The Boy Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41–52)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Sermon V (on Luke 2:41–52), trans. R. Payne Smith, Library of Fathers, 1859. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_01_sermons_01_11.htm

On the boy carried up to Jerusalem and found among the doctors, as proof that he increased in wisdom:

for he carries Him to Jerusalem in company with the holy Virgin, upon the summons of the feast: and then he says that He remained behind, and was afterwards found in the temple sitting in the midst of the doctors both asking and answering questions ... Thou seest Him advancing in wisdom and grace, by reason of His becoming known unto many as being what He was.

On "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" — his first open witness to his divine Sonship:

Here then first He makes more open mention of Him Who is truly His Father, and lays bare His own divinity: for when the holy Virgin said, Child, why hast Thou so done unto us? then at once shewing Himself to transcend the measure of human things, and teaching her that she had been made the handmaid of the dispensation in giving birth to the flesh, but that He by nature and in truth was God, and the Son of the Father That is in heaven, He says, Did ye not know that I must be at My Father's?

On "Jesus increased in wisdom" — not a growth in the Word, but the gradual manifesting of his wisdom:

And so He is said also to have increased in wisdom, not as receiving fresh supplies of wisdom, ... but because God the Word gradually manifested His wisdom proportionably to the age which the body had attained.

St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke (on Luke 2:41–52). Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the single wonder that Luke records of his childhood:

The Lord truly did no miracle in His childhood, yet this one fact St. Luke mentions, which made men look with wonder upon Him.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke (on Luke 2:41–52). Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On "Jesus increased in wisdom" — his wisdom shown by degrees, not gained:

Not that He became wise by making progress, but that by degrees He revealed His wisdom. As it was when He disputed with the Scribes, asking them questions of their law to the astonishment of all who heard Him. You see then how He increased in wisdom, in that He became known to many, and caused them to wonder, for the showing forth of His wisdom is His increase.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–254)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke (on Luke 2:41–52). Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On why Jesus is not found among his kinsfolk, but only in the temple:

He is not found as soon as sought for, for Jesus was not among His kinsfolk and relations, among those who are joined to Him in the flesh, nor in the company of the multitude can He be found.

On where those who seek him must look for him:

Learn where those who seek Him find Him, not every where, but in the temple. And do you then seek Jesus in the temple of God. Seek Him in the Church, and seek Him among the masters who are in the temple.

St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke (on Luke 2:41–52). Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the two generations in Christ:

There are two generations in Christ, one from His Father, the other from His mother; the Father's more divine, the mother's that which has come down for our use and advantage.

On his subjection at Nazareth as a mark of filial duty, not weakness:

And can you wonder if He who is subject to His mother, also submits to His Father? Surely that subjection is a mark not of weakness but of filial duty.

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke (on Luke 2:41–52). Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On his sitting among the doctors, both hearing them and answering:

To show that He was a man, He humbly listened to the masters; but to prove that He was God, He divinely answered those who spoke.

On "his mother kept all these sayings in her heart":

The Virgin, whether she understood or whether she could not yet understand, equally laid up all things in her heart for reflection and diligent examination.

On the mother become disciple of her own Child:

Mark the wisest of mothers, Mary the mother of true wisdom, becomes the scholar or disciple of the Child. For she yielded to Him not as to a boy, nor as to a man, but as unto God.