ACC ~ Matthew 1 v21

JOSEPH TO NAME JESUS

CHRYSOSTOM: It was as if the angel were saying to Joseph, “Do not imagine that, because he is conceived of the Holy Spirit, that you have no part in the ministry of this new dispensation. In the conception you had no part. You never touched the virgin. Nevertheless I am giving you what pertains to a father. I give you the honor of giving a name to the One who is to be born. For you, Joseph, shall name him. For though the offspring is not your own, yet you are called to exhibit a father’s care toward him. So on this occasion, at this moment of giving him a name, you stand in significant relation with the one who is born.” Then lest on the other hand anyone should, out of all this, suspect him to be the father, hear what follows and with what exact care the angel states it: “She shall bring forth a Son.” He does not say “bring forth to you” but merely “she shall bring forth,” putting it indefinitely, since it was not merely to him that she brought forth, but to the whole world. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 4.6. [1]

[1] PG 57:47-48; NPNF 1 10:25-26**. The conception is wholly of the Holy Spirit, yet in being given the honor of naming the child, Joseph took on a fatherly role in relation to him.

MARY’S CONCEPTION COMPARED WITH ELIZABETH’S

ANONYMOUS: “She will bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” He did not say, “She will bear you a son,” as he said to Zacharias: “Behold, your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son.” [1] The woman who conceived from a man bore her husband a son. Mary’s case is greater than Elizabeth’s. The woman who had not conceived from a man did not bear him a son but bore only herself a son.

See in what way the similarity here follows in everything that happened with Adam. At that time the woman alone, tasting of the fruit of the tree, was seduced and brought forth death, but Adam did not share in her seduction. He did not sin through being seduced by the devil but because he consented to the woman’s act. Likewise, submitting to the Holy Spirit, Mary alone believed, saying, “Behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” [2] Joseph then actually had nothing in common with her conception, but later he was saved only by being silent and consenting. Joseph was assisted in a dream—not openly—so that even as when Adam was asleep God created the woman, so when Joseph was asleep he was given a wife by divine influence. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 1. [3]

[1] Lk 1:13.

[2] Lk 1:48.

[3] PG 56:634.

THE SAVIOR FROM SIN

ANONYMOUS: The Evangelist here interprets the meaning of Jesus in the Hebrew language, saying, “He shall save his people from their sins.” Therefore, while a doctor, who has no real power over human health, is unashamed to call himself a doctor simply because of his ability to prepare herbs, how much more worthy is the one who is called Savior, through whom the whole world is saved? INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 1. [1]

[1] Ibid.