Sermons on the Song of Songs

I am afraid that even amongst ourselves, my brethren, there are some whose gifts the Bridegroom does not accept, because they are not redolent of the lilies. For if “in the day of your fast your own will is found,” such a fast cannot be acceptable to the Bridegroom, such a fast can give Him no pleasure, inasmuch as it savours not of the lily of obedience, but rather of the vice of self-love. And I believe that this remark will apply not alone to our fasting, but equally to our silence, to our watching, to our prayer, to our lecture, to our manual labour, in short, to all our monastic observances, if our own will be found in them, instead of obedience to the will of our superior. These exercises although good in themselves, yet, as the fruit of self-will, seem to me altogether unworthy of being reckoned among the lilies, that is to say, among the virtues. And he that performs them thus shall hear from the Prophet, as the Jews of old, “Is this such a service as I have chosen? saith the Lord”; and this also, “In the day of thy good works thine own will was found.” How great an evil, then, must self-will be, seeing that it makes your good works not good for you! It is therefore necessary that these good works should be likewise lilies, because He “Who feedeth among the lilies” will taste nothing that has been defiled with self-will. For He is Wisdom that “reacheth everywhere by reason of her purity, and no defiled thing cometh into her.” Therefore the Bridegroom loves to feed among the lilies, that is, among hearts that are clean and pure. But how long will He feed? “Till the day break and the shadows retire.” We have now come to a dense and shady wood, dark with the depth of its mystery. Let us wait for the clear daylight before we attempt to enter. For whilst I have been discoursing at greater length than usual, lo! the day has declined, and against our will we are compelled to leave the lilies. For myself, I am not conscious of the least fatigue after speaking so long, because the fragrance of the flowers has prevented any feeling of lassitude. Only a little more remains of the verse I am at present treating. Yet this little is pregnant with profundity of meaning, as indeed is the case with every part of this Canticle. But He Who alone can reveal mysteries, will answer to us, as I hope, when we begin to knock, and will not close the mouths of those that invoke His aid; for to open the mouths which are shut is more the custom of the Bridegroom of the Church, Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.