The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 6: The Fullness of Time • 183

“With their words, their motives, and their worship, the wise men revealed the greatness of God in the tiny infant.” 23 The five of us huddled around Mentor to listen to more of the Commentary . “Their words revealed his greatness because they asked ‘Where is he who is born king of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.’ Their motives revealed it because when they saw him they adored him. What faith they had, able to perceive greatness in the lowliest of things! Their array of gold, frankincense and myrrh displayed his greatness… their gold reserves, I say, in recognition of his royalty, himself a precious offering beloved by the saints; their frankincense, like prayer offered in the fragrance of the Holy Spirit, in recognition of his divine, celestial rank; and their myrrh, in recognition of his human death and burial.” 24 “This commentary does reveal mysteries!” said Cesar. “Truly,” commented Mentor, “because with their attention and their gifts, the wise men pointed to Christ’s royal standing.” 23 The ancient commentary is known as the Opus Imperfectum or Incomplete Commentary on Matthew , as it will be referred to in the following passages. The Commentary is divided into “homilies” or sermons. The original Greek text is in Patrologia Graeca , volume 56. The best available English translation is that of James Kellerman, in James Kellerman and Thomas Oden, Incomplete Commentary on Matthew ( Opus Imperfectum ), in two volumes, Ancient Christian Texts (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2010). 24 Opus Imperfectum , Second Homily (PG 56, 636-638) my translation. The ellipsis joins two distinct passages in the second Homily. For the complete English translation, see Kellerman and Oden, Incomplete Commentary on Matthew , vol.1, pages 31, 38.