Homilies on Judges, Homilia I
Days of Jesus or days of the wicked§1
1On what is written: The people served the Lord all the days of Jesus and all the days of the elders who had seen the Lord’s great works. The lector read “feared”; we have “served.” Each of us makes for himself either Jesus’ days or the wicked’s days. If the true light that enlightens everyone lights the soul and the sun of righteousness rises, we have Jesus’ days — days of salvation. If we take an extinguishable light, we have evil days of Manasseh or Pharaoh. In wicked Ahaz’s days Isaiah could not see the Lord until that bad king died.
Latin · §1
De eo quod scriptum est: Servivit populus Domino omnibus diebus Iesu et omnibus diebus seniorum qui viderunt opera Domini. Lector legebat timuit; nos habemus servivit. Unusquisque sibi praestat dies Iesu vel dies impiorum. Si lumen verum illuminat animam et sol iustitiae oritur, habemus dies Iesu dies salutis. Si lucem exstinguibilem recipimus, dies mali Manasse vel Pharaonis. In diebus Achaz impii Esaias Dominum videre non potuit donec mortuus est rex nequam.
Justice and peace in his days§2
2Of the Lord’s days the prophet says: In his days justice will arise and abundance of peace. Not only of the Savior’s fleshly sojourn — then his crucifiers had no peace. Each person by conduct acquires days of justice or of iniquity. For those who fear my name the sun of righteousness will rise. Great peace have those who love your law. The light of the righteous endures; the light of the wicked is put out — not another substance, but Christ the eternal light versus the devil’s false light when he transforms himself into an angel of light. Pleasure, riches, worldly glory — days of a light that will go out; so too heretics’ falsely named knowledge.
Latin · §2
De diebus Domini propheta: Orietur in diebus eius iustitia et multitudo pacis. Non de sola carne Salvatoris — tunc crucifixores non habuerunt pacem. Unusquisque actibus acquirit dies iustitiae vel iniquitatis. Timentibus nomen meum orietur sol iustitiae. Pax multa diligentibus legem tuam. Lux iustorum permanet; lux impiorum exstinguitur — non alia substantia sed Christus lumen aeternum versus falsa lux diaboli se in angelum lucis transfigurantis. Voluptas divitiae gloria saeculi — dies lucis exstinguendae; haeretici falsi nominis scientia.
Long days of the elders§3
3All the days of the elders who outlived Jesus and had seen all the Lord’s great works. Long days are those stretched by knowing God’s works; the wicked’s days are short. Those who saw the Lord’s great works — experience confirms faith. After Jesus, the church’s elders who have seen the mysteries lengthen salvation’s days among the people.
Latin · §3
Omnibus diebus seniorum qui longiorum dierum fuerunt post Iesum. Longi dies sunt qui cognitione operum Dei extenduntur. Breves dies malorum. Qui viderunt opera Domini magna — experientia confirmat fidem. Post Iesum seniores ecclesiae qui mysteria viderunt prolongant dies salutis in populo.
They knew the Lord’s works§4
4In the days of the elders who knew all the works the Lord did for Israel. To know the works is not by rumor alone but by sight and share. In the church let us know Christ’s works in us — then we have Jesus’ days. Glory forever. Amen.
Latin · §4
In diebus seniorum qui cognoverunt omnia opera Domini quae fecit in Israel. Cognoscere opera non fama sola sed visione et participatione. Nos in ecclesia cognoscamus opera Christi in nobis — tunc dies Iesu habemus. Gloria in saecula. Amen.