Chapter VI.
The angels see Saint James on the journey. The same angel, meeting his brother, bows down seven times. Finally, he sleeps in the camp, to seek harmony from him. The meaning of all these things is revealed.
26. These things have been proven to the extent that the holy Jacob encountered the angels of God as he set out. Finally, he saw the camps of God approaching and said: These are the camps of God (Gen. XXXII, 1-2). For when divine help is sought, it is usually given to those who are faithful and perfect. And so Jacob, aiming for reconciliation with his brother, humbled himself, acquired favor through acts of service, and even thought that he should buy his brother's favor with gifts. He met his brother with gifts, wives, and children, so that even if his brother were to be offended, he might be moved by the obligations of kinship.
27. And he worshiped seven times on the ground (Gen. XXXIII, 3). What does this mean? The law says: You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him (Deut. VI, 13); the ethics worship the intemperate, the angry, the threatening, the murderous crime. Did he worship the ground, the one made of human blood, infused with serpent venom, or the unfortunate sand, or the one abhorred by hard and rough rocks? What does it also mean that he worshiped seven times? The solution would be in doubt, if it were not for what Peter asked in the Gospel: 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him: 'Not only seven times, but seventy-seven times' (Matthew 18:21-22). By the prophetic inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the holy Patriarch signifies that in the coming times, not only up to seven times, but even up to seventy-seven times, forgiveness should be granted to a brother. Through this contemplation, Esau forgave the injury he believed he had received from his brother, and even though he had been wounded, he returned to grace. For this reason, the Lord Jesus took on flesh and came to earth, in order to bestow upon us multiplied forgiveness of sins.
Finally, seeking reconciliation from his brother, he slept in the camp. Perfect virtue has the tranquility and stability of rest; therefore, the Lord reserved His gift for the more perfect, saying: I leave you peace; I give you My peace (John 14:27). For it belongs to the perfect not to be easily moved by worldly matters, not to be disturbed by fear, not to be agitated by suspicion, not to be shaken by terror, not to be harassed by sorrow: but rather, to calm the unchanging mind, like a safe seashore against the rising waves of worldly storms, with steadfast faith and unwavering devotion. This firmament, Christ introduced into the minds of Christians, bringing internal peace to the souls of the righteous; so that our heart is not troubled, nor our mind disturbed. The Apostle, the teacher, affirmed that this peace is above every mind, saying: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Therefore, the fruit of peace is not to be disturbed in one's heart. In conclusion, the life of the just is calm, while the unjust is full of unrest and disturbance. Therefore, the wicked is afflicted more by his own suspicions than by the blows of others; and the wounds in his mind are greater than those on the body of one who is beaten by others.
It is great to have inner peace and be in harmony with oneself. Outward peace is sought either by the anxious providence of the emperor, or by the hand of the soldiers, or it comes as a result of successful wars, or through the annihilation of some barbarians if they turn their weapons against themselves in hostile motion. In this peace, our virtue counts for nothing, only the outcome matters. Certainly, the glory of that peace is attributed to the emperor; the fruits of this peace are in us, which are in the minds of individuals, which are held by their emotions. The greatest fruit of this peace is that it repels the temptations of spiritual wickedness more than it repels hostile weapons. This peace is loftier, as it excludes the allurements of bodily passions and mitigates disturbances, more than that which calms barbaric attacks. For it is better to resist an enemy within you who is closed off than one who is removed.