Darkness And Fairness

Nigra sum, sed formosa, filiae Jerusalem, sicut tabernacula Cedar, sicut pelles Salomonis. Merito nigredinem non contemnit in pellibus, decorem qui sub pellibus est advertens. Et ideo quidam illam contempserunt, quia hunc minime cognoverunt: si enim cognovissent, nunquam Dominum gloriae crucifixissent. Non cognovit Herodes, et idcirco despexit; non cognovit Synagoga, quae nigredinem illi passionis et infirmitatis improperans, Alios, ait, salvos fecit, seipsum non potest salvum facere. Christus rex Israel descendat nunc de cruce, et credimus ei. Sed cognovit latro de cruce, licet in cruce, qui et innocentiae puritatem confessus est. Hic autem, inquiens, quid mali fecit? et gloriam regiae maiestatis simul est protestatus: Memento mei, dicens, dum veneris in regnum tuum. Cognovit centurio, qui Filium Dei clamat; cognoscit Ecclesia, quae et aemulatur nigredinem, ut decorem participet. Non confunditur nigra videri, nigra dici, ut dilecto dicat: Opprobria exprobrantium tibi ceciderunt super me. At sane nigra instar pellium Salomonis, foris scilicet, et non intus: neque enim intus nigredinem meus Salomon habet. Denique non ait: Nigra sum sicut Salomon; sed, sicut pelles Salomonis: quod in superficie tantum sit veri nigredo pacifici. Peccati nigredo intus est; et prius interiora culpa commaculat, quam ad oculos prodeat. Denique de corde exeunt cogitationes malae, furta, homicidia, adulteria, blasphemiae: et haec sunt quae coinquinant hominem; sed absit ut Salomonem! Minime prorsus apud verum pacificum istiusmodi inquinamenta reperies. Oportet namque esse sine peccato eum qui tollit peccata mundi, quo ad reconciliandos peccatores inventus idoneus, iure sibi nomen vindicet Salomonis. Sed est nigredo affligentis poenitentiae, cum assumitur lamentatio pro delictis. Hanc fortassis non abhorreat in me Salomon, si sponte tamen induam mihi pro peccatis meis; quia cor contritum et humiliatum Deus non despiciet. Est et afficientis compassionis, si afflicto condoleas; et fraternum te decoloret incommodum. Nec hanc profecto reiiciendam putat noster pacificus, quippe quam et sibi ipse pro nobis dignanter induit, qui peccata nostra tulit in corpore suo super lignum. Est et persecutionis: quae etiam pro summo ornamento habetur, si quidem suscipiatur pro iustitia et veritate. Unde est illud: Ibant gaudentes discipuli a conspectu concilii, quoniam digni habiti sunt pro nomine Iesu contumeliam pati; denique: Beati qui persecutionem patiuntur propter iustitiam. Hac potissimum gloriari Ecclesiam arbitror, hanc libentius imitari de pellibus sponsi. Denique et habet in promissione: Si me persecuti sunt, et vos persequentur. Sanctus Bernardus Clarae Vallensis, In Cantica Canticorum, Sermo XXIX, De Nigredine et Formositute Sponsi Source: Migne PL 183.926d-927d

I am dark, but fair, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. 1 Rightly she did not scorn the darkness of the curtains, looking to the beauty beneath them. And therefore some were scornful because they did not know the beauty at all. 'For if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.' 2 Herod did not know and therefore he despised Him. The Synagogue did not know, which mocked the darkness of the Passion and weakness, saying, 'He saved others, He cannot save himself. Let Christ the king of Israel come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.' But the thief on the cross knew Him and on the cross he proclaimed the spotlessness of His innocence, saying 'What evil has this man done?' And at the same time he bore witness to His kingly majesty, saying 'Remember me when you come into your kingdom.' The centurion knew Him, calling Him the Son of God. 3 The Church knows Him and strives to imitate His darkness that she may participate in His beauty. She is not ashamed to appear dark, to be called dark, for she can then say to her beloved, 'The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.' 4 But let the darkness be as Solomon's curtains, that is, on the outside and not within, for my Solomon has no darkness within. Here she does not say, 'I am dark like Solomon,' but 'like the curtains of Solomon,' for the darkness of the true Peaceful One is only on the outside. The darkness of sin is within. Sin stains the interior rather than showing itself to the eyes. 'Out of the heart come evil thoughts, theft, murder, adultery, fornication, blasphemy, and these are what defile a man.' 5 But far be it from Solomon! You will not find these sorts of defilements in the true Peaceful One. For He must be without sin who takes away the sins of the world. 6 So that he is found fit to reconcile sinners he must duly vindicate for himself the name of Solomon. But there is a darkness of the endurance of penance, when sorrow is taken up for sins. Solomon will not be repulsed if I willingly adopt it because of my sins, since 'God will not scorn a contrite and humble heart.' 7 And there is a darkness of compassion, when you comfort a brother in his affliction and his trouble makes you gloomy. Nor does our Peaceful One think of rejecting this, since He Himself graciously underwent it for us, 'He who bore our sins in his body on the tree.' 8 And there is a darkness of persecution, which is a the greatest adornment when endured for righteousness and truth. Thus it is said, 'The Apostles went out from the council rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer abuse for the name of Jesus.' And 'Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness.' 9 I think that the Church glories especially in freely imitating this darkness of the curtains of her Bridegroom. She has the promise, 'If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.' 10 Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Commentary On The Song of Songs, from Sermon 29, On The Darkness And Fairness of the Bridegroom 1 Song 1.5 2 1 Cor. 2.8 3 Mt 27.42, Lk 23.41-42, Mt 27.54 4 Ps 68.10 5 Mt 15.19-20 6 Jn 1.29 7 Ps 50.19 8 1 Pet 2.24 9 Acts 5.41, Mt 5.10 10 Jn 15.20