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“John Chrysostom - Homilies on St Matthew - Homily VIII ”
On Matthew chapter 2, About the visit of the magi, the flight into Egypt and the spiritual life of women and men in the Egyptian desert.
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This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Find out more about our use of cookies here. Click here to read at earlychurchtexts.com in the original Greek (with dictionary lookup links). The English translation below (the beginning of the homily) is by the Early Church Texts webmaster, the Revd Andrew Maguire. On the subscription version of the website there is the full Greek text of the homily and a full translation by Andrew Maguire alongside. earlychurchtexts.com
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On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. [Matt 2:11] How then does Luke say that the child was lying in the manger? It is because, as soon as she had given birth, Mary laid him there. With so many people gathered in one place because of the census it was not possible to find a house. Luke himself indicates this when he says that she laid him in the manger because there was no room. After this she took him in her arms and held him on her knee. For once she reached Bethlehem she was freed from the pains of childbirth. From this you can learn everything about how God arranged these events and how they did not happen simply by chance, but came about entirely according to God’s purpose and in line with prophecy. What was it that convinced them that they should pay homage? The virgin mother was not outwardly remarkable, nor was the dwelling particularly notable. Nothing else that could be seen would really have surprised them or caught their attention. Yet they not only paid homage, but opened up their treasure chest and brought gifts – gifts not merely fit for a human being, but for God. The frankincense and myrrh were a clear sign of this. So what was it that convinced them and led them to uproot themselves from home and set out on such a long journey? It was the star and also the illumination from God which made its mark on their mind and led them gradually to more perfect knowledge. If this was not the case, then since everything to the outward eye was so ordinary, they would not have shown such honor. Because of this nothing there that could be discerned through the senses was great – just a manger, a shelter and a poverty-stricken mother. Through this you see the magi’s sheer love of wisdom and you learn that they came to him not as a mere human being, but as God through whom they would be blessed. Nothing that was outwardly visible became a stumbling block to them. Rather they worshipped him and brought gifts: gifts which were far removed from any Jewish liking for the fat of animals. They did not sacrifice sheep or calves. Their gifts were closer to the church’s insight and wisdom, for they brought him recognition, obedience and love. ‘Having been warned in a dream not to return to
Herod, they left for their own country by another road.’ [Matt 2:12] Observe
from this their faith and how they were not shocked but acted with obedience
and good sense. They were not bewildered and did not have any debate among
themselves about why, if this child was great and powerful, there needed to
be a secret departure. They had come openly and boldly and stood before a
great people and the madness of the king, but they did not discuss why now
the angel sent them away from the city as runaways and fugitives. They did
not say or even think any of these things. This supremely is a mark of
faith: not to ask for any enquiry into what has been commanded, but simply
to follow instructions.
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Homilies on Matthew
Sermons on St Matthew
Magi
Three Wise Men
Epiphany
Flight into Egypt
Egyptian desert monks
John Chrysostom in Greek with English Translation
Migne Greek Text
Patrologiae Graecae Cursus Completus
Patrologia Graeca
Frederick Field Greek text of Matthew Homilies
