Caput 22 Chapter 22 Sacerdotes Christum Rogant The Priests Question Christ Lectio 1 Lecture 1 Parabolum nuptiarum Parable of the wedding feast 22:1 Et respondens Iesus dixit iterum in parabolis, eis dicens: [n. 1754] 22:1 And Jesus answering, spoke again in parables to them, saying: [n. 1754] 22:2 simile factum est regnum caelorum homini regi, qui fecit nuptias filio suo, [n. 1754] 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man, a king, who made a marriage for his son. [n. 1754] 22:3 et misit servos suos vocare invitatos ad nuptias, et nolebant venire. [n. 1758] 22:3 And he sent his servants, to call those who were invited to the marriage; and they would not come. [n. 1758] 22:4 Iterum misit alios servos dicens: dicite invitatis: ecce prandium meum paravi, tauri mei et altilia occisa sunt, et omnia parata, venite ad nuptias. [n. 1759] 22:4 Again he sent other servants, saying: tell those who were invited: behold, I have prepared my dinner; my bulls and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage. [n. 1759] 22:5 Illi autem neglexerunt, et abierunt, alius in villam suam, alius vero ad negotiationem suam; [n. 1762] 22:5 But they neglected, and went their ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise. [n. 1762] 22:6 reliqui vero tenuerunt servos eius, et contumeliis affectos occiderunt. [n. 1763] 22:6 And the rest laid hands on his servants, and having treated them contumeliously, put them to death. [n. 1763] 22:7 Rex autem cum audisset, iratus est: et missis exercitibus suis perdidit homicidas illos, et civitatem illorum succendit. [n. 1764] 22:7 But when the king had heard of it, he was angry, and sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burnt their city. [n. 1764] 22:8 Tunc ait servis suis: nuptiae quidem paratae sunt, sed qui invitati erant, non fuerunt digni. [n. 1766] 22:8 Then he said to his servants: the marriage indeed is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. [n. 1766] 22:9 Ite ergo ad exitus viarum, et quoscumque inveneritis, vocate ad nuptias. [n. 1767] 22:9 Go therefore into the offroads of the ways; and as many as you will find, call to the marriage. [n. 1767] 22:10 Et egressi servi eius in vias, congregaverunt omnes quos invenerunt, malos et bonos; et impletae sunt nuptiae discumbentium. [n. 1768] 22:10 And his servants, going out into the ways, gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good, and the marriage was filled with guests. [n. 1768] 22:11 Intravit autem rex ut videret discumbentes, et vidit ibi hominem non vestitum veste nuptiali, [n. 1769] 22:11 And the king went in to see the guests, and he saw there a man who was not wearing a wedding garment. [n. 1769] 22:12 et ait illi: amice quomodo huc intrasti non habens vestem nuptialem? At ille obmutuit. [n. 1771] 22:12 And he said to him: friend, how did you come in here not having on a wedding garment? But he was silent. [n. 1771] 22:13 Tunc dixit rex ministris: ligatis pedibus eius et manibus, mittite eum in tenebras exteriores; ibi erit fletus et stridor dentium. [n. 1773] 22:13 Then the king said to the waiters: bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there will there be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [n. 1773] 22:14 Multi autem sunt vocati, pauci vero electi. [n. 1775] 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. [n. 1775] 1753. Dictum est supra quod Christi persecutores provocati sunt ad occidendum eum tribus de causis: ex eius gloria, ex eius sapientia qua confutabat eos, ex eius iustitia qua arguebat eos. Qualiter autem provocati sunt ex gloria Christi, dictum est; nunc autem dicendum qualiter ex sapientia. Et 1753. It was said above that Christ’s persecutors were provoked to kill him by three things: by his glory, by the wisdom with which he refuted them, and by the justice with which he accused them. Moreover, it has been said how they were provoked by Christ’s glory; but now it must be said how they were provoked by his wisdom. And primo inquantum eorum damnationem praemonstrat; first, insofar as he shows beforehand their condemnation; secundo inquantum disputando confutat, ibi tunc abeuntes Pharisaei consilium inierunt ut caperent eum in sermone. second, insofar as he refutes them in argument, at then the Pharisees, going out, consulted among themselves how to ensnare him in his speech. In ista parabola, in qua determinatur de reprobatione Iudaeorum et vocatione gentium, In this parable, in which he explains about the rejection of the Jews and the calling of the gentiles, primo ponitur instructio nuptiarum; first, the preparation for the marriage is set out; secundo de vocatione Iudaeorum et recusatione; second, the calling of the Jews and their refusal; tertio de vocatione gentium. third, the calling of the gentiles. Secunda ibi et misit servos suos vocare invitatos; tertia ibi tunc ait servis suis et cetera. The second is at and he sent his servants, to call those who were invited to the marriage; the third, at then he said to his servants: the marriage indeed is ready. 