De Profundis (5)
Neale now proceeds to verse 2 of the psalm:
O let thine ears consider well: the voice of my complaint.
[His exposition alludes to the commentaries of Bellarmine and of
Michael Ayguan, of which he says, "To my own mind the Commentary of
Michael Ayguan ( + 1416) is on the whole, the best of those that have
been contributed to the treasury of the Church"; also St Luke's
gospel, 8:18. BTW, several kind members have pointed out that by "Hugo
Card." Neale doubtless means Hugh of St Cher.]
It is not enough to cry with a loud voice in order to be heard; for it
is also needful that the person called upon my give heed. For it often
happens that one is so buried in thought about something else as not to
attend to the voice of another speaking to him; and in that case the
sound of the words strikes in vain on his ears. It is true that God
sees and hears everything, but when He does not perform what we ask, He
appears as though not attending to the voice of the petitioners, but
thinking of something else, and therefore the Psalmist is not satisfied
with crying loudly, but further prays that God will 'consider', that
is, accept his prayers, and give him what is asked. God is said to bow
down His ears, that is, His readiness and mercy, to us, but we, on the
other hand, to lift up ours to Him. And it is to be noted that the
form of the human ear teaches three silent lessons. It is always open,
unlike the eyes, closed with lids, and the mouth, with lips;
signifying that we should be more ready to hear than either to see or
speak; it is small, unlike that of the ass and other lower animals,
warning us to "take heed how 'we' hear," and not to receive everything
which is spoken; it is erect, unlike the hanging ears of dogs, because
we ought to listen for words which come from heaven, rather than to
those uttered from earth below.
The Supple Doctor.
____________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk
or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|