Homilies on Luke — Homily 18 (Luke 2:40–49)
Latin source: Origen's Greek homilies on Luke, surviving only in Jerome's Latin translation (c. 391), from the reading text of M. Rauer (ed.), Origenes Werke IX (GCS 35, Leipzig, 1930). This English translation is released into the public domain.Concerning what is written: "But the child grew and became strong", up to the place where he says: "Do you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
My Lord Jesus was born, and his parents went up to Jerusalem to fulfill the things that had been commanded in the law, and to offer for him "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons". Simeon held him in his arms, as was read a little while ago, and prophesied concerning him the things that the account relates. And after everything was completed according to custom, the parents returned. In what year was Jesus at that time? He was assuredly still a little child, and yet he "grew and became strong and was filled with wisdom" and grace; he had not yet completed the forty days of purification, he had not yet come to Nazareth, and already he was receiving all wisdom. Scripture could have said: "he grew and became strong, and received the Spirit"; but because "he had emptied himself, taking the form of a servant", as soon as the sacrifice was offered for his purification, that which he had emptied out he filled up again — not that his body was thereupon made greater, but that something more sacred might be shown, as Scripture reports: "but the child grew and became strong and was filled with wisdom". Let us inquire whether anywhere else it is written of a little child: "he grew and became strong", so that by comparing many passages we may be able to understand what more is said in the case of our Lord. We read concerning John: "but the child grew and became strong", and yet there is not added: "and was filled with wisdom", but rather: "he became strong in spirit". But here, concerning the Lord, it says: "he grew and became strong and was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him". All these things were said of a child who had not yet completed twelve years. But when he was twelve years old, he remained behind in Jerusalem. His parents, not knowing this, seek him anxiously and do not find him. They seek "among their kinsfolk", they seek "in the company", they seek "among their acquaintances", and in all these they do not find him. Jesus, then, is sought by his parents, by the father who had been his nurse and companion when he went down to Egypt, and yet he is not found immediately when he is sought. For Jesus is not found among relatives and kinsmen of the flesh, not among those who are joined to him bodily. In the company of many my Jesus cannot be found. Learn where those seeking him find him, so that you too, seeking with Joseph and Mary, may find him. And seeking him, it says, "they found him in the temple". Not anywhere in some other place, but "in the temple", and not simply "in the temple", but "in the midst of the teachers, hearing them and questioning them". You too, therefore, seek Jesus "in the temple" of God, seek him in the Church, seek him among the masters who are "in the temple" and do not go out from it; for if you seek in this way, you will find him. Moreover, if anyone says that he is a master and does not have Jesus, that man is a master in name only, and therefore Jesus, the word of God and wisdom, cannot be found with him. He was found, it says, "in the midst of the teachers". Just as it is written in another place concerning the prophets, so also now understand "in the midst of the teachers". "If", it says, "anything is revealed to another who is sitting by, let the first keep silence". They find him "sitting in the midst of the teachers", and not only "sitting", but also "questioning and hearing them". And now too Jesus is present; he questions us and hears us speaking. "And all", it says, "were amazed". At what were they "amazed"? Not at his questions, although these too were marvelous, but "at his answers". For it is one thing to ask, another to answer. He was questioning the teachers, and because at times they could not answer, he himself answered them concerning the things about which he had asked. But that an answer signifies not the alternation of conversing but teaching in the holy scriptures, let the divine law teach you. "Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice". That answer was concerning the matters about which the Lord was instructing the ignorant Moses. Sometimes Jesus asks, sometimes he answers, and as we said above, although his questioning is marvelous, nevertheless his answering is far more marvelous. Therefore, that we too may hear him and that he may set before us questions which he himself may resolve, let us beseech him and seek him with the utmost labor and sorrow, and then we shall be able to find him whom we seek. For it is not written in vain: "I and your father have been seeking you with sorrow". He who seeks Jesus must seek not negligently, not carelessly, not in passing, as some seek and therefore cannot find him. But let us say: "with sorrow we seek you". And when we have said this, he will answer our laboring soul that seeks him with sorrow, and will say: "Do you not know that I must be in my Father's house?". Where are the heretics, where are the impious and the mad, who assert that the law and the prophets do not belong to the Father of Jesus Christ? Surely Jesus was "in the temple" that was built by Solomon, and he confesses that that temple belongs to his Father, whom he revealed to us, whose Son he said he was. Let them answer, how one God is good and another just. Since, therefore, the Savior is the Son of the Creator, let us together praise the Father and the Son, whose is the law, whose also is the temple: to whom be glory and dominion unto the ages of ages. Amen.