Waters And Baptism

Super aquam refectionis educavit me. Secundum munus suae provectionis ostendit, dona divina comparans amoenitatibus jujus saeculi, quibus multum humana gaudere solet infirmitas. Sed consideremus per istas comparationes, quid magis velit intelligi. Aqua refectionis est baptismi lavacrum, quo anima sterilis ariditate peccati ad bonos fructus inferendos divinis muneribus irrigatur. Et bene addidit: Educavit, id est paulatim nutrivit, quasi parvulos et renatos, sicut Petrus apostolus dicit: Tanquam modo geniti infantes, rationabiles et sine dolo lac concupiscite, ut in eo creascatis in salutem Cassiodorus, Expositio In Psalterium, Psalmus XXII Source: Migne PL 70.168b

To restful waters he led me. 1 He reveals the second gift of his advance, the Divine benefaction being compared to the fair places of this world, where human infirmity is often accustomed to find joy. But by these comparisons let us consider how he wishes this to be better understood. The restful water is the cleansing of baptism, by which the sterile soul is watered by the Divine gifts from the aridity of its sin to the bearing of good fruit. And well he adds: 'He led me,' that is, He fed me with a little, like new born infants are, as the Apostle Peter says: 'As children just born, reasonably and without cunning, desire milk, by which you grow to salvation.' 2 Cassiodorus, Commentary On The Psalms, Psalm 22 1 Ps 22.2 2 1 Pet 2.2