Works › Sermons for the Seasons of the Year
Volume 13 · pp. 229–232
Sermon LIX. On the Fifth Sunday After Trinity
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SERMO LIX.
IN DOMINICA V POST TRINITATEM.
Sedens Jesus docebat de navicula turbas. Luc. V, 3.
Duo sunt hic notanda:
I. Quae sit navicula, in qua Dominus sedit? II. Quae sit doctrina, quam docuit?
I.
De primo nota, quod quadruplex est navicula Domini. Prima est Virgo gratiosa: secunda est Virga pretiosa: tertia est Ecclesia gloriosa: quarta est Anima virtuosa.
1. Prima igitur navicula est Virgo gratiosa, id est, Beata Maria, quae bene dicitur gratiosa, id est, gratiis plena. Unde salutans eam Angelus, Luc. I, 28, dixit: Ave gratia plena 3. Aliis quippe sanctis divisiones gratiarum datae sunt, Beatae vero Virgini totus fons gratiarum datus est. Haec est navicula, per quam Dominus descendit in mundum, qui per civitatem munitam et Idumaeam figuratur. Mundus iste munita civitas dicitur; quia cives, hoc est, amatores suos divitiis, deliciis, et honoribus munit et armat, quod non possint feriri jaculo verbi Dei ad salutem. Princeps hujus civitatis est diabolus, sicut testatur ipse Christus, Joan. XII, 31 et XIV, 30. Mundus etiam vocatur Idumaea, quae interpretatur sanguinea, quia hodie in mundo maledictum, et mendacium, et homicidium, et furtum, et adulterium inundaverunt, et sanguis sanguinem tetigit 1.
Igitur Dominus volens ad nostram redemptionem venire in mundum, dixit in consilio Angelorum suorum, Psal. LIX, 11: Quis deducet me in civitatem munitam? quis deducet me in Idumaeam? Respondit Gabriel Archangelus, qui fuit Beatae Mariae Virginis paranymphus, id est, custos virginitatis ejus: Facta est, inquit Virgo Maria, quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum 2. Cui Dominus: "Redeas ergo et dicas ei, quod per eam volo deduci in mundum." Reversus vero Angelus cum festinatione ad Virginem, ait: Ave gratia plena: Dominus tecum. Quasi dicat: Dominus jam paratus est esse tecum, id est, intrabit in uterum tuum mundissimum. Post consensum autem Virginis, Dominus statim intravit in eam quem ipsa suo tempore eduxit in mundum. Bonum est, charissimi, ut nos peccatores munuscula nostra, id est, orationes lacrymas, eleemosynas, ac jejunia nostra per hanc fidelem naviculam nostro judici praemittamus, ut cum venerimus, ipsum propitium inveniamus. Ipsa quippe optime aget negotium nostrum.
SERMON LIX.
ON THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.
Jesus, sitting, was teaching the crowds from a little boat. Luke V, 3.
Two things are to be noted here:
I. What is the little boat in which the Lord sat? II. What is the teaching which he taught?
I.
Concerning the first, note that the little boat of the Lord is fourfold. The first is the gracious Virgin; the second is the precious Rod; the third is the glorious Church; the fourth is the virtuous Soul.
1. Therefore the first little boat is the gracious Virgin, that is, Blessed Mary, who is well called gracious, that is, full of graces. Hence the Angel greeting her, Luke I, 28, said: Hail, full of grace 3. For to other saints distributions of graces were given, but to the Blessed Virgin the whole fountain of graces was given. This is the little boat through which the Lord descended into the world, which is figured by the fortified city and Idumaea. This world is called a fortified city because it fortifies and arms its citizens, that is, its lovers, with riches, delights, and honors, so that they cannot be struck by the dart of the word of God unto salvation. The prince of this city is the devil, as Christ himself testifies, John XII, 31 and XIV, 30. The world is also called Idumaea, which is interpreted bloody, because today in the world cursing, lying, homicide, theft, and adultery have overflowed, and blood has touched blood 1.
