But from what is it evident, you ask, that Christ is descended from David? He was born not of a man, but only of a woman, and the Evangelist does not have the genealogy of the Virgin. So, how can we know that Christ was a descendant of David? Two questions arise here: why is the genealogy of the Mother not shown, and why is Joseph mentioned, who did not participate in the birth of Christ? One seems superfluous, and the other is lacking. What must be decided first? Is the Virgin descended from David? Listen. God commands Gabriel to go "to the Virgin betrothed to a man, whose name was Joseph, from the house of David" (Luke 1:27). What more clearly can be desired, when one hears that the Virgin was of the house and country of David?

From this it is evident that Joseph also came from the same generation. For there was a law that commanded that a wife should not be taken from another tribe, but from the same tribe. And the patriarch Jacob predicted that Christ would come from the tribe of Judah, saying: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the lawgiver from his loins, until the Mediator comes" (to whom it is delayed): "and to Him shall be the obedience of the nations" (Gen. 49:10). But if you desire another proof, let us not be lacking. Among the Jews, it is not allowed to take wives not only from another tribe, but also from another clan or tribe. Therefore, if we apply the words "from the house and country of David" to the Virgin, then what is said will be certain, and if we apply it to Joseph, then what is said about him will also apply to the Virgin. For if Joseph was of the house and country of David, he did not take a wife from another family, but from the same from which he himself came. You will say: what if he acted against the law? The Evangelist forestalled such an objection of yours and testified that Joseph was righteous. Having received information about his virtue, you cannot say that he has broken the law. Being so philanthropic and impartial, that even when he was troubled by suspicion, he did not want to subject the Virgin to torture, would he break the law for the pleasure of the flesh? Standing above the law in his mind (for to let go, and to let go secretly, was characteristic of a man who stood above the law), would he have done anything unlawful, and moreover without any motivating reason?

But if the Evangelist had presented the genealogy of the Virgin, he would have been considered an innovator, therefore, in order that we might know who Mary was and where she came from, and at the same time that custom would not be violated, he presented the genealogy of Her betrothed and showed that he came from the house of David. For when this is proved, then at the same time it is proved that the Virgin was of the same race. Another reason, more mysterious, can be adduced, for which the ancestors of the Virgin are kept silent; But now is not the time to open it, because much has already been said.

And so, having finished the study of our questions, let us try to keep in firm memory what has been explained to us. If you keep all this in mind, then you will arouse in me a greater readiness to explain what follows; but if you ignore it and do not keep it in your memory, then I will be less willing to explain the rest. And the farmer does not want to cultivate the land on which the seeds he previously sowed have perished. Therefore, I ask you to consider what has been said. From such reflections comes a great and salvific blessing for the soul. For by them we can please God, and our lips, in spiritual conversations, will not be defiled with reproaches, shame and abuse. We will also become terrible to the demons, when we arm our tongue with such conversations. We will attract the grace of God to ourselves to a greater extent, and our gaze will become more discerning in relation to divine things, for God has given us sight, mouth, and hearing, so that all our members may serve Him, and that we may unceasingly offer thanksgiving to Him. As the body, enjoying pure air, is healthier, so the soul, nourished by these reflections, becomes wiser.

Have you not seen that tears flow from the bodily eyes, when they have been in smoke for a long time, and in the fresh air, in the meadows, by springs, and in gardens, they become sharper and healthier? The same thing happens with spiritual vision. If it is turned to the meadow of spiritual writings, it becomes pure, clear, and penetrating, so that it can see the calumnies of demons; and if he remains in the smoke of worldly cares, he will constantly shed tears, weep in this and the next age. For human affairs are like smoke, and nothing causes so much illness to the spiritual sight and muddies it as the multitude of worldly cares and desires. As ordinary fire, enveloping a damp and soaked substance, produces a great smoke, so any lust gives birth to a great smoke and brings oblivion when it embraces someone's soul, passionate and weak.

Thus, we are constantly in need of prayer and the reading of the Divine Scriptures, in order to extinguish the fire of passions and disperse the smoke of the vanity of life, for nothing is of such great benefit as prayer and the reading of the Divine Scriptures, if we exercise them with a sober mind. This is the food of the soul, its adornment, its life, its healing and strengthening of the mind. By this we must adorn ourselves, by this we must raise our children, wives, friends, and enemies to perfection. In the same way, great men, friends of God, attained perfection. David, after his fall, as soon as he heard the glory of instruction, immediately showed in himself a most beautiful example of repentance; and the apostles, with the help of the word of Christ, became what they were afterwards and converted the whole world.

But what is the use, you will say, when one listens, but does not do what he hears? There will be considerable benefit from hearing alone. You will recognize yourself, you will sigh, and perhaps you will come to the point where you will fulfill what you have heard. And who does not know that he has sinned, can he cease to sin? Can he know his sins? Therefore, let us not neglect to hear the Holy Scriptures. Not to allow oneself to see treasures, lest one be enriched, is the devil's intention. He represents to us that listening to God's law means nothing, fearing that, while listening to it, we will be disposed to obey it. And so, knowing this pernicious intent of his, let us guard ourselves on all sides with spiritual songs, prayers and the Holy Scriptures, so that, surrounded by this weapon, we ourselves will not only not fall into captivity, but also crush its head, and for this we will be crowned with glorious signs of victory and achieve future blessings, according to the grace and love of humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Our Holy Father John,

Archbishop of Constantinople,

Chrysostom

Discourse on the Holy Gospel of Matthew

The Nativity of Jesus Christ was like this.

Tell me, what kind of birth are you talking about? You have already spoken about ancestors. I wish, says the Evangelist, to speak also about the manner of birth. Do you see how he aroused the attention of the listener? Since he intended to narrate about the wondrous mystery of being born of a virgin, he first depicted the genealogy and, wishing to cover this mystery, mentioned Mary's husband, Joseph. Now it tells about the birth itself.