A REVERBERATION OF BRASS

But we must inquire why it says of this man: “Whose appearance was like the appearance of brass.” Yet we all know, brothers, that the metal of brass is extremely durable and altogether sonorous. So why is it that the appearance of the Mediator of God and men is likened to the appearance of brass save that, as we clearly know, the Only-Begotten Son, taking the form of a servant, through the glory of His Resurrection turns the fragility of human flesh towards eternity, because in Him the flesh was already made infinitely durable? For He “rising again from the dead, dieth no more. Death shall no more have dominion over Him” (Romo. 6:9). Then why is it that His very Incarnation is likened to sounding metal save that by this same assumption of our humanity He resounded to all with the glory of His majesty? And He has, as it were, the appearance of brass in His Body because God became known to the world through His flesh. Thus it is also said through John: “He hath on His garment and His thigh written: King of kings, and Lord of lords” (Apoc. 19:16). What then is His garment if not the Body He assumed from the Virgin? But nor is another garment His but He is Himself another. For the flesh is also said to be our garment but we ourselves are not the flesh with which we are clothed. But Esaias, looking long ago upon His garment stained by the blood of his Passion on the Cross, said: Why then is Thy apparel red, and Thy garments like theirs that tread in the winepress?” (Es. 63:2) Whereupon He replied: “I have trodden the winepress alone: and of the Gentiles there is not a man with Me” (Es 63:3) So He trod alone the winepress on which He was downtrodden, He Who by His power overcame the Passion which He endured. For He who suffered even unto the Death of the Cross rose from the dead with glory. Then it is well said: “and of the Gentiles there is not a man with Me,” because those for whom He had come to suffer should have been partakers in His Passion; insofar as at that time they had not come to belief, He laments in His Passion for them whose life He sought in that Passion. Truly the propagation of the flesh is through the thigh. Therefore because by means of the propagation of the human race, as the orders of the generations are described in the accounts of Matthew and Luke, He came to this world from a Virgin and by the mystery of His Incarnation indicated that He was King and Lord to all nations everywhere, He has written on His garment and His thigh “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” Then He became known to the world there where He fastened the knowledge of His Scripture. Therefore preaching is from His flesh as it were a reverberation of brass. Then it may rightly be said: “Whose appearance was like the appearance of brass.”

Gregory the Great, Homilies on the Book of Ezekiel II.I:9 (Ez 40:1-4), trans. by Theodosia Gray, Etna, CA: Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, 1990, p. 163-164.