Therefore the Lord, wishing to come into the world for our redemption, said in the counsel of his Angels, Psalm LIX, 11: Who will lead me into the fortified city? who will lead me into Idumaea? Gabriel the Archangel answered, who was the paranymph of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that is, the guardian of her virginity: The Virgin Mary, he says, has been made like a merchant's ship, carrying her bread from afar 2. To whom the Lord said: "Return therefore and say to her that through her I wish to be led into the world." But the Angel, returning with haste to the Virgin, said: Hail, full of grace; the Lord is with you. As if he said: The Lord is now ready to be with you, that is, he will enter into your most clean womb. But after the consent of the Virgin, the Lord immediately entered into her, whom she in her own time brought forth into the world. It is good, dearest ones, that we sinners send ahead our little gifts, that is, our prayers, tears, alms, and fasts, through this faithful little boat to our judge, so that when we come, we may find him favorable. For she will manage our business best.
2. Secunda navicula fuit Virga pretiosa, id est, crux Dominica, quae bene dicitur pretiosa, quasi pretio plena. Pretium enim totius mundi pependit in ea. De hac dicitur, Matth. IX, 1: Ascendens Jesus in naviculam, transfretavit, et venit in civitatem suam. Civitas Domini vocatur hic Capharnaum, quod interpretatur ager consolationis, et significat amoenitatem paradisi. Sciens ergo Jesus, quia a Deo exivit, et ad Deum vadit 4, ascendit in naviculam crucis, et per mortem transfretans venit in civitatem suam, id est, in paradisum exsultationis: in quam etiam confitentem latronem in una hora secundum suam promissionem perduxit, quam multi electi in multis millibus annorum intrare non potuerunt; quia crucis naviculam non habuerunt.
Et in hoc patet, quod si haec est velocissima, est etiam securissima: omnes enim, qui inventi fuerint in ea, Deus Pater protegit et defendit. Unde ipse Filius ait ad Patrem, Luc. XXIII, 46: Pater, in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum. Loquitur etiam ad Patrem, Joan. XVII, 24: Pater, quos dedisti mihi, volo ut ubi sum ego, et illi sint mecum. Si igitur spiritus Filii in manibus Patris, certe et animae dilectorum suorum erunt in manibus ejus.
3. Tertia navicula est Ecclesia gloriosa. Quod autem Ecclesia dicatur gloriosa, testatur Apostolus ad Ephes. V, 25, et seq.: Christus dilexit Ecclesiam, et semetipsum tradidit pro ea, ut illam sanctificaret, mundans lavacro aquae in verbo vitae, ut exhiberet sibi gloriosam Ecclesiam, non habentem maculam, aut rugam. Duo itaque Dominus requirit in eis, qui volunt esse de Ecclesia, videlicet ut non sit in eis macula luxuriae, neque ruga avaritiae. De hac nave dicitur Luc. V, 3: Ascendens in unam navim, quae erat Simonis, et sedens docebat de navicula turbas. Unde igitur Ecclesia dicitur navicula Simonis, quia Ecclesia primo Simoni Petro commissa fuit a Domino.
2. The second little boat was the precious Rod, that is, the Lord's cross, which is well called precious, as if full of price. For the price of the whole world hung on it. Concerning this it is said, Matthew IX, 1: Jesus, ascending into the little boat, crossed over and came into his own city. The city of the Lord here is called Capharnaum, which is interpreted field of consolation, and signifies the pleasantness of paradise. Therefore Jesus, knowing that he came forth from God and goes to God 4, ascended into the little boat of the cross, and crossing over through death came into his own city, that is, into the paradise of exultation, into which he also led the confessing thief in one hour according to his promise, which many elect in many thousands of years could not enter because they did not have the little boat of the cross.
And in this it is clear that if this is the swiftest, it is also the most secure: for all who will have been found in it, God the Father protects and defends. Hence the Son himself says to the Father, Luke XXIII, 46: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. He also speaks to the Father, John XVII, 24: Father, those whom you have given me, I wish that where I am, they also may be with me. Therefore if the spirit of the Son is in the hands of the Father, certainly also the souls of his beloved ones will be in his hands.
