The Body And The Eagles

Ubi fuerit corpus, ibi congregabuntur et aquilae. Itaque prius quae sint aquilae conjiciamus, ut quod sit corpus definiamus. Justorum enim animae aquilis comparantur, quod alta petant, humilia derelinquant, longaevum ducere ferantur aetatem. Unde et David animae suae dicit: Renovabitur sicut aquilae juventus tua. Si igitur intelleximus aquilas, de corpore jam dubitare non possumus, maxime si meminerimus quod a Pilato Joseph corpus acceperit. Nonne tibi videntur aquilae circa corpus Maria Cleophae, et Maria Magdalene, et Maria mater Domini, apostolorumque conventus circa Domini sepulturam? Nonne tibi videntur aquilae circa corpus, quando veniet cum intelligibilibus nubibus Filius Hominis: Et videbit eum omnis oculus, et qui eum compunxerunt? Est etiam corpus de quo dictum est: Caro mea vere est cibus, et sanguis meis vere est potus. Circa hoc corpus aquilae sunt, quae alis circumvolant spiritalibus. Sunt et circa corpus aquilae quae credunt Jesum in carne venisse; quia omnis spiritus qui confitetur Jesum Christum in carne venisse, de Deo est. Ubi ergo fides, ibi sacramentum, ibi diversorium sanctitatis. Est etiam corpus Ecclesia, in qua per baptismi gratiam renovamur spiritu, et occidua senectutis in redivivas reparantur aetates. Sanctus Ambrosius Mediolanensis, Expositio Evangelii secundum Lucam, Liber VIII Source: Migne PL 15.1782

Where the body will be, there the eagles will gather. 1 First let us consider what the eagles may be, then let us discuss the body. The souls of the righteous are like eagles, for they seek the heights, and they forsake low things, that they be led and brought to long life. Whence even David says of his own soul: 'It shall be renewed like the young of the eagle.' 2 If, therefore, we have understood the eagles, we are not able to doubt concerning the body, especially if we remember that Joseph received the body from Pilate. 3 Does it not seem to you that the eagles around the body are Mary of Cleophas and Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of the Lord, and the gathering of the Apostles around the tomb of the Lord? Does it not seem to you that there will be eagles around the body when the Son of Man comes with the intelligible clouds, and every eye shall see him, even those who have pierced him? 4 And this is the body of which it has been said: 'My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.' 5 Around this body are the eagles, who fly around on spiritual wings, and the eagles around the body are those who believe that Jesus has come in the flesh, because every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. 6 Where are the faithful, there is sacrament, there is a diversity of sanctity. And again the body is the Church in which through the grace of baptism we are renewed by the Spirit, and the decline of old age is repaired in the second life. Saint Ambrose, from the Commentary On The Gospel of Saint Luke, Book 8 1 Lk 17.37 2 Ps 102.5 3 Jn 19.38 4 Apoc 1.7 5 Jn 6.56 6 1 Jn 4.7