A Nothing. But when you see Him on the cross, when you see Him suffering for the world, when you see His hands stretched out on the cross and fastened with nails to the wood, then you will begin to doubt and say: "Is this He of whom the angel spoke to me? Is this He in whom the miracle of my conception consists? Being a Virgin, I gave birth and remained a virgin; why is He crucified here?" And a sword shall pierce your own soul also. Therefore, no one was free from temptation, according to the prophecy of Simeon. Peter, the prince of the disciples, denied Him three times; the other disciples, having abandoned Him, fled. For the shepherd did not need the help of the sheep while driving away wolves, nor did the athlete need helpers, but all had gone away; Christ alone hung like a ram. Therefore, a sword also pierced His soul—that is to say, trial and a certain hesitation of mind—"and a sword shall pierce your own soul also, that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." Therefore Jesus suffers to refute unbelief, and to confirm the steadfastness of the believers. B Furthermore, the sign is spoken against, so that those who speak against it out of malice may be confuted. For if the truth had not been subjected to any human contradiction, piety would never have been put to the test; but the permission of contradiction makes it tested by the choice of truth. The sign is spoken against: for if it were not so, how could martyrs have been proven in persecutions, who, while they contended, were declared victors through patience? And see how much contradiction has been of benefit, since it has made not only faithful ones, as one might perhaps suppose, but also martyrs of those who have advanced even to torments and death, and have given a specimen of the grace of Christ. When, therefore, Simeon says, "He is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against" (Luke 2:34), it must be noted that neither is resurrection forced upon anyone, nor does He Himself work ruin, but He is set for ruin to those who have stumbled at the stone of offense; but for resurrection to those who have believed of their own will; for He is set, as if to say: "Light arises, so that those who are healthy may see; but those whose eyes are sick, flee the splendor of the light all the more." C How, moreover, would these who have fallen have been worthy of reproach, and those, on the contrary, have risen having good hope of their own will, if the sign had not been spoken against? Why does Simeon say, "And for a sign which is spoken against"? So that contradiction might not deter those who believe. For even the truth which is according to God is spoken against, God surely permitting it: for no one could speak against it unless God permitted it; but it is necessary that it be permitted, so that those who are tested may become manifest. For there will be a time when there will no longer be a place for contradiction: for when the sign shall shine forth from heaven, then every knee shall bow of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and finally every tongue shall confess that Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10). For as long as the sign itself only appears, and it is also only a sign, while He who is designated is nowhere seen, the sign is spoken against; but after He himself who is designated shall have been revealed in His second coming, no one will any longer dare to speak against the sign, when He who was designated shall arrive with manifest divinity against those who speak against Him. D Then, indeed, those who have received the sign will be heaped with glory by Him who is designated; but those who have spoken against the sign will be condemned by Him who is denoted; and it will be the end of contradiction, the end of error, the end of doubt, the end of unbelief; but the beginning of rewards and crowns—which may it be our lot to receive, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen.