ACC ~ Matthew 3 v3

THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING

ANONYMOUS: A voice or sound is an obscure utterance, manifesting no secret of the heart but signifying this only: that the one who calls out wants to say something. A word, however, is rational speech, opening the heart’s mystery. While a voice as such is common to both animals and men, a word is fitting only to humans. Thus John was called a voice and not a word, because, through John, God demonstrated neither his mercies nor his justice nor his counsels prepared before the foundation of the world but only this: that God was planning to do something great in human history. Later through his Son he revealed the full mystery of his will. The Son was therefore called the Word. To “make ready the way of the Lord” meant: Repent of your sins and produce fruit worthy of repentance. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 3. [1]

[1] PG 56:647.

PREPARING SOULS FOR PURITY

JEROME: He prepared the souls of believers in whom the Lord would walk, so he might walk in purity along the purest of paths, saying, “I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” [1] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 1.3.3. [2]

[1] Lev 26:12; 2 Cor 6:16.

[2] CCL 77:16.

MAKING A PATH FOR THE COMING MESSIAH

CHRYSOSTOM: Both the prophet and the Baptist state the same idea even though with different words. The prophet said that one would come: “prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” [1] And when John came he himself said, “Bear fruit worthy of repentance,” [2] a statement that corresponds to “prepare the way of the Lord.” Both by the words of the prophets and by John’s own preaching, this one thing is clear: he had arrived, making a way and preparing it beforehand. John was not bestowing the gift, which was the remission of sins, but preparing beforehand the souls of those who would receive the God of all. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 10.3. [3]

[1] Is 40:3.

[2] Mt 3:8.

[3] PG 57:187; NPNF 1 10:63*. John did not bestow the gift of forgiveness but prepared the way for its bestowal.

REMOVE THE STONES FROM THE ROAD

CHROMATIUS: Hence John prepared these ways of mercy and truth, faith and justice. Concerning them, Jeremiah also declared, “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it.” [1] Because the heavenly kingdom is found along these ways, not without good reason John adds, “The kingdom of heaven is near.” [2] So do you want the kingdom of heaven to also be near for you? Prepare these ways in your heart, in your senses and in your soul. Pave within you the way of chastity, the way of faith and the way of holiness. Build roads of justice. Remove every scandal of offense from your heart. For it is written: “Remove the stones from the road.” [3] And then, indeed, through the thoughts of your heart and the very movements of your soul, Christ the King will enter along certain paths. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 8.1. [4]

[1] Jer 6:16.

[2] Mt 3:2.

[3] Is 40:4.

[4] CCL 9a:228-29.