Lk. 2:18. And all who heard it marveled at what the shepherds told them.
These shepherds are a type of the spiritual shepherds — the bishops. Thus, bishops must guard their flock and play, that is, sing something spiritual and teach the people, and then they will be deemed worthy of divine visions and hearings. Bethlehem means house of bread. And what other house of bread is this but the church, in which that bread is stored? Thus, it is the duty of the rational shepherds to seek the heavenly bread, and when they see this bread, it is their obligation to proclaim it to others as well, just as the shepherds, having seen the Infant, told others about Him.
Lk. 2:19. But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in Her heart.
What words did the Virgin "keep"? Some say those which the Angel spoke to Her, and those which the shepherds told Her. She preserved them and "pondered them in Her heart," that is, she considered them and found in all of them one harmonious thought: that Her Son is God. But it seems to me that here "words" means events; it is as if to say: Mary "kept all these words," that is, those events of which I am now speaking, and by doing so I make them into words. For an event, when someone speaks of it, becomes a word.
Lk. 2:20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
The shepherds returned with thanksgiving to God for all things; for they were not envious like the Jews.
Lk. 2:21. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His name was called Jesus, which was so named by the Angel before He was conceived in the womb.
When the Law gave the commandments, then the transgressors of them were subjected to a curse. So the Lord is circumcised in order that, having fulfilled the Law in this respect too and having omitted nothing of what it commanded, He might redeem us from the curse. Let those henceforth be put to shame who say that He was incarnate only in appearance, for how was He circumcised if He was incarnate only in appearance? To investigate where the circumcised part is, however, is useless. For one ought not to inquire into what Scripture has passed over in silence. And it is entirely useless besides. One may say that after being cut off it fell to the ground and sanctified it, just as the blood and water that flowed from His side. And He, in a manner known to Him, preserved this part unharmed and after the Resurrection took it up again, so that in this respect too He would not be found lacking — just as we also in the resurrection shall receive our body in its entirety. Note that the Lord was not conceived immediately when the Angel said, "and behold, you will conceive" (Lk. 1:31), but after this, when He willed. For see what it says here: "named by the Angel before His conception in the womb." This is evident from the very expression itself, for he did not say "you are conceiving," but "you will conceive." From this one may conclude that the Lord was conceived at that time, but not at the very moment when the Angel was speaking, but perhaps when he finished speaking. However, we do not say this with certainty.
Lk. 2:22. And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled,
He rightly said "according to the law of Moses," for truly the Virgin had no need to await the days of purification, which, in the case of a male birth, were forty. In the Law it is said: "a woman shall conceive and bear a male child" (Lev. 12:2); but the Virgin conceived not from seed, but gave birth by the Holy Spirit. Therefore she had no need, but came to the temple out of a desire to fulfill the law. Why then in the case of a male birth are the days of purification seven, but for a female double? "If a woman," it is said, "conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days... But if she bears a female child, then during her purification she shall be unclean two weeks" (Lev. 12:2, 5)? Because she who has borne a male brings into the world another Adam, while she who has borne a female gives birth to another Eve—a weak and feeble vessel, a clay vessel, broken, a reed of deception, a teacher of disobedience.
Lk. 2:22. they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him before the Lord,
Lk. 2:23. as it is prescribed in the law of the Lord, that every male child who opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
The words of the Law: "Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord" (Ex. 13:2, 12; 34:19) were fulfilled properly in Christ alone; for He Himself opened the womb of the Virgin, whereas with other mothers the womb is opened by the husband.
Lk. 2:24. And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
The Law (Lev. 12:6–8) commanded to offer a pair of turtledoves as an indication that the childbearing was from a pure marriage. For it is said of the turtledove that she is a chaste bird, such that, having lost her mate, she does not couple with another. But if the parents did not have turtledoves, they offered two young pigeons, so that the life of this child might serve for the multiplication of offspring; for the pigeon is a prolific bird.
Lk. 2:25. At that time there was in Jerusalem a man whose name was Simeon. He was a righteous and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Lk. 2:26. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
Simeon was not a priest, but was a God-loving man; he expected that Christ would come, the comforter of the Jews and liberator from the slavery of sin, and perhaps also from the slavery of the Romans and of Herod. For whoever believed in Christ was truly free and honored by kings and all people. Look at the apostles. Were they not slaves of the Romans? But now the Roman kings honor them and bow down before them. Thus, for them, the Israelites, Christ became a consolation.
Lk. 2:27. And he came by inspiration into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to perform over Him the customary rite of the law,
Lk. 2:28. He took Him into his arms, blessed God, and said:
Lk. 2:29. Now You are dismissing Your servant, O Master, according to Your word, in peace,
This Simeon, moved by the Holy Spirit, went up to the temple when the Mother brought the Lord, and, having received Him into his arms, confesses Him as God. For to say, "Now You are releasing Your servant, O Master," could only be said by one who confessed that He is the Lord of life and death. See how the saints considered the body to be bonds. Therefore he also says, "Now You are releasing," loosing as if from bonds. "According to Your word": he speaks of the prophecy he had received, that he would not die until he had seen Christ. "In peace" means: in tranquility. For a man, as long as he lives, "is troubled," as David says (Ps. 38:7); but the one who has died is at peace. "In peace" can also be understood in another way, namely: with the obtaining of what was expected. Before I saw the Lord, he says, I was not at peace in my thoughts, but I was awaiting Him and always pondered with anxiety when He would come; but now, when I have seen Him, I am at rest and have ceased to think — I am released.
Lk. 2:30. For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
Lk. 2:31. Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
He called the incarnation of the Only-begotten "salvation," which God prepared before all ages. "He prepared... this salvation before the face of all people." For He became incarnate in order to save the world and so that His incarnation would be made manifest to all.