Wounds And Sin

Si vulnus corpori infligatur, aut os confringatur, aut nervorum junctura resolvatur, sub unius horae spatio hujusmodi vulnera solent corporibus accidere, et plurimis postmodum cruciatibus ac doloribus exactis, multo vix tempore sanari; quanti enim tumores in loco, quanta tormenta generantur? Jam vero si accidat, ut in eodem vulnere, vel in eadem fractura iterum et saepius quis vulneretur, frequentiusque frangatur, quantis hoc poenis curari, et quantis potest cruciatibus medicari? Quanto autem tempore, si tamen potuerit, ad sanitatem perducitur? Et vix aliquando ita curabitur, ut vel debilitatem corporis, vel foeditatem cicatricis effugiat. Transi nunc ab exemplo corporis ad animae vulnera. Anima quoties peccat, toties vulneratur. Et ne dubies peccatis eam velut telis et gladiis vulnerari, audi Apostolum monentem ut assumamus scutum fidei, in quo possitis, inquit, omnia jacula maligni ignita exstinguere. Vides ergo peccata maligni esse jacula, quae in animam diriguntur. Patitur autem et anima non solum vulnera jaculorum, sed et fracturas pedum, cum laquei parantur pedibus ejus, et supplantantur gressus ejus. Haec ergo et hujusmodi vulnera quanto tempore putas posse curari? O si possemus per unumquodque peccatum videre quomodo homo noster interior assidue vulneratur, quomodo sermo malus vulnus infigit! Non legisti: Dicunt quia vulnerant gladii, sed non ita ut lingua? Vulneratur ergo per linguam anima, vulneratur et per cogitationes et concepiscentias malas, frangitur autem et conteritur per opera peccati. Quae si omnia videre possemus, et vulneratae animae sentire cicatrices, certum est quod usque ad mortem resisteremus adversum peccatum. Origen, In Numeros, Homilia VIII, Interprete Rufino Aquileiense Source: Migne PG 12.622d-623c

If a wound is inflicted on the body, or a bone is broken, or a joining of nerves is severed, in the space of one hour those wounds are accustomed to befall, and afterwards there is more pain and grief exacted, which much time is scarcely able to heal; for while there are swellings in place, how great is the torment? Then if it happens that on that same wound and on that same fracture there is often a wound or a break, how great shall this damage be and how great will the treatment of the pain need to be? And then how great the time, if it is possible at all, to lead back to health? And it is hardly likely there will be such a cure that removes bodily debility and the ugliness of scarring. Pass, then, from the example of the body to the wounds of the soul. The soul is wounded as many times as it sins. And lest you doubt that it is wounded as with spears and swords, hear the Apostle exhorting us to 'Take up the shield of faith with which you shall be able to extinguish all the fiery shafts of the wicked one.' 1 You see, therefore, that the sins of the wicked one are shafts directed against the soul. And the soul does not suffer the wounds of shafts only, but also fractures of the foot when a snare is prepared for the feet and its way is supplanted. 2 These wounds and those like them, how much time do you think can cure them? O, that we could see any sin and how it deeply wounds our interior man, and how a wicked word inflicts a wound. Do you not read, 'They say that swords wound, but is it not so with the tongue?' 3 The soul is wounded by the tongue, and it is wounded by evil thoughts and desires, and it is broken and fractured by evil works. If we could see all this and feel the scabs of the soul's wounds, it is certain that we would resist sin to the death. Origen, On Numbers, from the Eighth Homily, Translated by Rufinus of Aquileia. 1 Ephes 6.16 2 Ps 139.5-6 3 Sirach 28.22