Luke 2:37Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Although the Apostle Peter had a mother-in-law, he did not fall behind John the Virgin in running to the Holy Sepulchre, being the first to enter there and thus becoming the leader among the apostles under Christ. Such is the elevation that love for God grants us, lifting us from the earthly to the spiritual! However, be cautious, lest you abandon the first (marriage) as something base and see the second (virginity) as unattainable, leading you astray. Should you stumble and forget, live not according to the law or above the law, but without lawfulness. If we look down on those who are widowed when they do not live with purity, or if they enter a second marriage, how much more culpable are those who choose lawful marriage over illicit pleasure! The Flood came because of the fornication of those deemed ‘sons of God', and fire rained down on Sodomites. Calamities befell the Israelites who sinned with the Moabites. Their destruction escalated due to fornication, which seems to be the very cause of our defeat at the hands of enemies, leading to all forms of internal and external tribulations. The Scripture refers to the descendants of Enos, the first to call upon the name of the Lord, as ‘sons’ of ‘God’. Enos was the son of Seth, whose lineage contrasted sharply with that of the accursed Cain, and he lived in purity. For their sake, the world endured until it is written that he saw the beauty of ‘the daughters of men,’ descendants of Cain. Overcome by their seductive beauty, he chose for himself whomsoever he desired, leading to a world filled with wickedness resulting in the Flood that wiped them out. Had it not been for Noah and his sons, who lived chastely — evident since each man had but one wife whom he took into the Ark — the world would have had no root for rebirth. Can you perceive that because of the fornicators, the world once faced near annihilation, having been preserved by the chaste? Those unworthy of the present age, who cause disorder, will undoubtedly face rejection in the age to come, facing the torment of Gehenna as they succumb to carnal desires unless they strive through repentance to extinguish them and cleanse their past transgressions with tears? Furthermore, they should not be unaware that if they show diligence through repentance but do not resist their passions, they will encounter a shame worse than their preceding experiences, an outcome birthed by this lustful desire. The fire of Gehenna already claims its victims here on earth, destined to surround the shameless in eternal punishment. Who is not aware of the Sodomites and their abominable acts, followed by divine retribution in the form of fire? Frequently, an entire city suffers because of a single fornicating individual, as evidenced by the total destruction of the Shechemites at Jacob's sons' hands for Shechem's dishonor of Dinah. Looking beyond the (Mosaic) Law, does the Law not itself decree that a bride who does not preserve her virginity shall be stoned? A priest's daughter, if she dies in sin, is to be consumed by fire? Does it not prohibit any reward of whoredom from being brought to the temple of the Lord? Doesn't it state that of the Israelites who forsook themselves to fornication with the Moabites, 23,000 were slain in a single day? Thus, the grand Paul instructs us: ‘We shall be destroyed, as some of them were destroyed, and in one day twenty-three thousand men fell’ (1 Cor. 10:8). Therefore, throughout the entirety of Scripture, from before, during, and after the Law, the consequences of fornication persist. What may be said of us who have received the command to crucify the flesh along with its passions and desires, yet continue to fall into that for which the wrath of God is poured out upon the sons of disobedience? Are we neither moved by the call to mortify the members here on earth, including fornication, uncleanness, evil desires, and lusts, nor deterred by the warnings of divine wrath, threatening both the heavenly and earthly realms, in this life and the eternal? Will we not be conscious of the reverent fear associated with the manifestation of Christ, the Light of Truth, and conduct ourselves with awe? Should we not tremble at the apostolic admonitions, declarations, and exhortations? “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If anyone harms the temple of God, God will harm him” (1 Cor. 3:16-17). Additionally, “Fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, and similar acts are made known to you, foretelling that those who practice these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19, 21). Moreover, “Every whoremonger, or impure person, or covetous individual who is an idolater shall not inherit the kingdom of Christ and God” (Eph. 5:5). And again: “This is the will of God: your sanctification; that you should abstain from fornication.... God did not call us to uncleanness, but unto holiness. Therefore, he who rejects, does not reject man, but God, who has given us His Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 4:3-8). Can anyone enumerate all the teachings from the Apostles and Prophets on this matter? And behold, to those chaste and therefore perfected in Christ, what does the Apostle counsel? “I write unto you in the epistle, not to associate with fornicators” (1 Cor. 5:9). Because they lack shame, he advises others to separate from them, thereby shaming them, saying, “If any brother is called a fornicator, with such a one eat not” (1 Cor. 5:11). Understand that one who indulges in fornication becomes an abomination to the Church; all ought to shy away from him and expel him. Paul himself delivered the fornicator from Corinth to Satan, showing no favoritism until he exhibited true repentance. Save your soul with utmost effort from such evils — both those present and future, exceedingly burdensome in both time and eternity. Thus, Esau's lineage was discarded because of his fornication and excess, and Rehoboam lost the greater part of the kingdom due to his excessive love for women; while Solomon, who begat him, did not meet with the same fate, as he had the merit of David, who, although he fell into sin, purified himself through abundant tears and other signs of repentance. Flee from fornication, dear brethren, the Apostle again commands. Had Samson fled from this vice, he would not have fallen into Delilah’s hands, lost his strength alongside his hair, had his eyes gouged out, nor faced an agonizing death in the company of enemies. Had Moses' leaders fled from fornication, they would never have offered sacrifice to Baal-Peor, nor eaten offerings to the dead, nor would they have suffered the great loss they did. If Solomon had escaped, he would not have turned away from the God who granted him the throne and wisdom, nor raised altars to idols. Notice how fornication tempts one towards ultimate sin! The beauty of Susanna, that led the elder judges in Babylon astray, would never have triumphed had they turned from this pernicious passion prior to their infraction, nor would Holofernes have met an unfortunate end had he not been enticed by Judith's beauty and allure. So Job wisely proclaimed, “I have made a covenant with my eyes, that I will not think upon a maiden” (Job 31:1); much less target a woman of loose morals, irrespective of her marital status. Therefore, O lover of God, either choose celibacy or enter into a God-honoring marriage! Drink from your own well, or more accurately, from your singular source, but do so chaste; entirely refrain from illicit drinking, for it is foul water, sourced from the abyss of Acheron, infused with deadly poison that ensnares those who partake and leads them straight to destruction. Stay away from the sweet-tasting words of the licentious; for they bring about death, an alienation from God, to whom David lamented, “Thou hast consumed every one that loveth Thee” (Psalms 72:27). Hence, he whose body is the temple of God by the Spirit dwelling within him must strive for purity, or at the very least, discipline himself to remain untainted at all times, suppressing manifest desires and striving for holiness and chastity. Let us flee from all fornication and impurity, so that we may all joyfully dwell with the incorruptible Bridegroom eternal in the pure chambers of matrimonial bliss, through the intercessions of her who bore Him for our salvation, the Virgin, the Immaculate, and Blessed Mother, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Until now, those aware of the Messiah's birth were either humble shepherds or revered figures, both types exercising caution in sharing the momentous news. Meanwhile, it was already somewhat advantageous for the Messiah that discussions about the extraordinary child, seen in the temple and prophesied by Simeon and Anna, circulated among the devout Israelites of Jerusalem.

