Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Luke 1:53

Eastern Fathers

Basil of Caesarea

These words regulate our conduct even with respect to sensible things, teaching the uncertainty of all worldly possessions, which are as shortlived as the wave which is dashed about to and fro by the violence of the wind. But spiritually all mankind suffered hunger except the Jews; for they possessed the treasures of legal tradition and the teachings of the holy prophets. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

By the hungry, she means the human race: for, excepting the Jews only, they were pining with famine. The Jews, however, were enriched by the giving of the law, and by the teaching of the holy prophets. For "to them belonged the giving of the law, the adoption of sons, the worship, the promises." But they became wanton with high feeding, and too elate at their dignity; and having refused to draw near humbly to the Incarnate One, they were sent empty away, carrying nothing with them, neither faith nor knowledge, nor the hope of …

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

He likewise "filled the hungry with good things" — the same ones, that is, the Gentiles (for they had no Scriptures, law, or commandments) — with good things from the Scriptures, while the Jews, who were "rich" in the law and commandments, He sent away outside Jerusalem, both the heavenly and the earthly, deprived of every good thing. For the Jews now have nothing, even though they seem to have something.

Commentary on Luke ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

Who are the hungry? The humble, the needy. Who are the rich? Proud and self-important people. I will not send you far to find them. I will show you now, in one and the same temple, one of those rich who are sent away empty, and one of those poor who are filled with good things."Two men went up into the temple to pray. One a Pharisee and the other a tax collector." … Observe the rich man burping his undigested food, breathing out the fumes of his intoxication—with pride, though, not with justice. …

Sermon 290.6 ↗

Bonaventure

Third, she praises the Lord in the aforesaid work, insofar as it is a manifestation of generosity, when she says: He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty; because true generosity is to give to the poor, not to the rich. …

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 1 ↗

Glossa Ordinaria

Because human prosperity seems to consist chiefly in the honours of the mighty and the abundance of their riches, after speaking of the casting down of the mighty, and the exalting of the humble, he goes on to tell of the impoverishing of the rich and the filling of the poor, He hath filled the hungry, &c. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