Ambrosiaster, Questions on the Old and New Testaments:
QUESTION 73. WHAT DO THESE
WORDS OF SIMEON MEAN TO MARY, MOTHER OF OUR LORD: "THIS IS ESTABLISHED FOR
THE RUIN AND FOR THE RESURRECTION OF MANY IN ISRAEL.... AND THE SWORD WILL
PIERCE YOUR SOUL SO THAT THE THOUGHTS HIDDEN IN THE BOTTOM HEARTS OF MANY ARE
REVEALED?" — Simeon, that holy personage, of whom the divine Scriptures
praise, reveals by divine inspiration what Jesus Christ will be for men, a
principle of fall and ruin for those who look at each other, as unshakeable in
the observance and knowledge of the law, but who do not believe in the works of
Jesus Christ, and have no part in the promises made to their fathers; a
principle of resurrection for those who did not enjoy any kind of consideration
in the law, but who believed in Jesus Christ, that is to say that God made
worthy of him those who were regarded as unworthy and useless and that he
reproved those who seemed great in the world. It is this same truth that Our
Lord expresses in another place: "I have come into this world for
judgment, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be
made blind. (John 9:39) And in fact, it is not the teachers of the law, nor the
Pharisees, nor the scribes who have followed Jesus Christ, but ignorant and
uneducated sinners. This is what made the Savior says: "My Father, I give
you thanks, because you have hid these things from the wise and the prudent,
and have revealed them to the little ones." (Matt. 11:25) As for what
Simeon adds: "And the sword will pierce your soul, so that the thoughts
hidden in the depths of the hearts of many will be revealed," (Luke 2: 35)
indicates that Mary, in whose bosom the mystery of the incarnation has been
wrought, and there has been some doubt at the death of Our Lord, but doubts
that the resurrection's brilliancy and the Savior's power soon changed into a
firm and unshakable faith. At the death of the Savior, all under an
impression of dread, let doubt enter their souls. However, they did not
persevere in doubt. The sword only crosses the soul if doubt does not remain in
thought; but he emerges from it by the force of the soul, which regains its
rights. Who would not have been able to doubt, seeing the one who called
himself the Son of God humiliated to death? But as I said, the resurrection of
the Savior was to remove all doubt; that is why it is said that the sword will
pass and not that it will fall on the heart, or that it will reach some member
in passing. A line which is thrown and passes near a man may erase it, but
without hurting it; so doubt was to produce sadness, but not until death,
because it did not remain in the soul and it simply went through it, touching
the hearts of the disciples like a shadow. See Cleophas and this other disciple
who went to Emmaus; they were sad in the way, and told the Savior himself that
they did not know him again: “We thought he was the one to deliver Israel.”
They doubted then, but scarcely had they recognized the Lord that this doubt
vanished. It is also said of Joseph that "iron shook his soul." (Ps
104:18) For a long time held in chains despite his innocence, it is not
surprising that he could have doubted God's righteousness towards him, but as
his hope in God was stronger, he could not persevere in doubt. Everyone is
judged on the vice for which he has the most inclination. The Apocalypse of St.
John confirms this truth, "Those who doubt," he said, "and the
unbelievers will have their share in the lake burning with fire and brimstone.”
(Rev. 21:8) He who therefore does not persevere in doubt is delivered from
death, that is to say, he escapes death, for doubt about God or about Jesus
Christ is a true death. He who ceases to doubt ceases to be subject to death. (pp. 208-9)
