THE LAND ANIMALS AND THE BIRDS OF PREY CALL ON US TO APPROACH GOD He talks about the animals running wild and untamed in the wilderness; and Yet God cares for them; For the horses tamed to use in battles; and for the birds of prey, with their amazing ability to see their prey while flying from afar, and their habits of building their nest on high up places. What came here could not be a collection of the telltales of travelers of those days, who had knowledge of the habits of animals and birds. It is a splendid and beautiful portrait of God’s work in His creatures, big and small, of benefit, or fierce and voracious. He is the amazing God who created exalted wonders! This chapter presents to us some features of certain land animals and birds, before which the believer can only stand humble to learn: 1- In the mountain goats and the deer, He can see the need to resort to the Lord Christ, the Rock of ages; The thirst to the streams of water of the Holy Spirit; And the trampling with their hooves on the old serpent, to crush its head by Jesus Christ, and to get rid of its authority. 2- In the deer giving birth in the wilderness, He can see the exalted care of God; from which the believer may learn, how to draw the souls, to testify to His Christ, and to give birth to children in the gospel, by the truth, by preaching, and in baptism, 3- In the wild donkey and the onager, and their enjoyment of freedom in the wilderness, He can hear a call to man to set forth to tranquility, to free him from the bondage of the world, and not to be preoccupied with its worries, that corrupt his inner peace. 4- In the wild ox that could not be used to plow, nor to share the manger with the domesticated beasts; He can hear a call, 203 not to lean upon the haughty and arrogant human might; and a call to enjoy the food of the spirit; namely, the Word of God. 5- In the beauty, hugeness, but at the same time, the lack of wisdom and foolishness of the Ostrich, that she does not embrace her own eggs; He can hear a call to seek wisdom, and not beauty. 6- In the strength of the horse, its nobility, loyalty, and not fearing death in battle, He can see how we should be ashamed of ourselves; And how it is befitting of us to die every day together with the apostle for the sake of the Lord. 7- In how the hawk fly toward the warm south in order to have its feathers renewed; He can see how, by seeking the warmth of the Spirit, we set forth toward our Christ; By His Holy Spirit, we take off our old man, and put on the new man, who is renewed every day. 8- And in the eagle, He can hear a call to use, by the grace, our possibilities, to fly toward heaven, not to look for a prey, but to get to enjoy Him, who became a sacrifice for our sake; To join St. John in flying up high to behold the great day of the Lord, and to enjoy discovering the exalted secrets of God. 1- The mountain goat and the deer 1 – 4 2- The wild donkey 5 – 8 3- The wild ox 9 – 12 4- The Ostrich 13 – 18 5- The horse 19 – 25 6- The hawk and the eagle 26 – 30 1- THE MOUNTAIN GOAT AND THE DEER: “Do you know the time when the wild mountain goats bear young? Or can you mark when the deer gives birth?” (Job 39:1). Most people do not preoccupy themselves with the wild animals that wander in the wilderness or the forests; but are only preoccupied with their own flocks of sheep, horses, and pets like cats and dogs, etc. God, on the other hand, cares even for the 204 animals in the wilderness and birds, for their food drink, nests, dens, and for their giving birth to young. Husband and wife get preoccupied, once the wife gets pregnant; They refer to a specialist to tell them about the expected time of delivery, and to take care of the pregnancy until the of delivery; after which would start the great expenses of child care and upbringing! Now, who is to take care of the mountain goat and the deer in a similar situation? God cares for all their needs. And if he does, Would He not cares for man, His very beloved creature?! We can say together with the apostle: “Is it oxen God is concerned about?” (1 Corinthians 9: 9). Is He concerned about them getting pregnant and giving birth?! Yes, He is very concerned about (the human goats and deer), the spiritual teachers, who work with His Holy Spirit; strive until they give birth to souls for the Lord; strike the heads of the serpents with their hooves to kill them; and each putting its head on that of the other, all working together to gain souls for the kingdom of God. The spiritual teachers would then sing together with the apostle Paul: “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; For in Christ Jesus, I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4: 15); And: “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus whom I have begotten while in my chains” (Philemon 10). It is the habit of the female deer to kill the serpents they encounter; While the serpents try in turn to bite their legs. And it is said, that while crossing a river, each of them rests its head on the deer preceding it, to relieve herself from the burden of its weight. Why was ‘Job’ asked about the delivery of the mountain goats and the deer, except because they refer to the spiritual guides?! They are like the mountain goats that give birth between the rocks; As, through the teachings of the fathers, which are called ‘rocks’, they give birth to souls through leading them to the truth … Commenting on the teachers, who through slothfulness, forsake their offspring they have got by their preaching; Jeremiah says: 205 “Even the deer in the field forsake their newborn young and leave, because there is no grass” (Jeremiah 14: 5). Like deer, they trample on the deadly serpents, namely the sins; and by so doing, they become more flared, longing for the fountain of life; hence the saying of the psalmist: “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God” (Psalm 42: 1). It is as though, said to ‘Job’: You may believe that you are working on a high level; not foreseeing the time when the spiritual masters will be sent to the world to bear young, and through their strife, to gather fruitful souls for the Lord1. Pope Gregory the Great “Can you number the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they bear young?” (Job 39: 2). Man does not preoccupy himself with numbering the months fulfilled by the pregnant animals in the wilderness, or with when they deliver their young. If he is ignorant of those things that go on around him on the earth on which he dwells, will he assume to realize what goes on in the mind and heart of God, His plan for him, and how much He loves him?! “They crouch down and bring forth their young; their labor pains are ended” (Job 39: 3). Delivery of offspring in the wilderness is surely tough, with no one to help easing them; Yet they are brought forth sound through the help of God, and the mother forgets her labor and pain. While the delivery of newborns, especially in the more advanced societies, is very costly both on the individual level and on that of the nation that in the wilderness costs nothing for anyone. “They crouch down and bring forth their young, their labor pains are ended”. I wish the spiritual teachers would trust in the amazing work of God, to bring forth for Him, through them, children in the gospel, through the free grace of God. . 1 استعار البابا غریغوریوس ما ورد عن الأیائل من القدیس أغسطینوس في تفسیره المزمور 42 206 When the saints think of the spiritual progress of their flock, they become as though in a state of pregnancy in the womb. Let us consider one of many who are like the deer – the apostle Paul– who utters, as if he roars out of an intense pain of labor; saying: “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4: 19). Pope Gregory the great “Their young ones are healthy, they grow strong with grain; they depart and do not return to them” (Job 39: 4). The young ones in the wilderness or those of animals in general, do not need a long time to reach maturity, nor be taught to eat, walk or move about. Those of man, on the contrary, need a long period of training, until they depend on themselves. What an amazing gift for both man and animals! While the young animal needs no one to train them, its mother being not qualified to do that; That of man, on the other hand, needs a long period of training to be able to eat, to walk, etc. which it gets from the family, benefiting from a collective culture, and the experience of predecessors. God did everything with wisdom, both for man and animals. “They depart and do not return to them”. While the young of animals, after a short time depart to search independently for their food, and would not stay a burden on their mothers; Those of man remain several years, subsisted by the family, until they consummate the education, and practical training on a certain profession, before they depart from their parents. 2- THE WILD DONKEY: “Who set the wild donkey free? Who loosed the bonds of the onager?” (Job 39: 5). Some fathers see in the wild donkey and the onager, that roam in the wilderness with no hindrance, a symbol of those who lead a life of solitude in the freedom of spirit. The wild donkey that lives in solitude, liken those who dwell far from the crowd of people. He fittingly added the word “free”; as the burden of the world behavior on people is indeed great, that 207 by which their mind is preoccupied, even though acceptable to them. To set oneself free from such servitude, he should covet nothing in this world that the devil uses as horrible yokes of bondage. He, who sets his neck free of the yoke of temporal lusts, will certainly enjoy a kind of freedom in this world… That heavy yoke was seen by the lord, when He said: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11: 28)… The lord loosens the bonds of onager, when He tears apart, the chains that shackle the free minds of His elect. Pope Gregory the great The wilderness is the mother of tranquility; it is the haven where we find comfort from all troubles1. St. John Chrysostom A mere look at the wilderness would grant tranquility to our souls, and kill the carnal lusts in us. St. (Mar) Isaac the Syrian St. Mark said: [The reason that tranquility is good is that man sees in it nothing that would harm his soul. Because the things unseen do not reach the soul to stir up in man’s mind the memory of unbecoming things; he would enjoy within himself deep tranquility, and, “shall delight himself in the abundance of peace” (Psalm 37: 11)]. An elderly was asked: [Why did St. Anthony say to his disciple St. Paul: Go and live in silence, to receive the temptations of the devil? The elderly answered: Because the perfection comes to the monk through the spiritual behavior; that originates from the tendencies of the heart; that come in turn from the tendencies of the mind; based upon the persistent prayer, and the struggle against the devils. This persistent prayer, and the struggle against the devil, whether, in thoughts or in visions, would never have a chance without silence and tranquility. 