De nativitate

A homily of John Chrysostom on the Nativity of Christ. Those priests who preceded us have spoken well and profitably, having praised the day, they glorified the master of the day and spiritually edified us, the hearers. We who are unlearned ought to be silent, especially since the flesh is weak, the tongue is stammering, and the mind has become more sluggish. But we are compelled on your account, the hearers, to put forward our most meager discourse in the church, so that we may both praise the day and summon you to zeal for piety. Today Christ was born, and the world was illuminated; today Christ is in the manger, and the devil was mocked; today the Persians and all the nations are evangelized through the star, while Herod and the synagogue are thrown into confusion by the Magi; today Joseph and Mary and Christ are in the cave, as Abraham and Sarah and Isaac were in the tent, while Herod and the synagogue are like Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness. Today Herod rages, and the Magi rejoice; those men bring gifts, and this man brings the sword; for the Magi the star is a path to salvation, for Herod the high priests are a path to murder; the barbarian nations bring gold and frankincense and myrrh, and the law-learned Jews bring wood and nails and a spear; horsemen and archers, men who scorned these things, took the gifts and followed the star; and those who read the law and the prophets, scorning these things, crucified the master of these things; those men honor the one swaddled in bands; these men reject the one attended by signs and wonders. Those men, having seen the star, passed from unbelief to faith.

But these, having seen the Savior, turned from piety to impiety. Those abandoned their gods and go about seeking Christ himself; these, having abandoned Christ, the wretches ask to have Barabbas. Today the nations leap like lambs, having Christ with them; the Jews melt like wax, awaiting the Antichrist. That the Jews receive the Antichrist, Christ is witness; for if another comes in his own name, he says, they will accept him. Today the churches of the orthodox, like meadows of roses and lilies and violets, send up their spiritual fragrance to God. The conventicles of the heretics, like dark-colored flowers, the wretches breathe out stench instead of fragrance. Today the Word of God became man for us, and mortal man has become immortal by grace. Today Mary gave birth and the world was illuminated, she in the cave and the inhabited world in the church. What need was there of the birth from Mary? That we, approaching the one who shares our suffering, might inherit life and incorruption. Christ is born from Mary, that he might choose the apostles, that he might heal the sick, that he might raise the dead, that he might cleanse the lepers, that he might free those possessed. He is born from Mary, that he might enlighten the nations, that he might teach the Jews, that he might open baptism, that he might convict the traitor, that he might call Zacchaeus, that he might bless Nathanael.

He is born from Mary, that he might slay the serpent which deceived Eve, that he might lead Adam through the thief into paradise, that he might grant us his body and blood for the remission of sins. And why did he take the form of a slave? That slaves also, approaching him, might be freed... that he might establish the altar. Why did he humble himself? Because we were unable to approach his unmixed divinity. For the wise among hunters do this: he who wishes to catch a sparrow puts forth a sparrow; he who wishes to catch a partridge puts forth a partridge; he who wishes to catch a dove puts forth a dove, that the like may be caught by the like. So also did Christ: he netted men through the man, he trampled the devil through humility, he despoiled Satan through his forbearance, and for those who keep his commandments he prepared the kingdom of the heavens. Today angels glorify and men worship and the dead entreat. Today three orders offer gifts to him: men offer gold as to a king, angels offer frankincense as to a god, the dead offer myrrh as †through the dead†. They offer different kinds, because different races bring their adoration to him today. Come then, all who happen to be hearers of my words, let us celebrate today in a Christian manner. How will this be? Let us return no evil for evil, for it is written in Proverbs: if your enemy is hungry, feed him; for by doing this you will heap coals of fire upon his head.

Do not be a cause of scandal, because the Lord says in the Gospels: "Truly I tell you, whoever scandalizes one of these little ones who believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone be hung around his neck and he be thrown into the sea." Give to the one in need of shelter, covering, food, you who use more than necessary for yourself; because again the Lord says: "Blessed are the merciful, for they themselves will be shown mercy." Do not be proud; for he who thinks he is something while being nothing deceives himself. Honor your priests with great esteem and attendance; for they keep vigil over your souls, as those who will give an account. Abstain from fornication, and from strangled meat and blood. For accursed before the Lord is he who eats blood or strangled meat or an animal killed by beasts or a bird that died or an animal that died in a trap; and his memory shall be blotted out from the earth. Cut out the habit of swearing oaths, glorifying the Christ who was born, for to him is due honor and worship unto the ages of ages. Amen.