Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus

"Then the mother of Zebedee’s children approached Him with her sons, worshipping and seeking something from Him." These people certainly have understanding, and the words in that passage are significant: stated beforehand like a preface, they align with points previously explained.

"Then they drew near." Sometimes virtue excites our admiration not just because of the display it gives, but also because of the timing when it is shown. For instance, consider early fruit from the grape or the fig, or any fruit really, which no one expects to be mature or fully developed while it's still growing. Yet, although someone might see it as somewhat imperfect, they don't dismiss the immature grape as useless when they pick it. On the contrary, they gather it with pleasure because it appears early in the season, not worrying if the grape possesses perfect sweetness. They feel satisfaction knowing it came before the rest. Similarly, God, when He sees the faithful with wisdom that is still imperfect and faith that is small, overlooks their shortcomings in this regard and does not reject them. Instead, He kindly welcomes and accepts them as early fruits, honoring the mind, whatever state it may be in, that is marked with virtue, even if not yet perfect. He makes allowances for it, considering it a precursor to the harvest and esteems it highly since, being more willing than the rest, it has, in a sense, claimed the blessing early for itself.

ABRAHAM: Isaac, and Jacob, our forefathers, should be esteemed above all, as they provided us with early examples of virtue. How many martyrs can be compared to Daniel? How many martyrs, I ask, can rival the three youths in Babylon, even though the memory of Daniel has not been highlighted as much as theirs? These were truly the first-fruits and indications of the coming fruition. Therefore, God has directed their lives to be recorded as a model for those who would follow.

And that their virtue was accepted by God as the first-fruits of the produce, listen to what He Himself has declared: “I found Israel like a grape in the wilderness, and your fathers like early figs.” Therefore, do not call the faith of Abraham merely blessed because he believed. Do you want to admire Abraham? Then see how he alone professed piety when six hundred in the world had been corrupted by error. Do you want Daniel to amaze you? Look at Babylon, proud in its impiousness, with its inhabitants completely given over to sin of every kind. But he, rising from the depths, rejected the brine of sins and rejoiced to immerse himself in the sweet waters of piety. And now, similarly, regarding the mother of Zebedee’s children, do not merely admire what she said, but also the timing of her words. For when did she approach the Redeemer? Not after the resurrection, nor after the preaching of His name, nor after the establishment of His kingdom; but when the Lord said, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.”

These things the Savior told in reference to His sufferings and cross; to these people He predicted His passion. Nor did He hide the fact that it would be of a most disgraceful kind, at the hands of the chief priests. However, this woman had attached a different meaning to the arrangement of His sufferings. The Savior was foretelling death, and she asked for the glory of immortality. The Lord was claiming that He must stand judged before impious judges; but she, ignoring that judgment, requested as if of the judge: "Grant," she said, "that these my two sons may sit, one on Your right hand, and the other on the left, in Your glory." In one case, the passion is referred to, in the other, the kingdom is understood. The Savior was speaking of the cross, while she had in mind the glory that involves no suffering. This woman, therefore, as I have already said, is worthy of our admiration, not only for what she sought but also for the timing of her request.

SHE TRULY SUFFERED: not just as a pious person, but also as a woman. For, having been taught by His words, she believed it would happen that the kingdom of Christ would flourish in glory, expand across the world, and grow through the preaching of piety. She understood, as was indeed the case, that He who appeared in a humble form had fulfilled and received every promise. I will discuss on another occasion, when I cover this humility, whether the Lord rejected her request about His kingdom. But she thought that she would not have the same confidence when, at the angels' appearance, He would be served by them and receive service from the entire heavenly host. So, taking the Saviour aside in a private place, she earnestly asked Him for things that transcend all human nature.