1 In Matt. hom 50:1. 208 A brother asked St. Cronius: [What should I do to fight against forgetfulness (or slothfulness) that enslaves my soul? Before having the chance to realize anything, I would be led to sin! The elderly answered him: Because of the evil of the children of Israel, the foreigners took away the ark of the covenant, and brought it to the temple of their god Dagon. “Early in the morning there was Dagon fallen on its face to the earth” (1 Samuel 5). When the brother asked about the meaning of this, the father answered: [If the devil attempts to take over the spirit of someone, he leads him into a secret hidden pain (a deep tendency). Here, if his spirit, remembering the eternal judgment, returns and seeks God, that pain would be instantly driven away and disappear, according to the scripture: “In returning and rest, you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30: 15). Garden of the monks “Whose home I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwelling” (Job 39: 6). The domesticated donkey is mostly confined to a little space in a barn, where his movement would be very limited; the wild donkey, on the other hand, counts the whole wilderness as his own dwelling place, where he moves freely, and chooses its preferable abode. Pope Gregory the Great believes that whoever chooses to practice a life of solitude and tranquility, although he would have the whole desert as his home, where he is free to move in security and peace, Yet, through his own free will, he would choose to dwell in salty marshes that flare man’s thirst and hunger to an intimate fellowship with God. “Whose home I have made the wilderness, and the salty marshes his dwelling (his tent)” (6)…. Those who live in solitude, and are free from carnal lusts, would be like the wild donkey, to whom the Lord has given the wilderness as his dwelling place… 209 The salinity is equivalent to thirst; The saints dwelling in such a salty environment of the quietness of heart, are thirsty all the time, and longing for the heavenly city; according to the Scripture: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for the righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5: 6). Pope Gregory the Great About those perfect men, or may I call the flowers and fruits, produced by ‘the tree of saints’, the Lord spoke in a symbolic way to ‘Job’ saying: “Who set the wild donkey free? Who loosed the bonds of the onager, whose home I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwelling? He scorns the tumult of the city; He does not heed the shouts of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searches after every green thing” (Job 39: 5-8). In the Book of Psalms it is said: “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy”; then He adds: “They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses” (Psalm 107: 2, 4-6). Jeremiah describes them as: “It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone and keep silent, because God has laid it on him” (Lamentations 3: 27, 28). And from the heart, the words of the Psalmist say: “I am like an owl of the desert. I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop” (Psalm 102: 6, 7)1. Father Beamon “He scorns the tumult of the city; He does not heed the shouts of the driver” (Job 39: 7). The wild donkey scorns the men of the city who try to catch him; he will easily slip off their hands. And unlike the domesticated donkey, he does not heed the angry shouts or strikes of a driver; he certainly feels that he is better off than his domesticated counterpart. 1 Cassian: Conferences, 18:6:3. 210 If we adopt the symbolic interpretation of Pope Gregory the Great, saying that the wild donkey refers to those who lead a life of solitude and tranquility; those could never be confined in narrow concepts; nor would be led astray by a lust or sin. “The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searches after every green thing” (Job 39: 8). He, who lives by the spirit of the true tranquility, is as though dwells in the range of holy mountains, searching after the heavenly pasture. The mountains of pasture are likewise the higher angelic hosts, who support us by their ministry and help; And could be taken as well to refer to the exalted words of the Holy Book, about which the Psalmist says: “The high hills are for the wild goats” (Psalm 104: 18). As those who know how to practice the high jumps of meditations, could ascend to the high mountain tops. Pope Gregory the Great 3- THE WILD OX: “Will the wild ox be willing to serve you? Will he bed by your manger?” (Job 39: 9). “The wild ox”: Pope Gregory the Great refers to it as (the rhinoceros), a symbol of the pride of this world; or to the hosts of the evil kingdom of the devil, that destroy men by the spirit of pride; whom the believer would not expect to serve him, or to bed by his manger, where the word of God – the food of the soul – is found. Pride would destroy, not edify the believer, would corrupt his concepts of the word of God, and would not fulfill his depths with it. The ‘Rhinoceros’ mostly refers to pride; according to the testimony of the prophet, saying: “I said to the boastful, ‘Do not deal boastfully’; and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn’” (Psalm 75: 4). Therefore to what does the ‘rhinoceros’ refer, but to the might of this world, or to the forces of darkness of its kingdom, who boast with the pride of haughtiness? 