Judgement and John

In omne enim quod de nobis dicitur, semper taciti recurrere ad mentem debemus, interiorem testem et judicem quaerere. Quid enim prodest si omnes laudent cum conscientia accuset? Aut quid poterit obesse si omnes nobis derogent, et conscientia sola nos defendat? Beatus ergo Job inter linguas derogantium inflexa mente persistens, quia in terra se impugnari falsis sermonibus vidit, in coelo testem quaesivit. Hinc Isaias ait: Popule meus, qui beatificant te, ipsi te decipiunt, et viam gressuum tuorum dissipant. Qui videlicet populus ne verba suae laudis attenderet, et in culpis altius periret, statim dicitur quem aspiciat, cujus judicium pertimescat, cum subditur: Stat ad judicandum Dominus, stat ad judicandos populos. Ac si aperte diceretur: Judicia humana cur sequeris, qui stare super te coelestem judicem scis. Hinc est quod Joannem Baptistam Veritas esse arundinem vento agitatam negat, dicens: Quid existis videre in desertum? Arundinem vento agitatam? Quod quia negando dixerit, non affirmando, subjuncta verba testantur. Ait enim: Sed quid existis videre in deserto? Hominem mollibus vestitum? Ecce qui mollibus vestiuntur in domibus regum sunt. Arundo autem vento agitata modo flatibus erigitur, modo flatibus inclinatur. Omnis autem infirmus animus, qui vel derogatione dejicitur, vel laudibus exaltatur, arundo vento agitata est. Quod Joannes non erat, quia inflexibilem mentis verticem inter laudes hominum et derogationes tenebat. Sanctus Gregorius Magnus, In Ezechielem Prophetam, Liber Primus, Homilia IX

For in everything that is said about us, we should always turn in silence to the mind, and seek interior witness and judgement. What does it profit us if everyone praises us and our conscience accuses us? Or why should it trouble us if everyone disparages us and our conscience alone defends us? Thus the blessed Job endured with inflexible mind among the tongues of detractors, because seeing that on earth he was assaulted with false words, in heaven he sought a witness. Whence Isaiah says, 'O My people, those who bless you, they deceive you, and they destroy the way you walk.' 1 And that no one attend to the words of praise of the people and in higher blame perish, instantly it is said what one should consider, and of whom the judgement fear, when it is then added: 'The Lord stands to give judgement, He stands to judge the people.' 2  Which may be more openly expressed: 'Why do you follow human judgement when you know that heavenly judgement stands over you?' Which is why the Truth speaks of John the Baptist as a reed refusing to be  shaken by the wind, saying, 'What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed shaken by the wind?' 3 That He said it that it be denied, not affirmed, the following words bear witness, for He then said, 'But what did you go out to see in the desert? A man in soft vestments? Behold, those who dress in softness are in the palaces of kings.' A reed shaken by the wind is as a wave rising and falling. Every weak soul, that is, one that is either dejected by disparagement or exalted by praise, is a reed shaken by the wind. John was not that, but with inflexible height of mind he held himself firm among the praise and detraction of men. Saint Gregory the Great, On the Prophet Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 9 1 Is 3.12 2 Is 3.13 3 Mt 11.7