Attending To The Voice

Neque enim vocem ejus audistis unquam, neque speciem ejus vidistis; et verbum ejus non habetis in vobis manens. Dicit Apostolus: Non enim auditores legis justificati sunt, sed factores verbi Dei. Id est Filius Dei non manet in eorum cordibus, quia non servant quae audiunt. Quod vero ait: Neque vocem ejus audistis, neque speciem ejus vidistis. In hoc ostendit substantiam divinitatis incomprehensibilem esse, et invisibilem, et vocem ejus non carnarlibus audire potuisse auribus, sed spiritali intelligentia per gratiam sancti Spiritus intelligere vel amare, secundum quod unicuique datum erit. Alcuinus, Commentariorum in Joannem, Lib III Source: Migne PL 100.810d-811b

None of you have heard His voice, nor have you seen His face, and His word you do not have dwelling in you. 1 The Apostle says, 'The hearers of the law are not justified, but the doers of the word of God.' 2 That is, the Son of God does not remain in the hearts of those who do not attend to what they hear. Whence He said, 'You have neither heard His voice, nor seen His face.' In this is shown that the Divine substance is incomprehensible and invisible, and His voice is not able to be heard with ears of flesh, but only with spiritual understanding by the grace of the Holy Spirit is it understood and loved, according as it is given to each one. Alcuin of York, Commentary On The Gospel of Saint John, Book 3 1 Jn 5.37-38 2 Rom 2.13