The Baptist And The Shoe

Solvere corrigiam... Notable est quod dicit calceamentorum et corrigiam: quia secudnam hoc ligatos calceos habuit. nec ergo nudipes fuit: nec rostratos et superbos calceos habuit. Et est sensum: minimi obliqui non sum dignus exhibere famulatum. Simile: Non sum dingus ut intres sub tectum meum. Vel mystice pes est Deitas: et calceamentum humanitas mortalis: et corrigia est uniusque naturae: quam dissolvere, hoc est, Sacramentum intelligere et exponere non est Ionannes idoneus. Unde: venit ad nos calceata divinitas. In Idumeam extendam calceamentum meii. Vel sicut dicitur: Solvens calceamentum, accepit alii debitam uxorem et sponsam: et ideo Ionnes cum sponsus Ecclesiae credi potuisset, non usurpavit sibi nomen sponsi, et ideo Christum noluit discalceare. Sanctus Albertus Magnus Commentarium In Evangelium Divi Marci, Caput I Source: Volumen 9, p7 pdf311

To untie the strap... 1 It is notable that he speaks of the strap and the sandals, because according to this He wore shoes, therefore He was not barefoot, but nor did he have proud and pointed shoes. This is the meaning: I with a little indirection state that I am not worthy even to show myself a servant. Similarly: 'I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof.' 2 Then mystically the foot is the Deity and the shoe is mortal humanity: and the strap is the unity of natures, which to undo, that is, to understand and expound the mystery, John is not capable. Whence: 'He comes to us with Divinity shod.' 3 'Into Idumea I shall extend my shoe.' 4 Or as it is said: 'Pulling off the sandal,' 5 that a man as a duty take the wife and bride of another, and therefore when it was possible to believe that John was the groom of the Church, he did not usurp that name for himself, and thus he was unwilling to take off the shoe. Saint Albert The Great, Commentary On The Gospel of St Mark, Chapter 1 1 Mk 1.7 2 Mt 8.8 3 cf Gregory The Great, Homilies on the Gospels, Book 1, Homily 7.3 4 Ps 59.8 5 cf Deut 25.7-10, Ruth 4.5-12