Hands And Wings

Et manus hominis sub pennis eorum... Qui erit servus in saeculum, ut esse post saeculum liber possit. In saeculum etenim servus est, qui per activam vitam hominibus servire disposuit, ut post praesens saeculum ad libertatem veram valeat pervenire. De qua per Paulum dicitur: Quia et ipsa creatura liberabitur a servitute corruptionis in libertatem gloria filiorum Dei. Tunc enim in nobis vera libertas erit, cum ad gloriam filiorum Dei adoptio nostra pervenerit. Nunc vero non solum activa vita in servitute est, sed ipsa quoque contemplatio, qua super nos rapimur, libertatem mentis adhuc perfecte non obtinet, sed imitatur, quia illa quies intima in aenigmate videtur. Ipsa tamen in quantalibet sit contemplationis angustia, activa vita jam valde est latior atque sublimior, quae ad quamdam mentis libertatem transit, temporalia non cogitans, sed aeterna. Quia itaque contemplativa vita ad superiora evolat, et activae vitae longe superest quadam, ut ita dicam, dignitate securitatis suae, apte nunc dicitur: Et manus hominis sub pennis eorum. Sanctus Gregorius Magnus, In Ezechielem Prophetam, Liber Primus, Homilia III Source: Migne PL 76.811d-812a

And the hands of a man under their wings.... 1 A man shall be a servant in the world so that he might be a free man after this world. He is a servant in the world who disposes himself to serve men in the active life, so that after the present world he might be able to come to true freedom. Concerning which it is said by Paul, 'Because creation itself will also be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.' 2 Then we shall possess true freedom, when our adoption brings us to the glory of the sons of God. Now however not only is the active life a matter of servitude but so is the contemplative life, in which when we are taken up, yet the freedom of the mind does not obtain perfection, but it is a shadow, because that peace within is in mystery. Yet however great the struggle of contemplation, it is already broader and more sublime than the active life, for it passes over to a certain freedom of mind, thinking not of transient things but eternal things. Because, then, the contemplative life flies up to things on high and far surpasses the active life ,so I might say, it is worthy of its protection, and now aptly it is said, 'And they had the hands of a man under their wings.' Saint Gregory the Great, On the Prophet Ezekiel, Book 1, from Homily 3 1 Ezek 1.8 2 Rom 8.21