Catch us the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines are in flower.” Sg 2:15

St. Bernard - El Greco

 God came as a man in order to redeem his people. Declared in Scripture, even by a Roman soldier, it is what makes Christianity so difficult for humanity to believe. It is a fact preached upon many times by the disciples and fathers of the Church. In Sermon 64 on the Song of Songs St. Bernard lends his eloquence to the message.

“Catch us the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines are in flower.” ^{Sg 2:15}

Focusing on the word “us” in this verse St. Bernard takes us on a flight of theological reflection.

“He who has deigned to unite himself with us does not look upon our advantage as something foreign to himself, for he orders the foxes to be caught, not for himself, but for us along with him. Notice that he says 'for us'. What gracious condescension! Do you not think that he is speaking as the father of the family, in that he keeps nothing for himself, but has everything in common with his wife and children and household? He who speaks is indeed God, yet it is not as God that he speaks, but as a Bridegroom.

'Catch us the foxes.' You see how he speaks, as though to equals – he who has no equal. He could've said 'me', but he preferred to say 'us', for he delights in companionship. What sweetness! What grace! What a mighty love! Can it be that the Highest of all is made one with all? Who has brought this about? Love has brought this about, without regard for its own dignity, strong in affection and efficacious in persuasion. What could be more violent? Love prevails even with God. What could be so nonviolent? It is love. What force is there, I ask, which advances so violently towards victory, yet is so unresisting to violence? For he emptied himself, so that you might know that it was the fullness of love which was out- poured ^{Phil 2: 7}, that his loftiness was laid low and that his unique nature made to be your fellow. With whom, O wonderful Bridegroom, have you such familiar friendship? 'Catch them for us,' he says. For whom, besides you? For the Church of the Gentiles? She is made up of mortals and sinners. What she is, we know; but who are you ^{Jn 1:19}, so devoted to the ethiopian ^{Num 12:1} woman, so eager a lover? … Are you not he who is the fairest of the children of men? ^{Ps 44:3, Wis 7:26} I have said too little. You are the brightness of eternal life, the splendor and image of the being of God, God over all, blessed forever. ^{Heb 1:3, Rom 9:5} Amen."  from Sermon 64.9-10

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