ACC ~ Luke 17 v37

THE EAGLES ARE THE WOMEN WHO GATHER AROUND CHRIST’S BODY AT THE TOMB

AMBROSE: “Answering, they said, ‘Where, Lord?’” The disciples asked this. The Lord predicted where they must flee, when they must stay, and of what they should be wary. He summarized everything in a general definition, saying, “Wherever the body will be, the eagles will be gathered together there.” Let us first speculate what the eagles are, so we may determine what the body is. The souls of the righteous are compared with eagles, because they seek the heights, [1] leave the depths behind, and reportedly reach a great age. David also says to his soul, “Your youth will be renewed like that of an eagle.” [2] If we understood the eagles, we cannot doubt concerning the body, particularly if we remember that Joseph received the body of Christ from Pilate. [3] Does it not seem to you that the eagles around the body are Mary of Cleopas, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of the Lord, [4] and the assembly of the apostles around the Lord’s tomb? EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 8.54-55. [5]

[1] Obad 1:4.

[2] Ps 102:5 LXX.

[3] Jn 19:38.

[4] Jn 19:25.

[5] EHG 353**.

THE SAINTS GATHER AROUND THE SACRAMENT

AMBROSE: He says concerning this body, “My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” [1] Around this body, eagles fly on spiritual wings. Around the body, eagles believe that Jesus has come in the flesh, because every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. [2] Where faith is, there is the sacrament and the dwelling place of holiness. The body is also the church, in which we are renewed in the spirit [3] through the grace of baptism, and the frailties of old age are restored for ages of new life. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 8.56. [4]

[1] Jn 6:55.

[2] 1 Jn 4:2.

[3] See Eph 4:23.

[4] EHG 353-54**.