Gleanings from Orthodox Christian Authors and the Holy Fathers

matthew

2 Entries

Now the angel having thus appeared, talks not with Mary, but with Joseph; and what saith he? 'Arise, and take the young Child and His mother.' Here, he saith not any more, 'thy wife,' but 'His mother.' For after that the birth had taken place, and the suspicion was done away, and the husband appeared, thenceforth the angel talks openly, calling neither child nor wife his, but 'take the young Child and His mother, and flee into Egypt;' and he mentions the cause of the flight: 'For Herod,' saith he, 'will seek the young Child's life.' St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of St. Matthew.

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Then, 'shall be gathered together' He saith, 'all nations,' that is, the whole race of men. And He shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd his sheep.' For now they are not separated, but all mingled together, but the division then shall be made with all exactness. And for a while it is by their place that He divides them, and makes them manifest; afterwards by the names He indicates the dispositions of each, calling the one kids, the other sheep, that He might indicate the unfruitfulness of the one, for no fruit will come from kids; and the great profit from the other, for indeed from sheep great is the profit, as well from the milk, as from the wool, and from the young, of all which things the kid is destitute. St. John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of St. Matthew

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