Lilies And Angels

Considerate lilia agri quomodo crescunt; non laborant, neque nent. Dico autem vobis, quonaim nec Salomon in omni gloria sua coorpertus est sicut unum ex istis... Lilia non laborant, neque nent: et Salomon coopertus eorum gloria non fuit, propheta magnus, et merito dilectae sapientiae Deo carus. Sed lilia nascuntur potius, quam operiuntur. Coopertio autem velamentum est corporis, non corpus ipsum. Quod si ad sensum humanae intelligentiae refertur, colorem lilii, velamenti candor potuerat aemulari. Sed lilia non laborantia neque nentia significari intelligenda sunt angelorum coelestium claritates, quibus extra humanae scientiae eruditionem, suique operis mercedem, a Deo gloriae candor indutus est: ne quid ex proprio labore aut arte existimarentur habuisse. Et cum in resurrectione similes homines angelis erunt, sperare nos coelestis gloriae voluit operimetum, exemplo angelicae claritatis. Sanctus Hilarius Pictaviensis, In Evangelium Matthaei Commentarius, Cap V Source: Migne PG 9.947c-948c

Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they do not labour, nor do they weave. I say to you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these... 1  Lilies do not labour, nor do they weave, and Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these, a great prophet, who by love of wisdom was rightly dear to God. But lilies are born and not clothed. For a covering is a garment of the body, not the body itself. And the brightness of a vestment, if we refer this to the sense of human understanding, is able to emulate the color of the lily. But that lilies do not labour nor weave should be understood to signify the radiance of heaven's angels, which outstrips the learning of human knowledge, and the reward of its work, their radiance being put on from the glory of God, lest they are thought to have it from their own labour or art. And when in the resurrection men shall be like angels, He wishes us to hope in this covering of heavenly glory, by the example of angelic radiance.   Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5 1 Mt 6.28-29