St. John Chrysostom’s Christmas Homily
Behold a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd’s
song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn.
The Angels sing. The Archangels blend their voice in harmony. The
Cherubim hymn their joyful praise. The Seraphim exalt His glory. All
join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and
man in heaven. He Who is above, now for our redemption dwells here
below; and he that was lowly is by divine mercy raised.
Bethlehem this day resembles heaven; hearing from the stars the
singing of angelic voices; and in place of the sun, enfolds within
itself on every side, the Sun of justice. And ask not how: for where God
wills, the order of nature yields. For He willed, He had the power, He
descended, He redeemed; all things yielded in obedience to God. This day
He Who is, is Born; and He Who is, becomes what He was not. For when He
was God, He became man; yet not departing from the Godhead that is His.
Nor yet by any loss of divinity became He man, nor through increase
became He God from man; but being the Word He became flesh, His nature,
because of impassability, remaining unchanged.
And so the kings have come, and they have seen the heavenly King that
has come upon the earth, not bringing with Him Angels, nor Archangels,
nor Thrones, nor Dominations, nor Powers, nor Principalities, but,
treading a new and solitary path, He has come forth from a spotless
womb.
Since this heavenly birth cannot be described, neither does His
coming amongst us in these days permit of too curious scrutiny. Though I
know that a Virgin this day gave birth, and I believe that God was
begotten before all time, yet the manner of this generation I have
learned to venerate in silence and I accept that this is not to be
probed too curiously with wordy speech. For with God we look not for the
order of nature, but rest our faith in the power of Him who works.
What shall I say to you; what shall I tell you? I behold a Mother who
has brought forth; I see a Child come to this light by birth. The
manner of His conception I cannot comprehend.
Nature here rested, while the Will of God labored. O ineffable grace!
The Only Begotten, Who is before all ages, Who cannot be touched or be
perceived, Who is simple, without body, has now put on my body, that is
visible and liable to corruption. For what reason? That coming amongst
us he may teach us, and teaching, lead us by the hand to the things that
men cannot see. For since men believe that the eyes are more
trustworthy than the ears, they doubt of that which they do not see, and
so He has deigned to show Himself in bodily presence, that He may
remove all doubt.
Christ, finding the holy body and soul of the Virgin, builds for
Himself a living temple, and as He had willed, formed there a man from
the Virgin; and, putting Him on, this day came forth; unashamed of the
lowliness of our nature’. For it was to Him no lowering to put on what
He Himself had made. Let that handiwork be forever glorified, which
became the cloak of its own Creator. For as in the first creation of
flesh, man could not be made before the clay had come into His hand, so
neither could this corruptible body be glorified, until it had first
become the garment of its Maker.
What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For
this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of days has become
an infant. He Who sits upon the sublime and heavenly Throne, now lies in
a manger. And He Who cannot be touched, Who is simple, without
complexity, and incorporeal, now lies subject to the hands of men. He
Who has broken the bonds of sinners, is now bound by an infants bands.
But He has decreed that ignominy shall become honor, infamy be clothed
with glory, and total humiliation the measure of His Goodness.
For this He assumed my body, that I may become capable of His Word;
taking my flesh, He gives me His spirit; and so He bestowing and I
receiving, He prepares for me the treasure of Life. He takes my flesh,
to sanctify me; He gives me His Spirit, that He may save me.
Come, then, let us observe the Feast. Truly wondrous is the whole
chronicle of the Nativity. For this day the ancient slavery is ended,
the devil confounded, the demons take to flight, the power of death is
broken, paradise is unlocked, the curse is taken away, sin is removed
from us, error driven out, truth has been brought back, the speech of
kindliness diffused, and spreads on every side, a heavenly way of life
has been ‘in planted on the earth, angels communicate with men without
fear, and men now hold speech with angels.
Why is this? Because God is now on earth, and man in heaven; on every
side all things commingle. He became Flesh. He did not become God. He
was God. Wherefore He became flesh, so that He Whom heaven did not
contain, a manger would this day receive. He was placed in a manger, so
that He, by whom all things arc nourished, may receive an infant’s food
from His Virgin Mother. So, the Father of all ages, as an infant at the
breast, nestles in the virginal arms, that the Magi may more easily see
Him. Since this day the Magi too have come, and made a beginning of
withstanding tyranny; and the heavens give glory, as the Lord is
revealed by a star.
To Him, then, Who out of confusion has wrought a clear path, to
Christ, to the Father, and to the Holy Ghost, we offer all praise, now
and for ever. Amen.
