Homilies on Numbers, Homilia IX
Korah’s censers become altar plating§1
1On Korah’s censers, the people’s sedition against Moses, and the rods among which Aaron’s rod budded. With God nothing is useless or idle. He orders the sinners’ censers not thrown away but beaten into plating for the altar — a memorial that no outsider not of Aaron’s seed may draw near.
Latin · §1
De batillis Chore et seditione populi adversum Moysen et de virgis in quibus virga Aaron germinavit. Apud Deum nihil inutile, nihil otiosum. Batilla peccantium iubet Deus non abici sed fieri laminas ductiles atque altare circumdari in commemorationem, ut non accedat alienigena qui non est de semine Aaron.
Nothing useless with God§2
2What humans would cast off still has necessary work with God. Even sins are turned into warning, so that memory of the fault may guard the holy things.
Latin · §2
Quae hominibus alienanda videntur, aliquid operis necessarii apud Deum habent. Peccata etiam in documentum convertuntur, ut memoria culpae custodiat sancta.
Aaron’s rod that budded§3
3The twelve rods are set in the tent; Aaron’s rod put forth buds, flowers, and almonds. It prefigures the rod from the root of Jesse and the flower of Christ. True priesthood blossoms in Christ. To whom be glory forever. Amen.
Latin · §3
Virgae duodecim tribuum in tabernaculo ponuntur; virga Aaron germina germinavit et flores produxit et amygdalas. Virga de radice Iesse flosque Christi praefiguratur. Sacerdotium verum in Christo floret. Cui gloria in saecula. Amen.