Gregory the Great, on 1Sam 16:4

“Then Samuel did as the Lord had said to him. And he came to Bethlehem, and the ancients of the city wondered, and meeting him, they said: Is thy coming hither peaceable?”

“He is sent therefore to Bethlehem, because when Christ is sought according to the flesh, He is found born from the people of the Jews. He came also to Bethlehem, because the order of preachers strove first to convert Judea, and afterward preached the faith of the Redeemer to the Gentiles. But what does it mean that the elders of the city marvel, except that those who had attained the understanding of maturity were astonished at the preaching of so great a novelty? But marveling, they come to meet him, because they gladly hear the preaching of the truth. To come to meet preachers is to hear with desire the word of faith that they preach. What do they ask about his peaceful entrance? What is a peaceful entrance, except when he has come with the presence of peace? This same peace He shows who says: "He Himself is our peace, who has made both one" (Eph. 2:14). What does it mean, then, that they ask about his peaceful entrance, except that the hearts of the elect Jews were waiting with desire for the promise of the fathers? As if wavering, those who were waiting might say: "Has the peace perhaps come, which foretold that it would come, so great a span of time running ahead?" And because the new teachers relate that what the ancient fathers had promised has been fulfilled, they say: "It is peaceful." As if to say: We do not promise future things, but we show the present gifts of peace. In our entrance it is present; in our word it is not something future. Already the righteous Simeon saw, already he held and adored Him, saying: "Now you dismiss your servant, O Lord, according to your word in peace" (Luke 2:29). Already He appeared to the shepherds; already, with the long-awaited peace sent from heaven, the multitude of angels sang: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will" (Luke 2:14). And because He had come not only to preach peace but also to persuade...”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.

This page is the stable address of one quotation — verbatim, dated, attributed, with its edition. Cite it freely.