The Human as a Dwelling and the Response to the Flute

Having been interpreted by others, they were somewhat obscure, remembering; and remembering this, the magnitude of the 'truth' did not appear. And the 'judgment' might grow fat. In the apostolic word it was said again this: that where there is 'law', there also is 'transgression'. If the gospel had not come into the midst, there would not have been a great punishment according to those not receiving it.

Immediately indeed he says that it is necessary 'that this gospel of the kingdom be preached in all the world for a testimony to all the nations' (Matt 24:14), so that no one might take a pretext to seize the unseemly. When therefore the aforementioned 'almond shall blossom', the 'acris' (judgment) 'grows fat'; and the 'acris' is taken instead of a flogging; 'the locusts consumed the remnant of the field' (Joel 1:4). And it 'grows fat' then receiving much food; and its food are the men being handed over to it. And it is possible also to take as a character the 'blossoming of the almond'.

the 'almond' has two layers outside the edible part: shell-like and then bitter, the husk which is on the outside. The outside husk may be the body; for it is bitter, having a relation to pleasure. But that shell-like husk is the soul, for it is well-proportioned and large; and within is the edible, the spirit. When therefore that thing of the time of the apostle writing is fulfilled: 'May the God of peace sanctify you wholly, your whole spirit and soul and body' (1 Thess 5:23), 'the almond has blossomed'; for in the 'blossoming' these three things are contained. Therefore the man 'blossoms' when he advances in virtue, having 'the body being transformed' (Rom 12:2) so as to become 'conformed' to the 'body' of Christ.

And the caparis might be scattered, because the man went into the house of his age. The 'house of the age' of the 'man' is the life after these things. All the things spoken are happening: and 'the doors are shut in the marketplace', and 'they rise up to the voice of the sparrow' (Prov 7:23) those being called to this, and 'the daughters of the singer are humbled' (Ps 84:12). Those who are in the 'house' of the 'age' are the 'men'. And the place concerning the earth is the 'house' of this 'age of the evil one'. All the things spoken are happening. Since therefore he 'went into' another 'age', he went 'into' the age of 'his own house', 'into' that after these things.

All things having passed away here are loosed. It is possible to take it this way also, since the 'man' is according to the soul. When all the things that have come to him are loosed—the fleeting things, the trivial things—he 'goes into' his own remaining 'house,' having left this 'age.' And an 'age' is appropriate and a 'house' is for the 'man' who has become a divine state, being 'according to the image and likeness of God,' from which he 'departed' from this 'age.' Those things are loosed, as if someone says that fornication has ceased. For the 'man departed into' the place of incorruption.

And those being cut in mourning surrounded him in the marketplace (Matt 12:5). Therefore, 'after the flute has been played' and 'the wailing' is increasing, those formerly speaking in the marketplace, as if lamenting them, speak. Therefore, 'in the marketplace those being cut surrounded him.' You also have it said in the Gospel by the Savior: 'To what generation shall I liken this generation?' and he says: 'It is like children sitting in the marketplace, calling to one another: We played the flute for you and you did not dance; we mourned for you and you did not weep' (Matt 11:17). And he adds: 'John came neither eating nor drinking' (Matt 11:10). Behold the 'lamenting of the child'; for John is taken for all the ancient Scripture and those who ministered to it, but the Son of Man is taken for the body of the Church, the apostolic and evangelical choir. He says, therefore, that the 'children play the flute,' so it is necessary for those hearing the flute to 'dance.' But the 'dancing' of the imitation of words is promised to be made through the hands. When, therefore, they hear the word of the wise of salvation and the word bringing forth piety, and are conformed to the announced works and the intellect, they 'dance' praiseworthily according to the dancing which David 'danced' before the ark (2 Sam 6:14). For when they 'lament' calling to repentance, raising up feeling, they 'cut their breasts,' because this raises up feeling. When one laments and cuts his breast because another is sinning, he immediately says, 'How much this one reproaches himself for my sake, I also ought to do this.' And these, therefore, hearing the lament, if they 'cut their breasts' bearing their hands against their chests, they raise up feeling for themselves. These, therefore, were the former speakers...