Heaven And Earth

Missus est Gabriel angelus a Deo in civitatem Galilaeae, cui nomen Nazareth. Miraris quod Nazareth, parva civitas, et tanti regis nuntio illustretur, et tanto? Sed magnus latet in hac parva civitate thesaurus; latet, inquam, sed homines latet, non Deum. An non thesaurus Dei Maria? ubicunque illa est, et cor ejus. Oculi ejus super eam, ubique respicit humilitatem ancillae suae. Novit coelum Unigenitus Dei Patris? Si novit coelum, et Nazareth. Quidni sciat patriam suam? quidni noverit haereditatem suam? Coelum ex Patre, Nazareth ex matre vindicat sibi, sicut ipse se et Filium David, et Dominum esse testatur. Coelum coeli Domino, terram autem dedit filiis hominum. Cedat ergo ei utrumque necesse est in possessionem, quia non modo Dominus, sed et filius hominis est. Audi etiam quomodo terram sibi tanquam filius hominis vindicat, sed et communicat tanquam sponsus. Flores, inquit, apparuerunt in terra nostra. Neque hinc discrepat, quod Nazareth interpretatur flos. Amat florigeram patriam flos de radice Jesse, et libenter inter lilia pascitur flos campi et lilium convallium. Commendat enim flores pulchritudo, suaveolentia, et spes fructus; gratia triplex. Teque florem reputat Deus; et bene ei complacet in te, si tibi nec honestae conversationis decor, nec bonae opinionis fragrantia, nec intentio desit futurae retributionis. Fructus enim spiritus est vita aeterna. Sanctus Bernardus Clarae Vallensis, Sermones De Sanctis, In Festo Annuntiationis Beatae Mariae Virginis, Sermo III Source: Migne PL 183.396a-c

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee called Nazareth. 1 Do you wonder that Nazareth, a little city, was made famous by the announcement of such a great king, and by such a great messenger? But a great treasure was hidden in this little city. Hidden, I say, from men, but not from God. Was not Mary the treasure of God? Then wherever she is, there is His heart. 2 His eyes are upon her, everywhere He looks on the humility of His handmaid. Does the only begotten of God the Father know heaven? If He knows heaven, so Nazareth. Why should He not know His fatherland? Why should He know nothing about His inheritance? He claims Heaven for Himself from the Father, and Nazareth from the mother, just as He gave witness to Himself that He is the son of David and also the Lord. 3 'The heaven of heaven is the Lord's, but earth He gives to the sons of men.' 4 It is necessary therefore that both are given to Him as a possession, because He is not only the Lord but also the Son of Man. Hear how he claims the earth for his own as the Son of Man, speaking as the bridegroom. 'Flowers,' He says, 'have appeared on our earth.' 5 Hence He does not disagree that Nazareth may be interpretated as 'bloom'. The flower of the root of Jesse loves the flower bearing fatherland, and the flower of the field and the lily of the valley is happily nurtured among the lilies. Beauty commends the flowers, and sweet scents, and the hope of fruit, a threefold grace. Shall God reckon you a flower, and shall He be well pleased with you, if the fairness of upright living is not yours, nor the fragrance of good thought, nor the intention to avoid future punishment? For the fruit of the spirit is eternal life. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons On The Saints, On The Feast Of The Annunciation, from Sermon 3 1 Lk 1.26 2 Mt 6.21 3 Mt 22.42-45 4 Ps 113.6 5 Song 2.12