Such a Thing is Wickedness

​From the Homilies on the Book of St Matthew by St John Chrysostom (#2)

FROM HOMILY 7:
“Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared”

Attempting to slay that which was born—an act of extreme idiotcy not of madness only; since what had been said and done was enough to have withholden him from any such attempt. For those occurrences were not after the manner of man. A star, I mean, calling the wise men from on high; and barbarians making so long a pilgrimage, to worship Him that lay in swaddling clothes and a manger; and prophets too from of old, proclaiming beforehand all this;—these and all the rest were more than human events: but nevertheless, none of these things restrained him. For such a thing is wickedness. It falls foul of itself, and is ever attempting impossibilities.