Sermon XXVI. On the Same Day of Ashes

Latin (Borgnet)English

p. 120

Sermo XXVI.

In eodem die Cinerum.

Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile. II ad Cor. vi, 2.

Apostolus in verbis praedictis modo bonum tempus esse describit. In quibus tria ponuntur, propter quae quilibet homo debet bene, et indesinenter operari.

I. Propter temporis opportunitatem, quod notatur ibi: Tempus acceptabile. II. Propter optimi temporis brevitatem, quod notatur ibi: Nunc. III. Propter utriusque aptam cognitionem, quod notatur ibi: Ecce.

Aliquando enim aliquis habet aliqua facere, et videt quod tempus opportunum, et tempus breve, et modicum est: et quando hoc attendit, si est sapiens, non differt operari.

Est tempus opportunum ad tria, quae signant tria, quae modo poenitentes facere debent. Est enim tempus terrae nascentibus ad germinandum, id est, ad bene operandum; infirmis ad medicandum, id est, peccata per poenitentiam expellendum: vinitoribus ad vineas putandum, id est, ad nocivos socios repellendum. Ista tria debent poenitentes modo specialiter facere. Debent enim bona agere, mala deponere, malorum consortium declinare.

1. Primo enim est tempus terrae nascentibus ad germinandum, id est, nobis omnibus ad bene faciendum. Ps. cxviii, 126: Tempus faciendi, etc. Sicut enim non est radix ita misera vel herba in terra, vel planta, quae non conetur proferre folium, vel germen, vel aliquam viriditatem: sic nec homo alicujus sexus, conditionis, vel status qui modo plus solito non debeat orare, eleemosynas dare, et alia opera misericordiae et bona facere. Gen. i, 11: Germinet terra herbam virentem, id est, homo terrenus bonam conversationem,

Sermon XXVI.

On the Same Day of Ashes.

Behold, now is the acceptable time. 2 Corinthians 6:2.

The Apostle in the aforesaid words describes that now is a good time. In them three things are set down, because of which any human being ought to work well and without ceasing.

I. Because of the opportunity of the time, which is marked there: acceptable time. II. Because of the brevity of the best time, which is marked there: now. III. Because of the apt knowledge of each, which is marked there: behold.

For sometimes someone has some things to do and sees that the time is opportune and the time is short and little; and when he attends to this, if he is wise, he does not defer working.

There is an opportune time for three things, which signify three things that penitents now ought to do. For it is a time for things born of earth to germinate, that is, for working well; for the sick to be medicated, that is, for expelling sins through penance; for vine-dressers to prune vineyards, that is, for repelling harmful companions. Penitents ought now especially to do these three things. For they ought to do good things, put aside evils, and avoid the company of evil persons.

1. First, it is a time for things born of earth to germinate, that is, for all of us to do good. Psalm 118:126: It is time to act, etc. For just as there is no root so wretched or herb in the earth, or plant, that it does not strive to bring forth a leaf or shoot or some greenness, so there is no human being of any sex, condition, or status who now more than usual ought not to pray, give alms, and do other works of mercy and good things. Genesis 1:11: Let the earth bring forth green herb, that is, let the earthly human being bring forth good conduct,