[Sermones "Dormi secure" de tempore]

The birds of heaven in the branches, that is, spiritual goods, such as intellect, will, memory, and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. And from it all flesh is fed, because he nourishes his flesh and many sinners living carnally. To such a person living thus, a double punishment is threatened, namely that of temporal death, that is, natural death, and eternal death. Whence follows: A watcher from heaven, that is, God, who watches over us, cries to His angels: Cut down this tree, because according to the gospel, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down. Luke 3: The axe is now placed at the root. The branches are pruned, that is, the five senses of the body. The leaves, that is, the joy of the world and human praise. The fruits are dispersed, that is, his earthly goods, as is clear in the Psalm: They will leave their riches to others. The birds, which are spiritual gifts, recede, namely wisdom, intellect, will, and memory, etc. The root, that is, the soul, is bound with an iron bond in eternal damnation. Therefore, break the bond of guilt, bind yourself with the bond of love, and flee the bond of horror, etc.

The Fourth Sunday

The Fourth Sermon.

He is who after
me is to come. John 1. Note that we see with our eyes in these natural things, when some great prince wishes to enter a new land where he has not been for a long time, he is accustomed to send ahead solemn messengers, so that each one may be able to prepare himself, so that he may be able to meet such a prince with honor. Thus our Lord, the King of heaven and earth, who, as John says in Apocalypse 19, has written on His garment: King of kings and Lord of lords, and He wished to enter into this world, and to uproot the devil from His kingdom. He wished to send ahead a solemn messenger, namely the holy John the Baptist, like an angel, who would intimate His advent to the world. He says: He is who after me is to come. How, however, he insinuated the advent of Christ, is clear in the gospel of today, because John the Baptist was in the desert near the Jordan, and because of the holiness of his life, he did not wish to mingle in the world. The Jews believed him to be Christ, as is evident in the gospel.

In that time the Jews sent priests and some Levites to Jerusalem, and they said: Go and question John. Who are you? Are you Christ? And John confessed the truth by saying: I am not Christ. Again they questioned him: What then are you? Are you Elijah? And he said: I am not. And again they said: Are you a prophet? And he answered: No. They said therefore to him: Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself? John said: I am the voice of one crying in the desert: Direct, that is, prepare the way of the Lord, as Isaiah says. And those who had been sent were of the Pharisees. And they questioned him and said: Why then do you baptize if you are not Christ