Sermon 15 on the Song of
Songs, 5-6.
Not without reason does the Holy Spirit compare
the name of the Bridegroom to oil, when he teaches the bride to say to the Bridegroom:
Thy very name spoken soothes the heart like flow of oil. For oil provides
light, nourishment, and anointing. It feeds fire, it nourishes the body, it
soothes pain; it is a light, a food, and a medicine. Consider now that all this
is true of the Bridegroom's name. To speak of it gives light, to think of it is
the food of the soul, to call upon it calms and soothes the heart. Let us take
each point separately.
What, think you, has made the light of faith to
shine so brightly and so suddenly in the whole world, but the preaching of the
name of Jesus? Is it not in the light of this name, that God has called us into
his marvelous light? To us, being thus enlightened, and in that light seeing
light, does St. Paul truly say: Once you
were all darkness; now, in the Lord, you are all daylight. This is the name
which the same Apostle was bidden to carry before kings, and Gentiles, and the
children of Israel. And he carried that name as a light, and enlightened his
country, and everywhere he cried: The
night is far on its course; day draws near. Let us abandon the ways of
darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let us pass our time honorably, as by the
light of day. To all, he pointed out
that candle set upon a candlestick, preaching in every place Jesus Christ, and him as crucified. How
that light shone forth, blinding every eye that beheld it, when it came like
lightning from the mouth of Peter, and gave strength to the soles and feet of
the lame man, and enlightened many who were spiritually blind! Did he not cast
fire, when he said: In the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk?
Not only is the name of Jesus light; it is also
food. Are you not strengthened, as often as you call it to mind? What else so
fattens the soul of him who ponders over it? What is there with such power to
refresh the wearied senses, to strengthen courage, to help men to lead good and
holy lives, to cherish chaste affection? The soul finds every food dry, that is
not moistened with this oil; everything tasteless, if not seasoned with this
salt. Nothing you write has any interest for me unless I read Jesus therein. Do
you dispute or consult together, again it is nothing to me, unless I hear the
name of Jesus. That name is like honey in the mouth, like music in the ear,
like gladness in the heart.
It is a healing balm also. Is any sad among us?
Let the thought of Jesus come into his heart, and thence leap to his mouth.
When the light of that name begins to dawn, it scatters every cloud, and brings
back calm. Does anyone fall into sin, and through despair come nigh to the
brink of death? If he but call on that life-giving name, he shall quickly come
back to life. So when I pronounce the name of Jesus, I call upon a Man meek and
humble of heart, good, sober, chaste, merciful, of shining virtue and sanctity,
and at the same time an all- powerful God, able to heal me by his example and
to strengthen me by his assistance.
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