The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church: Containing the Sermones Catholici, or Homilies of Ælfric, in the Original Anglo-Saxon, with an English Version. Volume I.Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham
Religion
The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church: Containing the Sermones Catholici, or Homilies of Ælfric, in the Original Anglo-Saxon, with an English Version. Volume I.
Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham
Sermons, English (Old)
Now the pope Gregory, expounding this gospel, says, that everyone wonders
how Jesus came in to his apostles, and yet the doors were shut. But again
St. Gregory says, that Christ's body came in, the doors being closed, which
was born of the Virgin Mary, of a closed womb. What wonder is it, that
Jesus with an everlasting body came in, the doors being closed, who with a
mortal body was born of the closed womb of the virgin?
We read in the book which is called The Acts of the Apostles, that the
chief men of the Jewish people brought Christ's apostles into prison: then
by night God's angel came to them, and led them out of the prison, and on
the morrow the prison stood fast shut up. God can do all things: therefore
we should wonder at his might, and also believe. He showed the body to be
touched which he had brought in, the doors being closed. His body was
tangible, and, nevertheless, incorruptible; he showed himself tangible and
incorruptible, for his body was of the same nature that it before was, but
was yet of another glory.
Jesus said to them, "Peace be among you." For peace Christ came to men, and
peace he enjoined and taught, and nothing is to him acceptable which is
done without peace. {233} "As my Father sent me so I send you. The Father
loveth the Son, but yet he sendeth him to suffering for the redemption of
men." Christ also loved his apostles, and yet he established them not as
kings, nor as governors, nor in worldly bliss; but he sent them over all
the earth, to preach baptism and the faith which he himself had taught.
They preached until the wicked slew them, and they went triumphant to their
Lord.
Christ blew on the apostles, and said, "Receive the Holy Ghost." Twice came
the Holy Ghost over the apostles; once now, and again another time at
Christ's ascension. Christ blew the Holy Ghost over the apostles, while yet
continuing on earth, for a token that every christian man should love his
neighbour as himself. Again, after he had ascended to heaven, he sent the
Holy Ghost in semblance of fire over the apostles, to the end that we
should love God above all other things. The Holy Ghost is one, though he
came twice over the apostles. So there is also one love, and two
commandments, that we should love God and men. But we should learn in men
how we may come to the love of God, as John the apostle said, "He who
loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, whom he seeth
not bodily?" Before that time the Holy Ghost was dwelling in the apostles,
but they were not stimulated to that degree, that they could boldly preach
God's faith, as they could afterwards, through the grace of the Holy Ghost.
They sat, for fear of the Jewish people, shut in a house; but after they
were filled with the Holy Ghost, they were so encouraged, and so bold, that
they freely proclaimed the name of God to fierce and bloodthirsty kings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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