Learning And Listening

Quod dico vobis in tenebris, dicite in lumine: et quod in aure auditis, praedicate super tecta. Hoc est, secundum quod pertinet ad constantem veritatis manifestationem: et tangit duo, quae sunt de modo divinae intelligentiae; in tenebris esse, et in aure audiri. Primum est abscondens ab homine, et secundum a multitudine. Hominis enim intellectus ad divina est timidus, et tremens, in tenebris involutus ex multo lumine divinorum. Sicut enim oculus intuens solem, suis obvoluitur tenebris, sole claro manente, ita etiam oculus intellectus sua debilitate retunditur, et tenebris obvoluitur ex contuitu divinorum: et hoc conveniebat Apostolis nondum accepto Spiritu ad intellectum mysteriorum: et quod sic acceperunt in lumine claro intelligentiae, accepto Spiritu veritatis proposuerunt: et de hoc dicitur Ostende nobis, quid dicamus. Nos quippe involuimur tenebris: et hoc completum fuit in Apostolis, cum Paulus dixit Deus, qui dixit in tenebris lumen splendescere, illuxit in cordibus nostris ad illuminationem scientiae claritatis Evangelii Christi. Et quod in aure auditis Secundus modus est abscondens a multitudine. Auditur enim in susurrio sermo divinus, et non in strepitu multitudinis. Quasi furtive suscepti auris mea venas susurrii eius. Audiam quid loquatur in me Dominus Deus. Adducam eam in solitudinem, et loquar ad cor eius. Est autem auris semper in multitudine, quae patula est multitudine mundi, et in illa non loquitur Deus. Sibilus aurae tenuis, ubi Dominus. Et huic opponitur praedicate super tecta Et loquitur more noto Apostolis: quia in Palestina tecta plumbea, et pavimenta plana fuerunt desuper, in quibus congregabantur homines ad capiendum puriorem aerem: quia iuxta terram in terra calidis spissus est et vaporosus. Et intenditur per tecta manifeste omnibus facta praedicatio: et haec facta est visibili signo dato Spiritu. Adhuc loquente Petro verba haec, cecidit Spiritus sanctus super omnes, qui audiebant verbum. Effundam de Spiritu meo super omnem carnem: et prophetabunt filii vestri et filiae vestrae. Clama, ne cesses: quasi tuba exalta vocem tuam. non in abscondito loctus sum in loco terrae tenebroso. Sanctus Albertus Magnus, Commentarium in Mattheum, Caput X Source: Here, p277-278

What I say to you in darkness, speak in the light, and what you hear in the ear, preach on the rooftops. 1 This is what pertains to the constant manifestation of truth, and it touches on two things which concern the Divine understanding, in the darkness, and in the hearing in the ear. First it is hidden from man, and secondly from the multitude. For the intellect of a man is weak and fragile compared to the Divine and wrapped in darkness because of the great light of Divine things. For just as one turns one's eye to the sun and the eye is covered in darkness, while the sun remains bright, so even the eye of the intellect is disabled by its own weakness and it is wrapped up in darkness from looking at things Divine. And this is fitting for the Apostles who had not yet received the Spirit for the understanding of mysteries, and when they did receive the bright light of the intelligence, they displayed the reception of the Spirit of truth. And concerning this it is said in Job: 'Show to us what we should say. Certainly we are bound up in darkness.' 2 And this was fulfilled in the Apostles when Paul said: 'God who spoke and made the light shine in darkness, who illumined our heart with the light of the bright knowledge of the Gospel of Christ.' 3 'What you hear in the ear' In a second way it is hidden from the multitude. For the Divine word is heard as a whisper and not in the cry of the multitude. 'My ears by stealth received the veins of its whisper.' 4 'I shall hear what the Lord shall speak to me.' 5 'I shall lead her into solitude, and I shall speak to her heart.' 6 There is always a hearing with the multitude, which is widespread across the world, and God does not speak to it. 'The whisper of a slight breeze, there was the Lord.' 7 And to this is opposed, 'Preach on the rooftops' and it is spoken of in a manner the Apostles were aware of, for in Palestine the roofs were made of lead, and the roads broad below them in which men gathered to seize on clearer air, because the earth when it is hot condenses and gives off vapours. By the rooftops is meant that preaching was made to all, and this is the visible sign of the Spirit which is given. 'And while Peter was speaking these words to them, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening.' 8 'I shall pour out my Spirit over all flesh and your sons and daughters shall make prophecies' 9 'Cry, do not stop; as a trumpet lift up your voice.' 10 'It was not in secret, not in some dark recess of earth, that my word was spoken.' 12 Saint Albert The Great, Commentary On The Gospel of St Matthew, Chapter 10 1 Mt 10.27 2 Job 37.19 3 2 Cor 4.6 4 Job 4.12 5 Ps 84.9 6 Hosea 2.14 7 3 Kings 19.12 8 Acts 10.44 9 Joel 2.28 10 Isaiah 58.1 11 Isaiah 45.19