The Way Of The Reed

...calamum a vento moveri? Calamus est vacuus, et nullam habet virtutem: et ideo qualisvis ventus flaverit super eum, huc et illuc flectit illum. Sic et homo carnalis et saecularis in quo fidei nulla est medulla, et virtus veritatis non invenitur in eo, qualiscumque tentatio venerit super eum, curvat eum. Nam Deus volens ostendere Job, in quibus hominibus diabolus requiescit, introducit draconem in figura diaboli, et cum multa dixisset de eo, inter caetera ait: Secus calamum et papyrum requiescit. Calamus enim est vacuus, papyrus autem nimium levis, et mollis. Sic omnis homo carnalis, vacuus in fide, et levis in sensu, et mollis in passionibus, calamus est et papyrus. Opus Imperfectum in Matthaeum, Homilia XXVII Source: Migne PG 56.773

...a reed shaken by the wind?' 1 A reed is hollow and has no strength, and therefore whatever wind blows upon it bends it this way and that. So it is with a carnal and worldly man in whom there is no core of faith and in whom the power of truth is not found, so that whatever temptation comes upon him it bends him down. For God wishing to show Job in which men the devil dwelt, introduced the dragon as a figure for the devil, and having said much about him, among other things He said, 'He dwells amid the reeds and the papyri.' 2 A reed is hollow and papyrus is extremely light and soft. So every carnal man is empty of faith, and he is light in his mind, and he is soft amid passions, and so he is a reed and papyrus. Opus Imperfectum on Matthew, from Homily 27 1 Mt 11.7 2 Job 40.16 Vulgate, Job 40.21 LXX