From the previous post:
“ …we cannot deny his providence towards the rest of his creatures; but the Bride claims his attention for herself.”
St. Bernard continues:
3. It is obvious that what the Apostle says about oxen[1]
has no reference to the Bride; he who loves her and gave himself for her[2]
must needs care for her.[3]
Is she not that lost sheep[4]
whose care came before even that of the heavenly flock?[5]
The Shepherd left the rest and came to earth to find her. He sought her
diligently, and when he found her[6]he
did not lead her, but carried her back! Then on her account he called the
angels together and celebrated a new and joyful festival with her. How then can
it be said that he will not care for her,[7]when
he deigned to carry her on his shoulders? She is not mistaken,[8]then,
when she says, 'The Lord takes thought for me',[9]nor
is she deceived when she says, 'The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me'[10]
or when she says anything else which shows God's love for her. Thus it is she
speaks of the Lord of Hosts as her beloved, and glories[11]
that he who judges all things in tranquility[12]cares
for her. Why should she not glory? She has heard him sing to her, ’Can a woman
forget her child, and not have compassion on him? And even if she does forget
him, yet I will not forget you.'[13]
Again, 'The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous.'[14]
Now what is the bride but the congregation of the righteous? What is she but
the generation of those who seek the face of the Bridegroom?[15]
It cannot be that he should incline to her, and she not inclined to him.
Therefore she says, 'He inclines to me and I to him. He inclines to me because
he is good and gracious;[16]
I incline to him because I am not ungrateful. He gives me grace from his graciousness;[17]
I give him gratitude for grace. He has a care for my deliverance and my
salvation; I for his honor and the fulfillment of his will. He has a care for
me, and for no other, for I am his only dove;[18]
I have a care for him and for no other;[19]
do not hear the voice of others, nor do I listen to those who say "Look,
here is Christ" or "look, here he is!"[20]
It is the Church who speaks.
CISTERCIAN FATHERS SERIES: NUMBER FORTY - BERNARD OF
CLAIRVAUX – ON THE SONG OF SONGS IV - Sermon 68.3
[1] 1 Cor 9:9 [2] Gal 1:4 [3] Lk 10:35 [4] Mt 18:12 [5] 1 Pet2:23 [6] Lk 15:5 [7] Lk 10:35
[8] Heb 2:11 [9] Ps 40:18 [10] Ps 138:8 [11] Wis 12:18 [12] 1 Cor 2:15 [13] Is 49:15
[14] Ps 34:16 [15] Ps 24:6 [16] Jl 2:13 [17] Jn 1:16 [18] Sg 6:8 [19] Jn 10:15 [20] Mk13:21