1754. Dicit ergo et respondens Iesus dixit. Cui respondit? Non est dictum quod alicui loqueretur. Sed eum tenere volebant, ideo non verbis, sed malitiae eorum respondit, ideo in parabolis dicit eis: simile est regnum caelorum homini regi qui fecit nuptias filio suo. 1754. It says then, and Jesus answering, spoke. To whom does he respond? It is not said that he spoke to anyone. But they wanted to lay hands on him, and so he responds, not to their words, but to their malice, and for this reason he spoke to them in parables: the kingdom of heaven is likened to a man, a king, who made a marriage for his son. Hic ponitur parabola de nuptiis, et similis parabola ponitur Lc. XIV, 16. Et non videtur eadem secundum Gregorium, quia ibi fit mentio de coena, hic de nuptiis. Item nullus exclusus est ab illa coena, hic autem est aliquis exclusus. Unde alia est parabola. Per illam convivium caeleste intelligitur, per istam convivium quod fit in terra. Et ideo illud dicitur coena, quia ab eo nullus excluditur, ab isto aliquis excluditur. Here the parable of the marriage is set out, and a similar parable is set out elsewhere (Luke 14:16). And it does not seem to be the same parable, according to Gregory, because there a dinner is mentioned, here a wedding. Likewise, no one is excluded from that dinner, but here someone is excluded. Hence it is another parable. By this one is understood the heavenly banquet, by that one the banquet which happens on earth. And therefore that one is called a feast, because no one is excluded from it, while from this one someone is excluded. Potest dici, secundum aliquos, quod eadem est parabola, quia antiquitus prandium et coena idem appellabatur, quia non solebant comedere homines nisi usque ad nonam. Vel potest dici quod Lucas dicit quod Matthaeus tacuit. It can be said, according to some, that it is the same parable, because in ancient times lunch and dinner were called the same thing, because men were accustomed to eat only up to the ninth hour. Or it can be said that Luke says what Matthew leaves unmentioned. Sed credo quod alia est. But I believe it is another. 1755. Circa istam videamus quis est iste homo rex. Et dicitur quod iste est Deus, et intelligitur persona patris, quia dicit filio suo. 1755. Concerning this one, let us see who this man the king is. And it is said that he is God, and the person of the Father is understood, because he speaks of his son. Sed quare dicit homini regi? Ratio est, ut dicit Origenes, quia rex dicitur a ‘regendo’. Nos autem non possumus, nec sumus capaces regni eius secundum quod est, sed regit nos secundum modum nostrum. Deut. XXXII, 11: sicut aquila provocans pullos ad volandum. Et ideo dicitur homini regi, quia regit nos humano modo. Sed cum videbitur sicuti est, tunc erit rex, quia tunc secundum se reget. Unde Apostolus I Cor. XIII, 12: videmus nunc per speculum in aenigmate, tunc autem facie ad faciem. But why does he say, a man, a king? The reason is, as Origen says, that a king is named from ‘ruling.’ But we are not able, nor are we capable of his rule according as he is, but he rules us according to our mode. As the eagle enticing her young to fly (Deut 32:11). And for this reason it says, a man, a king, because he rules us in a human mode. But when we see him as he is, then he will be a king, because then he will rule according to himself. Hence the Apostle, we see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face (1 Cor 13:12). Dicit simile est regnum caelorum homini regi. Sicut enim in regno sunt multa est enim rex, regnum, et qui serviunt sic in illo regno; ideo simile est homini regi qui fecit nuptias filio suo. Filius est Christus, de quo dicitur I Io. ult., 20: ut simus in vero Filio eius. Hic est verus Deus, et vita aeterna. He says, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a man, a king. For just as in a kingdom there are many parts, for there is the king, the kingdom, and those who serve, so it is in this kingdom; therefore it is likened to a man, a king, who made a marriage for his son. The son is Christ, of whom, that we may know the true God, and may be in his true Son. This is the true God and life eternal (1 John 5:20). 1756. Quae sint istae nuptiae, quadrupliciter potest exponi. Primo per unitatem naturae humanae ad divinam, ut humana natura sit sponsa, thalamus fuit uterus Virginis. Ps. XVIII, 6: ipse enim tamquam sponsus procedens de thalamo suo. Et haec expositio habet aliquid dubietatis, quia posset credi quod non alia esset persona Patris, alia Filii. 1756. What is this marriage? It can be explained in four ways. First, through the unity of the human nature with the divine; that human nature might be the bride, the womb of the Virgin became the bridal chamber. He, as a bridegroom coming out of his bride chamber (Ps 18:6). And this explanation is somewhat dubious, because it could be thought that the person of the Father is not other than the person of the Son. Unde potest dici quod iste sponsus est Verbum incarnatum; sponsa Ecclesia; unde Apostolus Eph. V, 32: sacramentum hoc magnum est: ego autem dico in Christo et Ecclesia. Item ipsius Verbi ad animam nostram. Fit enim anima particeps gloriae Dei per fidem, et sic fiunt nuptiae nostrae. Osee II, 20: sponsabo te in fide. Item nuptiae erunt in communi resurrectione. Huius autem resurrectionis Christus est via; Io. XIV, 6: ego sum via. Tunc erunt nuptiae, quando mortale nostrum absorbebitur a vita, ut habetur II Cor. V, 4. Hence it can be said that this bridegroom is the Word incarnate; the bride, the Church; hence the Apostle: this is a great sacrament; but I speak in Christ and in the Church (Eph 5:32). Likewise, the marriage of the Word himself to our soul. For the soul becomes a partaker of God’s glory through faith, and in this way our marriage comes about. And I will espouse you to me in faith (Hos 2:20). Likewise, there will be a marriage in the common resurrection. And Christ is the way of this resurrection; I am the way (John 14:6). There will be a marriage at that time, when our mortal body is swallowed up by life (2 Cor 5:4). Sed si loquamur secundum Gregorium, oportet exponere de praesentibus, secundum quod Ecclesia Christo, et anima nostra Deo per fidem desponsatur. But if we speak according to Gregory, it must be explained as about the present, according as the Church is espoused to Christ, and our soul to God by faith.