ACC ~ Luke 1 v36 - 38

JESUS FROM PRIESTLY AND ROYAL TRIBES

BEDE: Now when the mediator between God and human beings [1] appeared in the world, it was fitting that he had his physical origin from both tribes because, in the humanity which he assumed, he would possess the roles of both priest and king. HOMILY ON THE GOSPELS 1.3. [2]

[1] 1 Tim 2:5.

[2] CS 110:26-27.

MARY’S OBEDIENCE REVERSES EVE’S DISOBEDIENCE

IRENAEUS: So the Lord now manifestly came to his own. Born by his own created order that he himself bears, he by his obedience on the tree renewed and reversed what was done by disobedience in connection with a tree. The power of that seduction by which the virgin Eve, already betrothed to a man, had been wickedly seduced was broken when the angel in truth brought good tidings to the Virgin Mary, who already by her betrothal belonged to a man. For as Eve was seduced by the word of an angel to flee from God, having rebelled against his Word, so Mary by the word of an angel received the glad tidings that she would bear God by obeying his Word. The former was seduced to disobey God and so fell, but the latter was persuaded to obey God, so that the Virgin Mary might become the advocate of Eve. As the human race was subjected to death through the act of a virgin, so was it saved by a virgin was precisely balanced by the obedience of another. Then indeed the sin of the first formed man was amended by the chastisement of the First Begotten, the wisdom of the serpent was conquered by the simplicity of the dove, and the chains were broken by which we were in bondage to death. AGAINST HERESIES 5.19-20. [1]

[1] LCC 1:389-90*.