Слово на день Рождества Христова. Святого Амвросия, епископа Медиоланского

Well, in some respects, the common people call this holy day of the Nativity of Christ the new sun, and confirm this with such force that even Jews and pagans agree with it in this name. We must willingly accept this name, because with the birth of the Savior, not only the salvation of the human race is renewed, but also the brilliance of the sun itself, as the Apostle says: lead (in order to renew) everything about Christ, who is in heaven and who is on earth (Eph. 1:10). For if the sun was darkened at the time when Christ suffered, then it should have shone brighter than usual at the time of His birth: and if it covered the Jews with darkness, who brought death, then should not it have shown its shine to Mary, who gave birth to life? Or why should we not believe that the sun at the time of the Nativity of Christ rose with great brilliance for His services, when a star, brighter than usual, preceded the Magi to show them the way? And if the star fulfilled its duty during the day, out of season, then why shouldn’t we believe that the sun, with its early appearance, somewhat shortened the night time? That is why, I think, the night diminished, because the sun, hastening for the sake of the Nativity of the Lord to serve, brought its light to the world before it completed the course of its time. It is better to say that then there was not even night, and that there was no darkness at all, when the shepherds were awake, the Angels were having fun, and the luminaries were serving. And we should not be surprised that at the time of the Nativity of Christ everything was new, because what the Virgin gave birth to was also new. If the birth was unusual, then the services provided to him were beyond the ordinary. That is why, during the appearance of the Lord, the shepherds are awake, the angels rejoice, the sun obeys, the star serves. And besides, Angels and shepherds show their joy with their voices or words; and the luminaries, having no voice, testify to their joy by serving. So, during this celebration, the sun, unusually, rose early. And it is not surprising: for if the sun, through the prayer of Joshua, stood motionless during the day, then why did it not hasten to rise at night for the sake of the birth of Jesus Christ? So, the common people call the present day the new sun, and speaking of the new, they show that there is also an old sun. I would call the old sun of this world, which is subject to eclipse, does not penetrate the steppe, is darkened by clouds, - which is subject to vanity, fears corruption, is terrified of judgment, for it is written: the sun will turn into darkness, and the moon into blood (Joel 2:31). Old, I say, I would call the sun, which is present at the atrocities of people, does not hide from adultery, does not shy away from murder; and when none of the people wants to be a mediator in the commission of any crime, this sun is present in all atrocities. If it is obvious that this sun is old, then where will we find the new sun if not in Christ the Lord? It is written about Him: the sun of righteousness will shine upon you (Malach. 4:2); The Prophet speaks about Him and on behalf of sinners: the sun did not rise for us, and the light of righteousness did not shine upon us (Wis. 5:6). This sun (when the whole world was covered with the darkness of the devil, and when darkness reigned, filled with the atrocities of the times) in the last time, i.e. in the dead of night He deigned to reveal the light of His Nativity. First, before the appearance of light, that is, before the Sun of righteousness shone, It sent, as if some morning foreshadowing, Prophets, as the Scripture says: My prophets sent early (Jer. 7:25). And then It itself shone with Its rays, that is, with the brilliance of Its Apostles, and illuminated the world with such a great light of truth so that the darkness of the devil would not weigh upon anyone. So, this is the new Sun, Which penetrates the hidden, opens the gates of hell, tests hearts; this is the new Sun, which by the Holy Spirit revives the lifeless, renews the damaged, resurrects the dead, - which with its warmth cleanses the unclean, burns the damp, corrects the spoiled. This is the same Sun, which sees in all our actions, whatever we do, and does not so much condemn sins as correct them; this, truly, is the righteous and wise Sun, which, not without distinction, like the sun of this world, shines for good and evil, but according to some judgment of truth, it shines for the saint, but sets for the sinner. The difference between the one and the other sun is that one is afraid of judgment, and the other threatens judgment; that is, the author of corruption, and this is the Lord of eternity; that is, a creature, and this is the Creator. However, the sun of this world, before its rising and the appearance of light, is usually preceded by a lamp to satisfy the necessary needs of people. And Christ the Sun has His lamp, which preceded His rising, as the Prophet says: I have prepared a lamp for my anointed (Psalm 13:17). And what kind of lamp this is, the Lord shows this, speaking about John the Baptist: he was a lamp of burning and shining (John 5:35). John himself, like the previous small light of a lamp, says: He who comes after me is stronger than me, but he is not worthy to carry boots: he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11). Also understanding his light, which was supposed to be eclipsed by the rays of the sun, he predicted: it is fitting for him to grow, but for me to grow small (John 3:30). For just as the light of a lamp is darkened when the sun appears, so John’s baptism of repentance was abolished after the coming of the grace of Christ. But let's see from what source this new Sun of ours is born. As the truth says, It is born of God. So, It is the Son of the Divinity, the Divinity intact, immaculate, pure. Here, in truth, I find a secret. The second birth was from the immaculate Mary because the first in Divinity was immaculate, so that in this way He, whose first birth was glorious, would be blameless in the second, that is, just as from eternity the virgin Divinity gave birth to Him, so in time the Virgin Mary was supposed to give birth to Him. However, it is written that He had a father among men: in the Gospel this is how we read the words of the Pharisees: Is this not the son of Joseph Tekton? Is not his mother called Miriam (Matthew 13:55)? And here, notice the secret. Tekton is called the father of Christ. And in truth, God the Father is Tecton, Who created and arranged the entire universe, - Who taught Noah before the flood to build an ark. Tekton - He who drew the image of the tabernacle for Moses, established the ark of the covenant, and erected the temple of Solomon. Tecton should be called the One who softens cruel souls, cuts off proud thoughts, elevates humble deeds, this Tecton uses an ax for trees, as John says in the Gospel: for even the ax lies at the root of the tree: every tree that does not produce fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 3:10). From fruitful trees cultivated by heaven, He builds a building, and, uprooting the barren ones, He burns them with a flame of fire. Amen 51. Biblioth. Patr. Concionator. Parisiis. 1662 ann., vol. I, pp. 150–151; compare "Christ. Reading." 1846, part IV, countries. 345 – 352. You might be interested in: