Dove And Fire

Sed quaerendum est cur in ipso Redemptore nostro, mediatore Dei et hominum, per columbam apparuit, in discipulis vero per ignem. Certe unigenitus Dei Filius Judex est generis humani. Sed quis ejus justitiam ferret si priusquam nos per mansuetudinem colligeret, culpas nostras per zelum rectitudinis examinare voluisset? Homo ergo pro hominibus factus mitem se hominibus praebuit: noluit peccatores ferire, sed colligere. Prius voluit mansuete corrigere, ut haberet quos postmodum in judicio salvaret. In columba ergo apparere super eum debuit Spiritus, quia non veniebat ut peccata etiam per zelum percuteret, sed adhuc per mansuetudinem toleraret. At contra super discipulos in igne debuit Spiritus sanctus demonstrari, ut hi qui erant simpliciter homines, atque ideo peccatores, eos contra semetipsos spiritalis fervor accenderet, et peccata, quibus Deus per mansuetudinem parceret, ipsi in se per poenitentiam punirent. Nec ipsi quippe esse poterant sine peccato, qui adhaerebant coelesti magisterio, Joanne attestante, qui ait, Si dixerimus quia peccatum non habemus, nos ipsos seducimus, et veritas non est in nobis. In igne ergo venit in hominibus, in columba vero apparuit in Domino, quia peccata nostra, quae pie Dominus per mansuetudinem tolerat, nos per zelum rectitudinis debemus caute conspicere, et ardore semper poenitentiae cremare. Sanctus Gregorius Magnus, Homiliae in Evangelia Liber II, Homilia XXX Source: Migne PL 76.1224b-c

But it must be asked why He appeared as a dove to our Redeemer, the mediator of God and men, but to the disciples as fire. Certainly the only begotten Son of God is the judge of the human race, but who could bear His righteousness if before He had gathered us by meekness, He wished to examine our faults with the zeal of rectitude? Made a man for men He showed Himself meek for men, not wishing to bear off sinners but to gather them. First He wished to correct in meekness, that afterward He might have some to save in judgement. As a dove, then, the Spirit should appear over Him, because He did not come to strike sins with zeal, but yet to bear them with meekness. But on the other hand, over the disciples the Holy Spirit was shown as a fire, for these who were plain men, and therefore sinners, were kindled with spiritual fervour against themselves, and their sins, which God in meekness had spared, they in themselves put down with penitence. Certainly that none of those who had adhered to the heavenly teacher were able to be without sin, John bears witness, who says: 'If we say that we do not have sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.' 1 Therefore as fire He comes to men, as a dove He appears to the Lord, because our sins, which the pious Lord tolerates with meekness, we with zeal should carefully observe, ever burning with the heat of penitence. Saint Gregory the Great, Homilies On The Gospels, Book 2, Homily 30 1 1 Jn 1.8