ACC ~ Luke 3 v1 - 2

THE GATHERING OF THE GENTILES AND THE DISPERSION OF THE JEWS

GREGORY THE GREAT: Luke recalls the rulers of the Roman republic and the rulers of Judea to indicate the time when our Redeemer’s forerunner received his mission to preach. …

Since John was coming to preach one who was to redeem some from Judea and many from among the Gentiles, the period of his preaching is indicated by naming the Gentiles’ ruler and those of the Jews. But because the Gentiles were to be gathered together and Judea dispersed on account of the error of its faithlessness, this description of earthly rule also shows us that in the Roman republic one person presided. FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 6. [1]

[1] CS 123:35-36*.

SETTING THE STAGE FOR SALVATION HISTORY

GREGORY THE GREAT: It is apparent, then, that Judea, which lay divided among so many kings, had reached the end of its sovereignty.

It was also appropriate to indicate not only under which kings but also under which high priests this occurred. Since John the Baptist preached one who was at once both king and priest, the evangelist Luke indicated the time of his preaching by referring to both the kingship and the high priesthood. FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 6. [1]

[1] CS 123:36.

THE WORD GATHERS THE CHURCH IN THE DESERT

AMBROSE: The Son of God, who is to gather the church, first works in a servant. Thus St. Luke fittingly says that the Word of the Lord came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness, so that the church would not begin from a man but from the Word. For she is a wilderness, because children of depravity outnumber hers, though she has a husband. Then it is said to her, “Sing, O barren one,” [1] and, “Break forth together into singing, you waste places,” [2] because the desert had not yet been cultivated by any work of a flock of people, nor had those trees which could bear fruit displayed the crown of their merits. The one who said, “I am like a green olive tree in the house of the Lord,” [3] had not yet come, nor had that heavenly Vine borne fruit with its shoots of words on the trained branch of its own people. [4] So the Word came that the desolate earth would bring forth fruit for us. The Word came, and the voice followed, for the Word first works within before the voice follows. Hence David too says, “I believed, and then I spoke.” [5] EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 2.67. [6]

[1] Is 54:1.

[2] Is 52:9.

[3] Ps 52:8.

[4] See Jn 15:1.

[5] Ps 115:1 LXX.

[6] EHG 63**.