Volume 13 · p. 625
Sermon LV. On Saint John the Baptist
SERMO LV.
DE S. JOANNE BAPTISTA.
Vox clamantis in deserto. Matth. III, 3.
Christus clamat in deserto tamquam leo duabus de causis: ad suscitandum filios, et ad capiendam prædam. Osee, XI, 10: Quasi leo rugiet: et formidabunt filii maris. Sic Christus clamavit in cruce circa horam nonam. Clamavit itaque voce magna 1. Clamor ille tunc ita invaluit, ut sol obscuratus sit, terra tremuit, lapides scissi sunt, monumenta aperta sunt. Qui enim modo non audiunt, audient in die judicii. Ergo non audiat sol, id est, superbi: terra, id est, usurarii: lapides, id est, inimicitias in corde reservantes: monumenta, id est, luxuriosi fætentes coram Deo.
Etiam nunc quotidie clamat tamquam servus vinum clamans in plateis per suos Prædicatores: sed Apostolus ad Eph. V, 18: Nolunt inebriari vino, in quo est luxuria, bona scilicet prædicatione per quam inebrientur, ita ut omnia evomant in confessione.
Clamabit in judicio ad capiendam prædam, hoc est, in vindictam malorum: et hæc est ratio quod noluerunt audire clamorem in cruce. In die illo nemo poterit effugere manus ejus: quare? quia pugnavit cum illo orbis terrarum contra insensatos 2. Sed ipse clamans audit oppressos clamantes, Exod. II, 23: Ascendit clamor filiorum Israel, etc. Viduas, Exod. XXII, 22: Viduæ et pupillo non nocebitis. Super homicidas, Gen. IV, 10: Vox sanguinis fratris tui Abel, etc. Super detentores mercedum, Jacob. V, 4: Ecce merces operariorum, etc.
Footnotes:
1 Matth. XXVII, 46.
2 Sap. V, 21.
SERMON LV.
ON SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST.
The voice of one crying in the desert. Matthew 3:3.
Christ cries in the desert like a lion for two causes: for rousing sons, and for capturing prey. Hosea 11:10: He will roar like a lion, and the sons of the sea will fear. Thus Christ cried on the cross around the ninth hour. Therefore he cried with a great voice 1. That cry then prevailed so much that the sun was darkened, the earth trembled, the stones were split, the monuments were opened. For those who do not hear now will hear on the day of judgment. Therefore let not the sun hear, that is, the proud; the earth, that is, usurers; stones, that is, those reserving enmities in the heart; monuments, that is, the luxurious, stinking before God.
Even now daily he cries like a servant crying wine in the streets through his Preachers; but the Apostle at Ephesians 5:18: They do not wish to be drunk with wine, in which is luxury, that is, with good preaching by which they may be inebriated, so that they vomit out all things in confession.
He will cry in judgment for capturing prey, that is, for vengeance on the evil; and this is the reason that they did not wish to hear the cry on the cross. On that day no one will be able to flee his hands. Why? Because the world of lands fought with him against the senseless 2. But he himself crying hears the oppressed crying, Exodus 2:23: The cry of the children of Israel ascended, etc. Widows, Exodus 22:22: You will not harm a widow and orphan. Against murderers, Genesis 4:10: The voice of the blood of your brother Abel, etc. Against those withholding wages, James 5:4: Behold the wages of the workers, etc.
Footnotes:
1 Matthew 27:46.
2 Wisdom 5:21.
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