211 To ‘Job’, as a representative of the holy church, it is said: “Will the wild ox be willing to serve you? Will he bed by your manger?”. By the manger here, is meant the Holy Book itself, the food of the Word of God, about which is said by the prophet: “Your flock found a dwelling in it” (Psalm 68: 10). That is why, when our Lord was born, the shepherds found him in a manger. Pope Gregory the Great As ‘Job’ assumed that he could submit everything under his will, God said to him: “Let us consider the rhinoceros; can you, with your intelligence, domesticate him to serve you in place of the camels and the donkeys you have lost? Can you manage to make him bed by your manger, and feed on the food you offer him? “Can you bind the wild ox in the furrow with ropes? Or will he plow the valleys behind you?” “Will you trust him because his strength is great? Or will you leave your labor to him?” (Job 39: 10, 11). It is befitting of man to realize that he has lost the service of the wild beasts, because of his sin. Having rebelled against God, those beasts, likewise rebelled against him. And if the domesticated beasts submit to him, and serve him, It is out of the mercy and love God. Some believe that the domesticated animals that serve man, are generally weaker than the wild ones. It is as though dealing with man, made those lose much of their strength. In a symbolic story, a tiger, astonished to see a cat that carried much of his features, yet far smaller in size and weaker in body, asked the cat about the secret of his great weakness, the later answered: Dealing with humans has humiliated and weakened him. “Will you trust him to bring home your grain, and gather it to your threshing floor?’ (Job 39: 12). Man may trust a domesticated animal; he may leave a little kid to lead his donkey laden with things, or an ox bound to a plow; but he would never trust a rhinoceros with such works. 212 4- THE OSTRICH: “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but they cannot compare with the pinions and feathers of the stork” (Job 39: 13). The ostrich is a bird of a very large size, that some call it a camel with wings. When you see it flapping with its large wings, you may assume that it can fly with a great speed, yet; on the contrary it is unable to fly. The wings of an ostrich are like those of a ‘heron’ or a ‘hawk’, who's flying speed, surpass all other birds. But an ostrich cannot lift itself up from the ground, to do an actual flight. So are all the hypocrites who pretend to have the behavior of good people, and may even have their appearance. It is as though God says to them: Although you have the appearance of wings, and look as though you can fly, Yet the heavy burden of your behavior, brings you down to the deepest depth! The heron and the hawk, because they have small size, yet are provided with dense wings; they can fly with a high speed, because what would burden them is less, while what would support their flying is more … Elect men are compared to the heron and the hawk. Living in this world, they could not be without a sin, however small it may be. But, as long as what would burden them down is small, they would have an abundance of good work that would lift them high up. Pope Gregory the Great “For she leaves her eggs on the ground, and let them warm in the dust; forgetting that a foot may crush them” (Job 39: 14). Although the ostrich has beautiful feathers, and walk proudly around like a peacock; yet her beauty and large size is not adorned with wisdom. She even does not find for herself an isolated place to build a nest like a sparrow or a swallow (Psalm 84: 3), and does not lie on her eggs to keep them warm until they hatch, but leave them anyplace on the dust, to be warmed by the sun. This is a painful portrait of some believers who do not care for the salvation of their children, whether of their flesh and blood, 213 or those whom they bring forth in the gospel; but forsake them as though on the dust of this world. Yet, the grace of God would often seek them and support them with the warmth of the Sun of Righteousness, to let them enjoy the resurrected life. Leaving the eggs on the ground, is not caring for the proper upbringing of the children, brought forth through preaching, either by lifting them up through giving good counsel, or supporting them by presenting good examples of heavenly life. Yet the Lord warms up those eggs forsaken on the dust, and flares the fire of His love in those little souls, even those dwelling among sinners. Deprived of the serious care of the preachers. Pope Gregory the Great “Or that a wild beast may break them” (Job 39: 15). Pope Gregory the Great by his symbolic interpretation, believes