Luke § 34

And it happened afterward, that he was traveling through cities and villages, preaching and evangelizing the kingdom of God, and the twelve were with him. We see in Christ's disciples the fulfillment of what we read said about that ancient people of the Hebrews. Nor is it surprising, because the same God of both Testaments will give blessing through the Son, who gave the law through the servant. As it says, a (mother) eagle provoking her young to fly, and hovering over them, spreads her wings, takes them up, and bears them on her shoulders (Deut. XXXII). For just as the young birds, newly born, cannot yet conquer the air by flying until they become feathered: so all the faithful, to be able to fly to heavenly things, must first clothe themselves with the wing of virtues in the nest of faith. Thus the apostles themselves, teachers of the faithful, gradually ascend to the heights, so that they can also preside over the teaching of others. First indeed the Lord teaches in synagogues, performs miracles, spreads renown everywhere, receives the crowds coming to him, heals, instructs. Hence he makes disciples, refreshes at the wedding of the bridegroom, leads them through fields, and defends them from the bites of serpentine Pharisees, like the young eagles with the stone brought against the bites of serpents. From these he chooses twelve, whom he names apostles, but he first teaches them in the presence of the crowd, giving to the usual benefits to the wretched along with the threatening crowd. Afterward, however, as it has been read herein, preaching through cities and villages, he retains only those who might hear him more intimately, explaining to them alone the mysteries of the kingdom of God, which he had spoken to others in parables. As if finally, with the manifestation of his virtues, firm as with the protection of wings, he gives them the power to heal, and sends them out to preach the kingdom of God.

But like the eagle, enticing its young ones to fly, our Lord, step by step, raises up His disciples to heavenly things. He first of all teaches in the synagogues, and performs miracles. He next chooses twelve whom He names Apostles; He afterwards takes them alone with Him, as He preached throughout the cities and villages, as it follows, And the twelve were with him.

And it came to pass afterwards etc. Above was set forth the common instruction of the disciples in the doctrine of those things which are required for the salvation of all. But in this part there follows the special instruction in the mystical doctrine of the Scriptures. And since this doctrine is proposed to the crowds in parables, and opened to the disciples, and confirmed by miracles, therefore this part has three sections: in the first of which is set forth parabolic instruction in hidden mysteries; in the second, apostolic formation in open discourses, at the place: Now the parable is this: and in the third, its authoritative confirmation in manifest miracles, at the place: And it came to pass on one of the days etc.

First is set forth the parabolic instruction in hidden mysteries through three points.

Concerning the parabolic doctrine, which is proposed to every class of people in common for hearing and to the Apostles for understanding, three things are introduced. The first is the gathering of the multitude for hearing; the second is the proposal of the similitude for leading by the hand, and this at the place: A sower went out to sow etc.; the third is the arousing of solicitude for understanding, which is described at the place: Saying these things, he cried out etc.

As to the first point, it should be noted that there was a concourse of the multitude to the doctrine of Christ for a fourfold reason, as can be gathered from the text: for some accompanied Christ by reason of the office undertaken, as the Apostles; some, by reason of a benefit received, as the sick who had been healed; some, by reason of service to be rendered, as the honorable women; and some, by reason of hearing the divine word, as the multitude of the crowd. And these four classes the Evangelist enumerates as having come together for the doctrine of Christ.

First, therefore, with regard to the Apostles accompanying Christ by reason of the office undertaken, it is prefaced: And it came to pass afterwards, and he was journeying through cities and towns, that is, through places where the lesser and the greater dwell, according to what is said in Wisdom 6: "He made the small and the great, and he has equal care of all," especially with regard to those things which pertain to salvation; on account of which it says: Preaching and evangelizing the kingdom of God, according to that passage of Isaiah 52: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who announces and preaches peace and announces salvation, who preaches good things." — And because the word is set forth in vain unless a hearer is present, therefore it is added: And the twelve with him, who, namely, were following him by reason of the office undertaken, to which he had chosen them: above in chapter six: "He chose twelve, whom he also named Apostles." Hence the Apostles themselves went about with him as he evangelized, so that they might collaborate with him in the Gospel, according to that to which the Apostle exhorts in Second Timothy 1: "But be a fellow laborer for the Gospel according to the power of God, who has delivered us and called us with his holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose"; because, in John 15, "you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and your fruit should remain."

(Orat. xxxvii. 2.) For He passes from place to place, that He may not only gain many, but may consecrate many places. He sleeps and labours, that He may sanctify sleep and labour. He weeps, that He may give a value to tears. He preaches heavenly things, that He may exalt His hearers.

