Bad Advertisement?
Are you a Christian?
Online Store:Visit Our Store
| On the Feast of the Epiphany, I.
PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP 
Sermon XXXI.
On the Feast of the Epiphany,
I.
I. The Epiphany a necessary sequel to the
Nativity.
After celebrating but lately the day on which
immaculate virginity brought forth the Saviour of mankind, the
venerable feast of the Epiphany, dearly beloved, gives us continuance
of joy, that the force of our exultation and the fervour of our faith
may not grow cool, in the midst of neighbouring and kindred
mysteries850
| 850 Inter cognatarum
solemnitatum vicina sacramenta, cf. Serm. XXVIII. chap. 1, note
2. | . For it
concerns all men’s salvation, that the infancy of the Mediator
between God and men was already manifested to
the whole world, while He was still detained in the tiny town.
For although He had chosen the Israelitish nation, and one family out
of that nation, from whom to assume the nature of all mankind, yet He
was unwilling that the early days of His birth should be concealed
within the narrow limits of His mother’s home: but desired
to be soon recognized by all, seeing that He deigned to be born for
all. To three851
| 851 The number
“three” has no further scriptural support than the possible
inference from their threefold offerings. It will be noticed that
S. Leo knows nothing of their being kings, though that tradition is
apparently as old as Tertullian (adv. Marc. iii. 13), see
Bright’s n. 38. | wise men,
therefore, appeared a star of new splendour in the region of the East,
which, being brighter and fairer than the other stars, might easily
attract the eyes and minds of those that looked on it, so that at once
that might be observed not to be meaningless, which had so unusual an
appearance. He therefore who gave the sign, gave to the beholders
understanding of it, and caused inquiry to be made about that, of which
He had thus caused understanding, and after inquiry made, offered
Himself to be found.
II. Herod’s evil designs were
fruitless. The wise men’s gifts were consciously
symbolical.
These three men follow the leading of the light
above, and with stedfast gaze obeying the indications of the guiding
splendour, are led to the recognition of the Truth by the brilliance of
Grace, for they supposed that a king’s birth was notified in a
human sense852
| 852 Humano sensu
significatum sibi regis ortum, “by their natural
thoughts” in Bright’s translation: but I doubt
whether the words could bear that meaning, and whether they suit the
context: cf. Serm. XXXIV. chap. 2. | , and that it must
be sought in a royal city. Yet He who had taken a slave’s
form, and had come not to judge, but to be judged, chose Bethlehem for
His nativity, Jerusalem for His passion. But Herod, hearing that
a prince of the Jews was born, suspected a successor, and was in great
terror: and to compass the death of the Author of Salvation,
pledged himself to a false homage. How happy had he been, if he
had imitated the wise men’s faith, and turned to a pious use what
he designed for deceit. What blind wickedness of foolish
jealousy, to think thou canst overthrow the Divine plan by thy
frenzy. The Lord of the world, who
offers an eternal Kingdom, seeks not a temporal. Why dost thou
attempt to change the unchangeable order of things ordained, and to
forestall others in their crime? The death of Christ belongs not
to thy time. The Gospel must be first set on foot, the Kingdom of
God first preached, healings first given to
the sick, wondrous acts first performed. Why dost thou wish
thyself to have the blame of what will belong to another’s work,
and why without being able to effect thy wicked design, dost thou bring
on thyself alone the charge of wishing the evil? Thou gainest
nothing and carriest out nothing by this intriguing. He that was
born voluntarily shall die of His own free will. The Wise men,
therefore, fulfil their desire, and come to the child, the Lord Jesus Christ, the same star going before them.
They adore the Word in flesh, the Wisdom in infancy, the Power in
weakness, the Lord of majesty in the reality
of man: and by their gifts make
open acknowledgment of what they believe
in their hearts, that they may show forth the mystery of their faith
and understanding853
| 853 Sacramentum
fidei suæ intelligentiæque: here sacramentum
seems to come nearer to the older and more general use of the word
among the Fathers, viz. symbol or sign. | . The
incense they offer to God, the myrrh to Man,
the gold to the King, consciously paying honour to the Divine and human
Nature in union: because while each substance had its own
properties, there was no difference in the power854
| 854 “He
means, Christ had a king’s power, both as God and as Man,” Bright, n. 42. | of either.
III. The massacre of the innocents is in
harmony with the Virgin’s conception, which again teaches us
purity of life.
And when the wise men had returned to their own
land, and Jesus had been carried into Egypt at the Divine suggestion,
Herod’s madness blazes out into fruitless schemes. He
orders all the little ones in Bethlehem to be slain, and since he knows
not which infant to fear, extends a general sentence against the age he
suspects. But that which the wicked king removes from the world,
Christ admits to heaven: and on those for whom He had not yet
spent His redeeming blood, He already bestows the dignity of
martyrdom. Lift your faithful hearts then, dearly-beloved, to the
gracious blaze of eternal light, and in adoration of the mysteries
dispensed for man’s salvation855
| 855 Impensa
humanæ saluti sacramenta. | give your
diligent heed to the things which have been wrought on your
behalf. Love the purity of a chaste life, because Christ is the
Son of a virgin. “Abstain from fleshly lusts which war
against the soul856
,” as the
blessed Apostle, present in his words as we read, exhorts us, “In
malice be ye children857
,” because
the Lord of glory conformed Himself to the
infancy of mortals. Follow after humility which the Son of
God deigned to teach His disciples. Put
on the power of patience, in which ye may be able to gain858
| 858 Acquirere,
S. Luke xxi. 19. It is not clear from this whether
in Leo’s time the reading was future, “ye shall win”
(R.V.), or imperative, “possess ye” (A.V.). The
Vulgate now reads possidebitis. | your souls; seeing that He who is the
Redemption of all, is also the Strength of all. “Set your
minds on the things which are above, not on the things which are on the
earth859
.” Walk firmly along the path
of truth and life: let not earthly things hinder you for whom are
prepared heavenly things through our Lord
Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and
reigneth for ever and ever. Amen.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