that some preachers, after presenting to God children through their preaching, forsake those who received faith as though in the dust, among the wicked, disregarding what they may face of being crushed under the feet by those who attempt to dampen their spirit; or being broken down by wild beasts; namely, by the temptations of the devil. “She treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers; Her labor is in vain, without concern” (Job 39: 16). You should not marvel that the ostrich treat her young harshly, as though they were not hers that her labor is in vain, without concern; contrary to the majority of birds and beasts, that may risk their life even to death for the sake of their young. But you should rather marvel at the rational human being, who disregard his children, according to the flesh or to the spirit, as though they were not his own; and his whole life would thus turn tasteless and with no value. He, who does not enjoy the grace of love, would look at his neighbor as though at a stranger, even though he might have brought him forth in God. 214 How compassionate has Paul been, who used to run for the sake of his children with such warmth of great love, saying: “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing, I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if , by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. For I long to see you” (Romans 1: 9-11). He did not, like the ostrich, forget his children and disciples, but always feared for them, while suffering persecutions in their preaching among the wicked non-believers. He even considered the wounds of his body as nothing compared to any harm that may come over his children. Pope Gregory the great “Because God deprived her of wisdom, and did not endow her with understanding” (Job 39: 17). God allowed for the large and beautiful ostrich not to enjoy wisdom that the tiny ants we despise enjoy. By that He intends for us to learn through both of them, to seek wisdom, treasure it, and practice it. In His love, God wish for all to be saved, and to come to the truth, offering wisdom to everyone who longs for it and seeks it. Yet in case we disregard it, we shall be deprived even of the natural wisdom. “When she lifts herself on high, she scorns the horse and its rider” (Job 39: 18). Despite her disregard for her young; if she feels herself in danger, she would hasten to lift her wings on high, and sets forth galloping with an exalted speed, scorning the horse and its rider! Let God be your hope, endurance, strength, atonement, praise, conquest, place of comfort, and help in your strife…. The mighty, is the arrogant man who lifts himself haughtily before God, as though he is something in himself. Such a man would not be saved by his own strength. He may happen to have an elegant, strong, sound and swift horse; and may assume that, in time of danger, his horse would save him from any harm he may face. But let him hear this: “The 215 salvation by a horse is vain”! Let us take the horse as a symbol of any possessions in this world, or of any honor on which we may proudly lean; counting that the higher we get, the more secure we become! Do not you realize that the higher you get the heavier and harder would be your fall?! How then could security be realized? It would not be realized through power, authority, honor, glory, or the horse! St. Augustine 5- THE HORSE: “Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with mane?” (Job 39: 19). After speaking about the wild beasts and the birds of prey, He provides ‘Job’ with an example of a domesticated animal, in the service of man – the horse. He asks him: The horses used to help man in battles, Who gave them that power; it is not a gift from man, but from God. Yet, whoever depends on horses, and not on God, the Grantor of strength, will lose conquest; according to the words of the Psalmist: “A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither that it shall deliver any by its great strength” (Psalm 33: 17); And it is said: “He does not delight in the strength of horses” (Psalm 147: 10; See also Hosea 14: 3; Psalm 20: 7; Isaiah 31: 1, 3). Horses in the Holy Book are used to bear several meanings, of which are: 1- They may refer to Leaning upon temporal honor: “I have seen servants on horses, while princes walk on the ground like servants” (Ecclesiastes 10: 7). Servants here refer to the wicked who are enslaved to sin; yet they boast temporal positions and vain honor. 2- They may refer to the possibilities and energies of the believer to confront the opposition of the devil, by which he can overcome through God’s support. “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the Lord” (Proverbs 21: 31). 3- Horses may refer to preachers: “You trampled the sea with Your horses, churning the mighty waters”(Habakkuk 3: 15). 