Wings, Shelter, and the Gathering of the Saints

The gift of the altar was more glorified because what was previously placed on the altar as a sheep or a calf or something like that, through the placement upon the altar, was already a gift of God and was called so and was shown to be holy; for the altar was anointed with the oil that sanctifies, and the gift through that received sanctification. Not however in the spiritual things is it thus; for gold in the present temple of God is the Spirit itself, and the body of Christ is the gift upon the spiritual altar. Therefore, the things being put in are greater now than the things receiving; for these indeed sanctify, but those are sanctified.

Through symbols the law taught purity in life. And the custom according to the Jews was such a thing, to cleanse the cups and the vessel of the dish from the ancient traditions, so that they might hold this clean from the touch of sinners and thus avoid the fellowship of sinners, as if they were not even touching the vessels they had touched. But much more they prepared through such customs to flee from sin itself. But those who carefully observed these customs, while themselves seizing and violently gaining profit, became abominations through their works. 'Therefore, flee from injustice, O blind Pharisee, not even seeing what you do' (Mt 23, 25-26), he says; 'and clean to you are the things in the cup and in the dish, if they are not taken through injustice. Much better is the vessel cleansed by righteousness beside the water.'

Those having spiritual wisdom, which Paul says, and scribes who interpret the old things newly, so that the names are the same as with the prophets and sages and scribes of old, but the things themselves are not the same; for neither is the prophecy, nor the wisdom, nor the scribal art about the same things. But he who said 'I will send' showed the divine; for it is God's to send prophets and sages and scribes, the one capable of giving the Spirit of prophecy and wisdom and knowledge.

On account of which he was about to bring wounds upon her because she is a murderer (Mt 23, 37). Therefore he charges her as a murderer; for she, he says, is killing the prophets and stoning those sent to her, and because she, being able many times to receive mercy, was not willing; for it showed many times and many generations...

After He brought the people back from captivity, they were scattering themselves through sins. He teaches the God-befitting thing by speaking of wings and shelter, as it was said by Moses concerning God: 'He received them under His wings' (Ps 91:4); and by David: 'the children of men hope in the shelter of Your wings' (Ps 17:8). For since Satan was scattering them, partly into idolatry and partly into loves of pleasure, He sent prophets, and then came through Himself so as to 'gather' them 'into one.'

But they did not endure to be under His shelter; for He says, 'As a devoted bird, I always had you, drawing you back toward myself, but you did not want to, but were scattering yourself through sinning, casting yourself away from God.' But the bird is motherly and warm in love, caring for the children and giving herself up for them. Therefore, He pre-announces two convergences: one of Jerusalem, the second of the whole inhabited world. And who came in His name? Simon the Magician, saying he was the great power; Mani came; a certain Dositheos the Samaritan came, claiming to be the prophet proclaimed by Moses.

Montanus alone said in his local writings: 'I am the Word, the Bridegroom, the Paraclete, the Pantocrator, I am all things.' He speaks of the wilderness because John lived in the wilderness so much (Mt 24:5); and of the treasuries because Christ was born in a cave and a small hut at the first appearance (Mt 24:26). He says he contrasts the inhabited world with the desolate wilderness through the treasuries (Mt 24:26).

For just as eagles tear at a dead animal to be fed, so when Christ appears, the saints will be drawn to Him (Mt 24:27-28). For it will not be as at the first appearance, moving from place to place through the flesh during the transition, but at the second, His appearance will be manifest to all 'in the twinkling of an eye' (Mt 24:27), like a lightning bolt that does not need to be signaled. And immediately all the saints, having grown wings like eagles, are gathered to Him; for where Jesus fell as a corpse according to the economy of suffering, in order that He might raise those who fell, all will be gathered together, not by chance, but those who...