiritual matrimony, for which she is dedicated].