December 10

Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.—Psalm exlix. 2.

He means the same by him who made him, and by their King. Israel that I have spoken of is the same as the children of Zion, him who made him, the same as their King. The Son of God, who made us, was made one of us: and he rules us as our King, because he is our Creator, who made us. But he by whom we were made is the same as he by whom we are ruled, and we are Christians because he is Christ. He is called Christ from Chrism, that is, anointing. Kings and priests used to be anointed: he was anointed both King and Priest. As King, he fought for us; as Priest, he offered himself for us. When he fought for us, he seemed indeed to be conquered, but in reality he conquered: for he was crucified, and by his cross, whereon he was nailed, he slew the devil, and thereby is he our King. But whereby is he our Priest? Because he offered himself for us. Give to the priest somewhat to offer. What could man find which he could give as a clean victim? What victim? what clean thing can a sinner offer? O unrighteous, O sinful man, whatever thou offerest is unclean, and somewhat that is clean must be offered for thee. Seek what thou hast in thee to offer, nought wilt thou find. Seek what thou hast beyond thyself to offer: he delighteth not in rams, nor in goats, nor in bulls. All things are his, even though thou offer them not. Offer then to him a clean sacrifice. But thou art a sinner, thou art ungodly, thou hast a defiled conscience. Thou wilt perchance be able to offer somewhat clean, when thou hast been cleansed; but that thou mayest be cleansed, somewhat must be offered for thee. What then wilt thou offer for thyself that thou mayest be cleansed? When thou hast been cleansed, thou wilt be able to offer what is clean. Let then the Priest that is clean offer himself and cleanse thee. This is what Christ did. He found in man nothing clean for him to offer for man: he offered himself as a clean victim. Happy Victim, true Victim, spotless Offering. He offered not then what we gave him, yea rather, he offered what he took of us, and offered it clean. For of us he took flesh, and this he offered. But when took he it? In the womb of the Virgin Mary, that he might offer it clean for us unclean. He is our King, he is our Priest, in him let us rejoice.