A Reflection on 2 Cor 10:17–18; 11:1–2 and Matt 13:44–52
In the Spirit of S. Luciæ Virginis et Martyris ~ III. classis
Commemoratio: Sabbato infra Hebdomadam II Adventus
The Light of St. Lucy and the Humble Glory of the Saints
On this feast of St. Lucy, the virgin whose very name means light, the Church offers us readings that illuminate the path of true glory—a glory found not in ourselves, but in God alone. In Advent, when the liturgy is charged with yearning for the coming Light of the world, Lucy stands as a radiant testimony that the soul becomes luminous only by belonging wholly to Christ.
In the Epistle, St. Paul writes, “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (2 Cor 10:17). St. John Chrysostom notes that Paul “plucks up by the roots the vain esteem of men” by redirecting all honor to God, lest the Christian be tempted to believe virtue originates from himself. True glory is neither self-fashioned nor self-proclaimed; it is God who “approves” the laborer (2 Cor 10:18), not the laborer who approves himself.
St. Lucy embodied this truth perfectly: she claimed no glory for her virginity, her courage, or her martyrdom. Instead, her witness was a lamp fueled entirely by Christ. As St. Ambrose says of holy virgins, “They are adorned not by jewels but by virtue; their beauty is not of the flesh but of the soul.” Lucy’s purity and martyrdom shine because the Lord Himself was her treasure.
This leads directly into Paul’s next words: “I espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (2 Cor 11:2). Lucy, the literal virgin espoused to Christ, signifies what the whole Church is called to be: single-hearted, undefiled, and wholly given to the Bridegroom whose coming we await.
The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price
The Gospel presents three parables from Matthew—each describing the incomparable value of the Kingdom of Heaven.
1. The Treasure Hidden in the Field
St. Gregory the Great teaches that the treasure is Christ Himself, concealed in the Scriptures, waiting to be discovered by one who digs with perseverance. To find Christ is to find enough joy to “sell all” (Matt 13:44). This is exactly what Lucy did—renouncing wealth, marriage, security, even life itself—that she might possess the One who possesses all things.
St. Hilary of Poitiers comments that the man “sells all he has” because “nothing can be mixed with the heavenly treasure.” Advent invites us to renew this exchange: our small attachments for God’s immeasurable gift.
2. The Pearl of Great Price
St. Augustine identifies the pearl as “the unity and purity of the Church, without blemish and without spot.” Others see it as Christ’s divinity shining forth. Either way, the merchant must relinquish everything to obtain it.
Lucy again becomes our model: she “sold all” not merely by divesting material things, but by surrendering the deepest powers of the will—her future, her body, her life—to Christ.
3. The Dragnet of Final Judgment
The final parable reminds us that Advent is not only a season of expectancy but of judgment. St. Jerome explains that the net represents the Church gathering all peoples, but the sorting signifies that “not all who are in the Church belong to Christ.” St. Gregory warns similarly that the separation will reveal hearts rather than outward membership.
Thus, Paul’s admonition is urgent: it is God who approves, and those who glory must glory in Him alone. A Christian who appears virtuous before the world but lacks charity and humility will not endure the final sorting.
Lucy’s Light and the Advent Call
St. Lucy’s witness becomes a mirror for our Advent preparation:
- She shows that purity of heart is the lamp through which God shines.
- She teaches that courage in trial comes from belonging wholly to Christ.
- She demonstrates that true glory is God’s work in us, not our accomplishment.
St. Augustine writes, “The martyrs are luminous not by nature but by participation in the Light.” Lucy’s feast in the darkness of December foreshadows the coming of Him who is “the true Light that enlightens every man” (John 1:9).
A Prayer for This Advent Saturday
St. Lucy,
whose eyes were fixed upon Christ,
whose heart was pure,
whose courage was steadfast,
intercede for us in this holy season.
Teach us to sell all for the treasure of the Kingdom,
to glory only in the Lord,
and to await with burning expectation
the coming of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
May His light, which no darkness can overcome,
shine in us and through us—
until He comes again in glory.
Sancta Lucia, ora pro nobis.