From “Sermon, Eve of the Epiphany” (ca. 1170)
“The angels of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph, saying ‘Rise and take the child and his mother and flee into Egypt’,” Clearly, the foreknowledge of God gave a sign to the patriarchs and prophets in spiritual darkness saying “Rise” from your sleeping and shadowy nature and “take” holiness in your desire and good knowledge and include toward the unbelief of the peoples, so that they might turn to righteousness… “From unbelievers and sinners I chose believers, who are my children in faith; from pagans I made Jews and from Jews I made Christians…
God was angered by vanities, and indignation and calumny were heard in complaint. “Rachel weeping for her children,” namely wisdom, which says “Who is that rejects God and venerates the devil?” Wisdom remembers the honors with which the human had been created but yet rejected God. “She refused to be consoled,” about the iniquity in which they were at that time… She was looking toward God, seeking and begging that at last he restore them into the bosom of his redemption through his own Son. For concerning every matter that cannot be recuperated or restored, it is necessary that a human of whatsoever sort have consolation when nothing else can be done…
“Rachel refused to be consoled” because they were to be redeemed through the redemption of Christ’s blood. She refused to hand them over to oblivion because they were to be redeemed. For when anyone is in the distress of captivity, the friends are not able to be consoled, because they await that one’s liberation.
St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a German Benedictine abbess, mystic, and scholar, who wrote extensively on scientific and religious subjects and was among the most influential figures of her age. She received a series of visions late in life, which she interpreted in several volumes of speculative theology, which have been appreciatively received among modern believers. A significant number of homilies that she preached to the members of her community. Her feast day is January 17.
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