Homily 12, on Psalm 78
Latin source: Germanus Morin (ed.), Sancti Hieronymi Presbyteri Tractatus sive Homiliae in Psalmos , Anecdota Maredsolana III (Maredsoli, 1897) — public domain. Psalm numbering follows the Septuagint/Vulgate (Morin).
Since we have become poor. Since you became poor for our sake, therefore we too have become poor. "The prayer of the poor man, when he is in anguish, and pours out his prayer before the Lord." Since you became poor, though you were rich, we too have become poor.
Help us, O God our Savior. In the Hebrew it has "Help us, O God our Jesus." For wherever there is "Savior," there the Hebrew has "Jesus." Thus Gabriel, when he came to Mary, said, "And you shall call him Jesus: for he shall save his people." Help us, O God our Jesus. See what he says: "help." He who says "help" is himself also striving to be set free: for God does not help us while we sleep, but while we labor.
For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us: since your new name has been invoked over us, which is blessed among the nations. And be merciful to our sins for your name's sake. You are the Savior, you are Christ, and we are Christians: have mercy on us for your name's sake.
Let the groaning of the fettered enter into your sight. This is what those who follow the teachings of Origen are accustomed to say: The groaning of the fettered — that is, of the angels, they say, who have been fettered in bodies. For just as, if fetters are put on the feet, they weigh down the body and do not allow it to run; so also our bodies enclose souls — that is, angels — and weigh them down upon the earth. And with what words do they prove this? "Unhappy man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" And that which he says, "I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ" — to return and to be with Christ. See, he says, what the apostle says. Whoever says "I desire to return" says it precisely of that place where he had been before. Let the groaning of the fettered enter into your sight. But I, in plain rustic simplicity and in the simplicity of the Church, answer you thus — for so the apostles answered, so they spoke, not with rhetorical and diabolical words: "For it is better to return and to be with Christ." For so it stands in the Greek; it does not have "to be dissolved" but "to return." To return, and to be with Christ. Where Adam my father was, there I too long to be; from where he was cast out, I desire to return. In Adam we have all been cast out of paradise. Let the groaning of the fettered enter into your sight. For why should I not understand this to have been said plainly of the martyrs, who were shut up in prisons? For how many were even sent to the mines? But I say that God truly hears the voice of those fettered ones.
According to the greatness of your arm possess the sons of those who have been put to death. All of us, if indeed we are worthy, are the sons of the martyrs. The apostle, when he was in prison, was fettered: all the apostles, when they were in prisons, were fettered: all the martyrs who were slain in prisons were fettered. Therefore it is now said, Possess the sons of those who have been put to death.
Render to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom. It seems to me that he does not ask against them, but for them: that is, give them your sabbath. Now "sabbath" is interpreted as rest. What he says is this: make them rest in their wickedness. Or else, otherwise: render it to them here, and do not render it to them in the time to come.
But we your people and the sheep of your pasture. When he says "sheep," he signifies innocence. Sheep have nothing but a shepherd. We will give you thanks forever. We will confess: either we do penance, or, what is better, we glorify. From generation to generation; among the first people, and among the second people. Although according to the historical sense it is said otherwise in Ezekiel, nevertheless according to the spiritual understanding we say this, since these two peoples — that is, the two rods — are joined together in Ezekiel, and become one kingdom. From generation to generation we will proclaim your praise. It is the voice of the apostles: Peter among the people of the circumcision, and Paul and Barnabas among the nations.