Having fulfilled all the law's requirements, Joseph and Mary felt no need to linger in Jerusalem. But where should they go next? For them, Bethlehem held greater significance than Nazareth, as it was where Jesus was born and considered the birthplace of the Messiah according to Jewish beliefs. Thus, they settled again in Bethlehem, no longer in a cave. The miraculous events in Jerusalem certainly weighed heavily on the hearts of Joseph and Mary. Like other Jews, they likely envisioned the Messiah’s kingdom being established through great upheavals, believing that ultimately, these would serve the Jewish people while being detrimental to the Gentiles. Yet, Simeon’s revelations challenged this notion: he indicated that this Messiah would be both a cause of ruin for many in Israel and a source of prosperity. The common people may deceive themselves into thinking they are entitled to the Messiah’s blessings, but such favor would depend on the condition of their hearts, their virtues, and their conduct. The Jews believed they alone would participate in the Messiah's reign; this assumption was dangerously misguided. The Messiah's kingdom would shine as a light to the Gentiles and bring glory to Israel as well.

The understanding of the Messiah's kingdom that Simeon articulated encompassed its development much more comprehensively. It expanded upon the ideas presented in Zechariah’s song and the angel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary, presenting Mary with new questions and subjects for contemplation. The elder's words directed at her were particularly profound: “And a sword will pierce through your own soul.” Until then, Mary had known herself as the most blessed among women, destined to be honored by all generations. Now she faced a harsh reality that seemed to contradict her earlier perceptions of her identity and destiny. She searched for ways to interpret this dilemma; however, if the entirety of the Messiah’s mission had been unveiled to her, she may have found so many wondrous elements within it that they would have further complicated her understanding of herself. Therefore, it was essential that time be allowed for this understanding to unfold. Meanwhile, it was both useful and necessary for Mary to acknowledge that in whatever form it would come, her soul would endure significant anguish for her Son. Likewise, when the Savior prepared for His suffering, He deemed it important to forewarn His disciples: “I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe.” Although the disciples did not yet grasp their teacher’s words fully.

Thus, the joyful news of the Savior's birth, initially announced in the fields of Bethlehem to humble shepherds and conveyed through the villages to ordinary folk, reached the capital of God's people. Yet even here, it was first shared only among the righteous, those who longed for Israel's redemption.

Naturally devout, she was married for only seven years before her husband passed away, leading her to entirely dedicate her life to ‘serving God day and night’. In recognition of her faithful devotion, she was granted the privilege of witnessing the Savior of the world. Upon seeing Him, ‘she praised the Lord and spoke of Him to all who were waiting for deliverance in Jerusalem’.

Her declarations did not remain confined within the temple's walls; filled with joyous zeal, she shared the news of Christ with all who were eager for salvation in Jerusalem—every pious soul anticipating the coming of the Savior. The Gospel writer's observation reflects how judiciously this elderly woman, seasoned in piety, shared the word about Christ. The Lord Himself gradually unveiled the profound mystery of godliness (1 Tim. 3:16), as announcing the Savior's birth prematurely could have posed risks to both the Mother and the Child. Those privy to this sacred secret included figures like the humble shepherds of Bethlehem, who were unknown, and others recognized for their devoted faith. Among the former, the news would likely garner little attention, while the latter would handle the joyful revelation with care, ensuring it would be met with belief and not lead to harm. After fulfilling all that the Law of Moses mandated for the purification of the Mother and the presentation of their firstborn to the Lord, Joseph and Mary chose to return to Galilee, to the quiet and somewhat obscure town of Nazareth.