216 Pope Gregory the Great believes that a horse here in (Job 39: 19), refers to the good preachers who gain the souls through God’s work in and by them. Despite the great strength of the horse that makes man depend on it to protect himself, his country, and his possessions, it is so tame that a little kid can easily lead it without any resistance on its part. “Do you make him leap like a locust? His majestic snorting strikes terror” (Job 39: 20). God asks ‘Job’ if he can terrify the horse and make it leap like a locust; when its majestic snorting in battles strikes terror; and it charges at the enemy, with no fear for its life. “It paws violently, exults mightily; It gallops into the clash of arms” (Job 39: 21). He talked about the rhinoceros, how because of its great strength despises man and does not serve him; But here He presents the horse that, although very strong, yet it submits to man and servs him in peace and war at the expense of its own life, with no fear of death. In the Septuagint version it came as: Like someone seeking the heavenlies, “It merrily kicks the earth with its paws”, daringly and violently, not submitting to the lusts of his body; keeping on his mind the proverb saying: “Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house” (Proverb 24: 27). “It laughs at fear, and is not dismayed; it does not turn back from the sword. Upon it rattle the quiver, the flashing spear, and the javelin” (Job 39: 22, 23). Out of loyalty to its owner, the horse mocks at death, is not terrified of the attacks of enemies, never retreats, but goes consistently forward, giving its owner the spirit of courage. Here, the apostle Paul, presenting himself to us as a splendid example of love even to death; says: “What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is 217 written: For Your sake we are being killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered” (Romans 8: 35, 36). “With fierceness and rage it devours the ground; Nor does he stands (still) at the sound of the trumpet” (Job 39: 24). If the horse confronts the battle with such courage, zeal, self-restraint, and devours the ground with such fierceness and rage, Is it not befitting for the believer in his spiritual battle, to be armed with like courage and confidence in God’s work with him? “Nor does he stands (still) at the sound of the trumpet” What does this mean? When the apostles preached the gospel, the high priest sounded the trumpet; not to work to God’s account, but to declare war against preaching the kingdom; “When they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus” (Acts 5: 40). The apostles, realizing that that was not the sound of the trumpet of the truth; said “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4: 20). “At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha’. He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of captains and shouting” (Job 39: 25). When the believer gets the weapon of the Lord, Once he hears the sound of the battle and smells it from afar, he would charge with thunder and shouting (Job 39: 25); And at the mere sound of his prayer, the enemies will fall to the ground1. St. Maccar the Great 6- THE HAWK AND THE EAGLE: “Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and spread its wings toward the south?” (Job 39: 26). The hawk is a bird of prey, known for its strength and for flying with high speed. It spreads its wings and heads toward the south away from the cold regions in the north; at a time when it 1 Sermon 2: 23. 218 replaces it old feathers with new ones. Who has given it this wisdom, but God1? Who is the hawk who enjoys his new fathers in the south, but every saint who flares when he gets in touch with the warm breath of the Holy Spirit; putting off from himself the old and cold habit of vain debate; according to the advise of St. Paul, saying: “since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man” (Colossians 3: 9); And, “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4: 16). To “spread our wings toward the south” means to open our hearts in confession, with the dwelling of the Holy Spirit, So that we no more find pleasure in hiding ourselves by defending it, but expose it by accusing it. Pope Gregory the Great Who contemplates in the different nature of birds; how some of them have nice chirping voice; some have beautifully colored wings; and some, like eagles, soar up high, and seem to be standing still in the air; would not marvel to hear that the hawk “spread its wings toward the south2” … How could he then comprehend the works of the Creator of all3?! St. Cyril of Jerusalem “Does the eagle mount up at your command, and makes its nest on high?” (Job 39: 27). The eagle - the king of birds - presents to us an example of the mighty possibilities given by the Lord, even to such a bird; as a symbol of the possibilities given to man, that he can use, either for edification to the account of the kingdom of God in his heart and those of others; Or to the account of destruction and violence. Here, He demonstrates the following features of the eagle: 1 Matthew Henry's commentary. 2 hawk أي الصقر 3 Catechetical Lectures, 9:12. 219 1- It “Mounts up high” by the strength of its wings; is this a gift from man? God who granted this possibility to the eagle, Would He not grant man the possibility to soar up high by the Holy Spirit, to enjoy setting forth toward the heavenlies? The eagle flies high to get away from sight; and by its sharp eyes and incredible speed, it can suddenly dive down upon a prey. In a similar way a wicked man can use the possibilities given to him to harm others, instead of helping or supporting them. 2- It “Makes its nest on high” on the edge of a rock, so that no one can reach its young. “It dwells on a cliff, and there it resides; A rocky crag is its stronghold” (Job 39: 28). It is befitting to the believer to make his nest in Jesus Christ, the true Rock, so that no evil will approach him. But he, who haughtily and proudly, assumes that he has set for himself his own unapproachable rock, and securely walk in evil; He would hear the voice saying: “’Though you make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there’, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 49: 16). 