The Strengthening Hand

Manus enim Domini erat mecum, confortans me. Ad bona quippe assurgere perfecte non possumus, nisi nos spiritus et praeveniendo elevet, et subsequendo confortet. Sed quaerendum est, cum superius de volumine quod acceperat scriptum sit: Et factum est in ore meo sicut mel dulce, qua ratione postmodum dicitur: Abii amarus in indignatione spiritus mei? Mirum quippe valde est si dulcedo simul et amaritudo conveniant. Sed juxta superiorem sensum sciendum est quia cui sermo Dei in ore cordis dulcis esse coeperit, hujus procul dubio contra semetipsum animus amarescit. Quo enim in illo subtiliter discit qualiter reprehendere se debeat, eo se durius per amaritudinem poenitentiae castigat, qui tanto sibi magis displicet, quanto in sacro volumine amplius de omnipotente Deo videt quod amet. Sed quia ad ista proficere sua virtute non valet homo, recte nunc dicitur: Manus Domini erat mecum, confortans me. Manus enim Domini in sacro eloquio aliquando etiam unigenitus Filius appellatur, quia omnia per ipsum facta sunt. Et de cujus ascensione per Moysen Pater omnipotens loquitur, dicens: Tollam in coelum manum meam. Haec manus quae electorum suorum corda confortat, discipulis dicebat: Sine me nihil potestis facere. In omne ergo quod cogitamus, in omne quod agimus, semper orandum est, ut et ipso aspirante cogitemus, et ipso adjuvante faciamus, qui vivit et regnat cum Patre inunitate Spiritus sancti Deus in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Sanctus Gregorius Magnus, In Ezechielem Prophetam, Liber Primus, Homilia X Source: Migne PL 76.903d

For the hand of the Lord was with me, strengthening me.. 1 And certainly we are not able to rise perfectly to good things, unless the Spirit coming beforehand lifts us up, and consequently strengthens us. But it must be asked that when it was previously written concerning the book: 'And in my mouth it was as sweet as honey,' for what reason it is then said: 'I went off bitter in the indignation of my spirit?' It is surely most wonderful if something is at the same time sweet and bitter. But against this understanding let it be known that the word of God which in his heart was first sweet, was also without doubt that by which his soul became bitter against itself. For by it he subtly learns in what manner he should correct himself, because the more heavily he castigates himself amid the bitterness of penitence, the more he displeases himself, and the more he sees clearly what he should love in the sacred book concerning almighty God. Yet because man is not able to advance by his own virtue, rightly it is said here, 'The hand of the Lord was with me, strengthening me.' In sacred speech the hand of the Lord sometimes expresses the Only Begotten Son, because 'through Him everything was made.' 2 And concerning His ascension the almighty Father says through Moses: 'I will take my hand into heaven.' 3 He speaks of this hand which strengthens His chosen ones to his disciples, saying, 'Without me you can do nothing' 4 In everything, therefore, which we think, and all we do, we must always pray, that we might think according to His inspiration and act with His aid, who lives and reigns with the Father in unity with the Holy Spirit forever. Amen. Saint Gregory the Great, On the Prophet Ezekiel, Book 1, from Homily 10 1 Ezek 3.14 2 Jn 1.3 3 Deut 32.40 4 Jn 15.5