(lib. iii. ep. 206.) Now this kingdom of God some think to be higher and better than the heavenly kingdom, but some think it to be one and the same in reality, but called by different names; at one time the kingdom of God from Him who reigneth, but at another the kingdom of heaven from the Angels and Saints, His subjects, who are said to be of heaven.

Now this kingdom of God some think to be higher and better than the heavenly kingdom, but some think it to be one and the same in reality but called by different names; at one time the kingdom of God from Him who reigns, but at another the kingdom of heaven from the Angels and Saints, His subjects, who are said to be of heaven.

Nor indeed, if, among the Greeks, in accordance with the carelessness of custom, women and wives are classed under a common name-however, there is a name proper to wives-shall we therefore so interpret Paul as if he demonstrates the apostles to have had wives? For if he were disputing about marriages, as he does in the sequel, where the apostle could better have named some particular example, it would appear right for him to say, "For have we not the power of leading about wives, like the other apostles and Cephas? "But when he subjoins those (expressions)which show his abstinence from (insisting on) the supply of maintenance, saying, "For have we not the power of eating and drinking? "he does not demonstrate that "wives" were led about by the apostles, whom even such as have not still have the power of eating and drinking; but simply "women," who used to minister to them in the stone way (as they did) when accompanying the Lord. But further, if Christ reproves the scribes and Pharisees, sitting in the official chair of Moses, but not doing what they taught, what kind of (supposition).

He who descended from heaven, for our example and imitation, gives us a lesson not to be slothful in teaching. Hence it is said, And it came to pass afterward that he went, &c.

Not teaching or preaching, but to be instructed by Him.

For He who descends from heaven to earth, brings tidings to them that dwell on earth of a heavenly kingdom. But who ought to preach the kingdom of heaven? Many prophets came, yet preached not the kingdom of heaven, for how could they pretend to speak of things which they perceived not?

And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, who is called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out. Mary Magdalene, she is the one whose silent name the next reading relates as one who repented. For the evangelist, beautifully and reverently, when he mentions her traveling with the Lord and ministering to him from her resources, reveals her by her known name. But when he describes the sinful, yet repentant woman, he generally says "woman"; for otherwise, the name of such great fame, by which she is venerated today in all the Churches, would be stained by the mark of ancient error. Of whom it is reported that seven demons went out, showing that she was full of countless, indeed all, vices. For because the ages proceed by the seven days, the number seven often in the Scriptures signifies universality. Hence also the prophet embraces the grace of the Holy Spirit with the distinction of seven virtues.

Mary Magdalene is the same of whose repentance, without mention of her name, we have just read. For the Evangelist, when he relates her going with our Lord, rightly distinguishes her by her known name, but when describing the sinner but penitent, He speaks of her generally as a woman; lest the mark of her former guilt should blacken a name of so great report. Out of whom seven devils are reported to have gone, that it might be shown that she was full of all vices.

But Mary is by interpretation, "bitter sea," because of the loud wailing of her penitence; Magdalene, "a tower, or rather belonging to a tower," from the tower of which it is said, Thou art become my hope, my strong tower from the face of my enemy. (Ps. 61:3.)

Second, with regard to the healed accompanying him by reason of the benefit received, it is added: And certain women, supply: were journeying with him, and this by reason of the benefit received; whence he adds: Who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities. Therefore they accompanied him as their savior and physician, according to the counsel of the Wise Man, Sirach 38: "Give place to the physician, and let him not depart from you, for his works are necessary"; whence above in chapter six: "And those who were troubled by unclean spirits were healed. And all the crowd sought to touch him, because power went forth from him and healed all."

And note that although he healed both sexes, he nevertheless specifies more about the female sex, either because it is the weaker sex, according to that passage in First Peter 3: "Bestowing honor on the weaker feminine vessel"; or because she is more merciful than a man with respect to another's infirmity, according to that passage in Proverbs, the last chapter, concerning the good woman: "She opened her hand to the needy and stretched out her palms to the poor"; or because among the persons healed they were the more notable. — And therefore he names some of them individually, when he adds: Mary, who is called Magdalene, from Magdala, a town two miles from Tiberias; and she was notable by reason of the enormity of her sin; whence he also adds: From whom seven demons had gone out, that is, all vices. Gregory: "Mary had seven demons, because she was full of all vices." These demons went out when her sins were forgiven, according to what is said below in chapter eleven: "When the unclean spirit goes out from a man, it wanders through waterless places"; and they were forgiven her, above in chapter seven. For this is that sinful woman about whom he spoke above, as Bede says in the Gloss.

(Hom. 33. in Ev.) For what is understood by the seven devils, but all vices? For since all time is comprehended by seven days, rightly by the number seven is universality represented: Mary therefore had seven devils, for she was full of every kind of vice.

