3.1. It says: “The distribution
of the inheritance will be by lot.” This is indeed commanded, but when I come
to the Scriptures, I see that Moses himself, to whom these things are
commanded, does not make use of an allotment in the division of the inheritance
of “Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh.” Moreover, Jesus son of Nun
gives to the tribe of Judah and Caleb an inheritance outside the allotment; he
also grants to the tribe of Ephraim and the half-tribe of Manasseh an allotment
that is outside. For others a lot is cast, and “the lot fell first on
Benjamin,” and from there it fell on the rest of the tribes as well. This is
why I think that in that blessed inheritance of the kingdom of heavens, there
will be some who do not attain an allotment. They will not be numbered with the
others, even though they are holy. Instead, theirs will be a certain choice and
exceptional inheritance, as it was for Caleb, from the tribe of Judah, and for
Jesus himself, the son of Nun.
For instance, when provinces and
spoils are divided out to victors after a battle, in the division of the spoils
the outstanding and exceptional warriors are not conducted to an allotment with
the rest of the soldiers. Instead, the best and most distinguished of the
spoils are appointed for them, owing to the merit of their virtues. But the
others rightfully enjoy an allotment, but it is solely by right of victory. It
seems to me that my Lord Jesus will act like this. Indeed, for certain people
whom he knows labored more abundantly than the others and whose splendid deeds
and lofty virtues he himself recognizes, he appoints for them glories and
honors that are exceptional and, if I may speak boldly, similar to his own.
Or does he not seem to you to
confer something resembling his own blessedness to his most beloved disciples,
when he says: “Father, I want that where I am, they also may be with me,” and
again when he says: “You will also sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve
tribes of Israel,” and again: “Just as you are in me, Father, and I am in you,
that they too may be one in us”? None of these things occur by lot, but they
are given by the privilege and choice of him who alone sees into human hearts
and minds, who deigns to lead us too into an allotment of the saints, even if
it is not among the exceptional and chosen allotments and those that are above
an allotment. “To him be the glory and the power in the ages of ages. Amen.” (Origen,
“Homily 21” [on Numbers 26], in Homilies
on Numbers [trans. Thomas P. Scheck; Ancient Christian Texts [Downers
Grove, Ill.: IVP Academic, 2009], 134)