3- It has sharp eye sight: The believer will have his insight open to behold and to enjoy the advance payment of heaven; whereas the wicked uses his sharp eye sight to look downward; with his heart filled with violence and fierceness. “From there, it spies out the prey; Its eyes observe from afar” (Job 39: 29). 4- Its young ones suck up blood from their early days. “Its young one suck up blood; And where the slain are, there it is” (Job 39: 30). The wicked are thirsty for blood as their daily food; whereas the believers will gather like eagles around the Lord Christ, as their eternal dwelling place. Christ would be their spiritual food; “For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together” (Matthew 24: 28). In the Holy Book, the word ‘eagle’ sometimes refer to the evil spirits that corrupt souls; and sometimes to the hosts of the present world; Jeremiah testifying to the spirits lying in 220 anticipation, says: “Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of heaven” (Lamentations 4: 19)… It also symbolizes the earthly forces; as said by the prophet Ezekiel: “A great eagle with large wings and long pinions, full of feathers of various colors, came to Lebanon, and took from the cedar the highest branch. He cropped off its topmost young twig” (Ezekiel 17: 4, 5). This eagle certainly refers to Nebuchadnezar king of Babylon. The word ‘eagle’ may also refer to the keen concepts of the saints, or to the ascension of Christ. Hence came the description by the prophet Ezekiel of the four evangelists he saw, under the appearance of living creatures: in the form of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. By the eagle, the fourth living creature, he certainly refers to John, who in his flying, he soared above the earth, and through his keen understanding, he went through inner secrets by his concept of the Word. Looking at the eagle itself, the nest of hope in the heights; the apostle Paul says: “For our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3: 20); And: “He raised us together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 2: 6) … As he who ascends a mountain, would look down to see things down there small in size; In the same way, the higher the level to which man progresses in his strife, the more he will find out, by the same strife, that the glory of the present life is naught, and he will soar above the things of the earth. Pope Gregory the Great 221 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF ‘JOB’ 39 YOUR CREATION CALLS ON ME TO ENCOUNTER YOU For my sake, You created the earth with everything on it. Even the beasts and birds call me to encounter You. Grant me, together with the mountain goats, to run toward You. And to hide in You, O the Rock of ages. Grant me, together with the deer, to thirst in You. To strike by You the head of the serpent. Not to let the devil have authority on me. By You, I can crush him; as You have brought him down from heaven like lightning. Even if he looks luminous, yet it is only for a moment, before his deceit is exposed. Grant me to become a productive deer; To bring forth children for You. That is Your work, O Shepherd of all. Let me learn even from the wild donkey, the freedom of the wilderness. Why should I confine myself in the hold of animals?! Let me set forth to the wilderness of the spirit. Let my soul fly with joy and rejoice to You. When I see the rhinoceros, my soul is terrified lest I fall into pride. Why should I boast what You granted me of strength, possibilities, and talents? Why shouldn’t I commit myself to a spirit of humility, by which I may proceed close to the manger?! You are the food of my soul. You are both my fulfillment and gladness. When I see the huge beautiful ostrich; I fear lest I become preoccupied with outer appearances, without the wisdom of the spirit. 222 I fear lest I may foolishly forsake my young ones in the dust. I fear lest I may not offer the weak the warmth of love, and the strength of the spirit. Count me as a holy horse, to carry You in my heart, O the unique Horseman! Then, I would not fear the spiritual battles, and would not care for the death of the body. I would not pay attention to the javelins of the enemy; Nor fear the sword of the devil. By You I conquer and become crowned. Let me, together with the hawk, renew my feathers. Let me always take off the old man and all his deeds. And always put on the new man. That I would daily be renewed by the work of Your Holy Spirit. Let me sing by You, saying: Behold, everything became new! Let me fly high to heaven, together with the eagle; Let my depths set forth to eternity. Let the eyes of my heart look forward toward the prepared crowns. Let me throw myself into Your bosom, and live by, and in You.
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