But lest it should seem that the women were hindered from following Christ, it is added, And certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.

If anyone does not believe that wherever they preached the gospel the apostles brought women of holy life with them, so that these women might minister the necessities of life to them from their abundance, let him hear the Gospel and realize that the apostles did this by the example of our Lord himself.

And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward. If Mary suggests the Church cleansed from the filth of sins among the nations, why should not Joanna designate the same Church, once indeed subject to the worship of idols, but now redeemed by the piety of Christ? For any evil spirit, prompt to deceive the human race, while it acts for the kingdom of the devil, is almost like the steward of most impious Herod.

And Susanna, and many others, who were ministering to him from their resources. It was a Jewish custom, nor was it considered blameworthy, according to an ancient custom of the nation, that women should minister food and clothing to teachers from their substance. Because this could cause scandal among nations, Paul mentions that he refrained: "Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as the other apostles do?" (1 Cor. IX). They ministered to the Lord from their substance, that they might reap their carnal things, whose spiritual things they were reaping. Not because the Lord of creation needed food, but to show a type of teachers, that they should be content with food and clothing from their disciples. Susanna is interpreted as lily, or her grace. But better, if the female name is symbolized by the lily, I believe on account of the fragrant whiteness of heavenly faith and the golden ardor of inner love. Joanna, the Lord is her grace, or the Lord is merciful; namely because all that we live is from him. Maria, bitter sea, doubtless because of the implanted wailing of repentance, by which either Mary herself, or each of us, bewails the old vices, that we may deserve to attain eternal grace and splendor. Magdalene, tower; but better, just as from mountain comes montanus, so from tower comes turrensis. That is, to whom the Psalmist sings: "You led me forth, for you have been my hope, a tower of strength from the face of the enemy" (Psalm LX).

Joanna is by interpretation "the Lord her grace," or "the merciful Lord," for from Him cometh every thing that we live upon. But if Mary, cleansed from the corruption of her sins, points to the Church of the Gentiles, why does not Joanna represent the same Church formerly subject to the worship of idols?

For every evil spirit whilst he acts for the devil's kingdom, is as it were Herod's steward. Susanna is interpreted, "a lily," or its grace, because of the fragrance and whiteness of the heavenly life, and the golden heat of inward love.

There was also one notable by reason of the nobility of her husband; whence he adds: And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, the steward of Herod, who was a noble person. There was also one notable in herself, of whom it is added without a surname: And Susanna. He names these three, moreover, in order to commend chastity according to a threefold distinction in the company of Christ, namely widowed, conjugal, and virginal. Whence the first is said to have previously been a sinner, the second married, and of the third both are left unmentioned. Or, so that in this the healing from a threefold sickness may be shown, namely of the soul, of the flesh, and of both together; therefore he names three persons who were healed, namely Mary, Joanna, and Susanna.

Third, with respect to those accompanying for the purpose of rendering service or ministry, it is added: And many others, who ministered to him from their resources, just as that Shunammite woman did for Elisha, in Fourth Kings chapter four, to whom it is said: "Behold, you have ministered to us diligently in all things." So also the mother-in-law of Simon, of whom it is said in Matthew chapter eight that after she was healed, "she arose and ministered to them." — For this had anciently been the customary office of women, as Bede says in the Gloss: "It was anciently the custom of the Jews, nor was it reckoned a fault, for women to feed and clothe teachers from their own substance. But because this could cause scandal among the Gentiles, Paul recalls that he abstained from it, in First Corinthians chapter nine: Do we not have the right to take about with us a woman who is a sister, as the other Apostles do? And therefore that practice ought not now to be drawn as a precedent, on account of avoiding scandal and also on account of danger." —

In this, however, we are instructed that it is lawful for a preacher to receive a stipend for his labor: 1 Corinthians 9: "If we have sown spiritual things for you, it is no great thing if we reap your carnal things"; and Matthew 10: "The worker is worthy of his food"; and below in chapter 10: "For the worker is worthy of his wages." And again in this we are instructed that to preach and to labor is the act of men and of the perfect, but to minister is the act of the imperfect, such as women; whence Acts 6: "It is not fitting that we should leave the word of God and serve tables."

(in Matt. 27:55.) It was a Jewish custom, nor was it thought blameable, according to the ancient manners of that nation, that women should afford of their substance food and clothing to their teachers. This custom, as it might cause offence to the Gentiles, St. Paul relates he had cast off. (1 Cor. 9:15.) But these ministered unto the Lord of their substance, that He might reap their carnal things from whom they had reaped spiritual things. Not that the Lord needed the food of His creatures, but that He might set an example to masters, that they ought to be content with food and clothing from their disciples.