Gentiles, preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3) by
SERMON 204 99 spirit to the Father (Eph 2:16-18). Just see if he hasn't indicated both the two walls coming from two different and hostile points, and the Lord Jesus as the cornerstone, to which they each approached from different points, and in which they each reached agreement, that is both those from the Jews who believed in him and those from the Gentiles. It's as if they were told, "Both you from nearby and you from far off, Approach him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be put to shame (Ps 34:5). For it is written, Behold I am placing in Zion a cornerstone, chosen, precious; and whoever believes in it will not be con¬ founded (1 Pt 2:6).4
Those who listened and obeyed came, both sorts, from this side and that, kept peace with each other, ended their hostilities; the firstfruits of each were the shepherds and the Magi. In them the ox began to recognize its owner, and the donkey its master's manger (Is 1:3). From the Jews an animal with horns, where the horns of the cross were being prepared for Christ; from the Gentiles an animal with ears, about which it had been foretold, A people whom I did not know has served me; with the hearing of the ear it has obeyed me (Ps 18:43-44). There, I mean to say, was the ox's owner and the donkey's master lying in a manger, and offering both of them a common fodder or nourishment.5
And so because peace had come to those who were far off and peace to those who were nearby, the shepherds, being found as Israelites nearby, came to Christ the day he was bom, saw him and rejoiced; while the Magi, being found as Gentiles as it were a long way off, arrived today after the lapse of that number of days from the one he was bom on; they found him, worshiped him. So it was absolutely right for us, that is the Church that is gathered from among the Gentiles, to join the celebration of this day, on which Christ was manifested to the firstfruits of the Gentiles, to the celebration of that day, on which Christ was bom of the Jews, and right for us to preserve the memory of such a great sacrament and mystery with a twin festivity.
Christ the cornerstone, once upon a time laid in a manger, later lifted up to the summit of heaven
3. When we think of these two walls, one from the Jews, the other from the Gentiles, preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3) by adhering to the cornerstone, we mustn't let our minds be put off by the great number of reprobate Jews, among whom were the builders;6 those, that is, who wished to be teachers of the law, but as the apostle says about them, do not understand either what they are saying or what they are making their assertions about (1 Tm 1:7). It was as a result of this mental blindness, after all, that they rejected the stone which was put at the head of the comer. But it wouldn't be put at the head of the comer, unless it offered to the two peoples coming from different points a peaceful join, a coupling of grace.
So in the Israelite wall we shouldn't think about those who persecuted and killed Christ, building up the law, they thought, and pulling down the faith, rejecting the cornerstone and engineering ruin for the unfortunate city. Nor