3. The third little boat is the glorious Church. But that the Church is called glorious, the Apostle testifies to the Ephesians V, 25 and following: Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her, so that he might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of water in the word of life, so that he might present to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle. And so the Lord requires two things in those who wish to be of the Church, namely that there be in them no spot of lust, nor wrinkle of avarice. Concerning this ship it is said in Luke V, 3: Ascending into one ship, which was Simon's, and sitting, he taught the crowds from the little boat. Therefore the Church is called the little boat of Simon because the Church was first entrusted by the Lord to Simon Peter.
Convenienter etiam Ecclesia similitudinem habet naviculae. Navicula quippe et in principio et in fine est angustior, in medio vero spatiosior. Ita et Ecclesia in principio sui paucos habuit fideles, et in fine paucos habebit. In principio vero Ecclesiae veri fideles multis tribulationibus et angustiis subjacuerunt, et in fine similiter subjacebunt. Dicit enim Dominus, Matth. XXIV, 12: Quoniam abundavit iniquitas, refrigescet charitas multorum. Dicitur etiam Luc. XVIII, 8: Filius hominis veniens, putas, inveniet fidem in terra?
4. Quarta navicula est Anima virtuosa, id est, virtutibus non otiosa. De hac dicitur Marc. IV, 37 et 38: Facta est procella magna venti, et fluctus mittebat in navim, ita ut impleretur navis. Et erat Jesus in puppi super cervical dormiens: et excitant eum, et dicunt illi: Magister, non ad te pertinet, quia perimus? Anima igitur nostra debet esse quasi navicula, in qua etiam Jesus debet pausare in cervicali, sive cussino pacis ac mansuetudinis. Verum quia saepe insurgit procella tentationum, quas anima sustinet ab importunitatibus daemonum vel malorum hominum, vel etiam ab inquietatione propriae carnis, necesse est ut semper Dei adjutorium imploremus: et ipse compescet ventum tentationum, et sic fiet in anima tranquillitas magna.
Et nota, quod haec navicula consistit ex quatuor, videlicet prora, puppi, rate, et carina. Et per haec intelliguntur quatuor virtutes cardinales. 1. Prora est prima pars navis, et significat prudentiam, per quam nobis providere debemus, quorsum scilicet ituri simus. Ibimus enim ante tribunal Christi, ut referat unusquisque propria corporis, prout gessit, sive bonum, sive malum, ut dicit Apostolus II ad Cor. V, 10. 2. Puppis est posterior pars navis, et signat justitiam, penes quam est naviculae gubernaculum; quia justitia custodit innocentis viam, sicut dicitur Proverb. XIII, 6, vel etiam in eodem libro Prov. XI, 3: Justitia simplicis diriget viam ejus. Justitia vero est nullam rem contra mandatum Dei vel concupiscere vel acquirere, et omnem rem injuste conquisitam plene restituere. 3. Ratis vocatur latus naviculae, et per hanc intelligitur fortitudo. Duplici vero fortitudine indigemus, ne videlicet prospera in vanitatem cordis nos deducant, et ne adversa per nimiam maestitiam nos confringant. 4. Carina vero dicitur venter vel fundus naviculae, et signat temperantiam, quae necessaria nobis est, ut videlicet ab omnibus illis abstineamus et caveamus, per quae et Deus conturbetur, et proximus aggravetur, et propria anima deturbetur.
The Church also suitably has the likeness of a little boat. For a little boat is narrower both at the beginning and at the end, but broader in the middle. Thus also the Church at its beginning had few faithful, and at the end will have few. But at the beginning of the Church the true faithful were subject to many tribulations and distresses, and at the end they will be similarly subject. For the Lord says, Matthew XXIV, 12: Because iniquity has abounded, the charity of many will grow cold. It is also said in Luke XVIII, 8: The Son of Man coming, do you think he will find faith on earth?
