Homilies on Numbers, Homilia I
The army of God numbered and ordered§1
1The first reading of Numbers taught that God’s army, which went out from Egypt and marched through the desert, was “visited” — numbered through Moses and Aaron. The form is prescribed: God’s people leaving this world’s Egypt for the land of promise — toward the place of virtues or the glory of the kingdom — advance by ranks and grades of merit.
Latin · §1
Prima Numerorum lectio docuit quod exercitus Dei, qui exivit de terra Aegypti et iter egit per desertum, visitatus sit — numeratus per Moysen et Aaron. Forma praescripta: populus Dei egrediens de mundi Aegypto ad terram repromissionis — ad virtutum locum vel regni coelorum — ordinibus et meritorum gradibus incedat.
Each according to his signs§2
2Each man according to his order and according to his signs shall pitch camp. “Signs” are the marks that name each person — and each soul: one mild, another stormy. Let each walk by his signs; by zeal we can move from lesser signs to greater. In the resurrection star differs from star in glory.
Latin · §2
Homo secundum ordinem suum et secundum signa sua castra collocent. Signa — proprietates quibus unusquisque designatur, etiam in animis: alius mitis, alius turbidus. Unusquisque secundum signa sua incedat; aemulatione a inferioribus ad meliora signa venire possumus. In resurrectione stella a stella differt in gloria.
Nothing disordered — Homilia I CLOSEOUT§3
3Let us walk and do all things in order. If nothing disordered, restless, or shameful is found in us, then we shall shine like the sun in the kingdom. To him be glory forever. Homilia I CLOSEOUT. Amen.
Latin · §3
Incedamus et omnia secundum ordinem geramus. Si nihil inordinatum, nihil inquietum, nihil inhonestum in nobis inventum fuerit, tunc sicut sol fulgebimus in regno. Cui gloria in saecula. Amen.