4. The fourth little boat is the virtuous Soul, that is, not idle in virtues. Concerning this it is said in Mark IV, 37 and 38: A great storm of wind was made, and the waves were sending into the ship, so that the ship was being filled. And Jesus was in the stern, sleeping upon a pillow; and they wake him and say to him: Teacher, does it not concern you that we perish? Therefore our soul ought to be like a little boat, in which Jesus also ought to rest upon the pillow or cushion of peace and meekness. But because often a storm of temptations rises, which the soul sustains from the importunities of demons or evil men, or also from the disturbance of its own flesh, it is necessary that we always implore God's help; and he himself will check the wind of temptations, and thus great tranquillity will be made in the soul.
And note that this little boat consists of four things, namely bow, stern, side, and keel. And by these the four cardinal virtues are understood. 1. The bow is the first part of a ship and signifies prudence, through which we ought to foresee for ourselves where, namely, we are going to go. For we shall go before the tribunal of Christ, so that each one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he has done, whether good or evil, as the Apostle says in II Corinthians V, 10. 2. The stern is the posterior part of the ship, and signifies justice, in whose possession is the rudder of the little boat, because justice guards the way of the innocent, as is said in Proverbs XIII, 6, or also in the same book, Proverbs XI, 3: The justice of the simple will direct his way. But justice is to desire or acquire no thing against the command of God, and fully to restore every thing unjustly acquired. 3. The side is called the side of the little boat, and by this fortitude is understood. But we need twofold fortitude, namely lest prosperous things lead us into vanity of heart, and lest adversities break us through excessive sadness. 4. But the keel is called the belly or bottom of the little boat, and signifies temperance, which is necessary to us, namely so that we abstain from and avoid all those things through which both God is disturbed and the neighbor burdened and one's own soul disturbed.
II.
De secundo nota, scilicet, de doctrina Christi, quod sedens in Virgine, in Cruce, in Ecclesia, in Anima, docet tria, videlicet bonitatem, disciplinam, et scientiam 5. Bonitas pertinet ad proximum, disciplina ad semetipsum, scientia ad Deum trinum et unum.
Bonitas in hoc consistit, ut nemo proximum suum vel corde, vel ore, vel opere laedat aut offendat. Unde dicit Dominus, Matth. XII, 35: Bonus homo de bono thesauro cordis sui profert bona.
Disciplina in hoc consistit, ne libidini carnis consentiatur, sed ut caro ne lasciviat, cum discreto moderamine corripiatur. Unde in Psal. II, 12: Apprehendite disciplinam, ne quando irascatur Dominus, et pereatis de via justa.
Scientia in hoc consistit, ut Deum trinum et unum ex toto corde diligamus, et tota virtute colamus, id est, tota virtute ei serviamus.
Rogate igitur Dominum, ut sic ipsius doctrinam et audiamus et faciamus, ut eum in die judicii laeta facie videamus. Quod nobis praestare dignetur, qui vivit et regnat Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
II.
Concerning the second, namely concerning the teaching of Christ, note that sitting in the Virgin, on the Cross, in the Church, in the Soul, he teaches three things, namely goodness, discipline, and knowledge 5. Goodness pertains to the neighbor, discipline to oneself, knowledge to the triune and one God.
Goodness consists in this, that no one harm or offend his neighbor either by heart or by mouth or by work. Hence the Lord says, Matthew XII, 35: A good man from the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things.
Discipline consists in this, that one not consent to the lust of the flesh, but that the flesh, lest it be wanton, be corrected with discreet moderation. Hence in Psalm II, 12: Embrace discipline, lest at some time the Lord be angry and you perish from the just way.
Knowledge consists in this, that we love the triune and one God from the whole heart, and worship him with whole virtue, that is, serve him with whole virtue.
Therefore pray to the Lord that we may so hear and do his teaching that on the day of judgment we may see him with a joyful face. May he deign to grant this to us, who lives and reigns as God through all ages of ages. Amen.
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