VISIO QUINTA, cap. XIX
The Tree of Salvation
The Son of God is revealed as the tree of salvation planted by living waters, rooted in the Father's heart and bearing the fruit of holiness through his incarnation.
"And he will be like a tree planted beside the channels of water, which bears its fruit in its season."✦ This is to be understood as follows: the Son of God, who followed the will of his Father through all things, was the tree of salvation, conceived of the Holy Spirit, from whom living waters flow, bearing much fruit of holiness, when he fully instructed his disciples in the teaching of the Church. For the Son of God in his divinity was, as it were, a root in the heart of the Father, and the power of divinity was present, and so descending into the womb of the Virgin he brought forth a full fruit through his humanity, because just as the moisture of water is in the greenness of wood, so the Son of God was in the Father even to the predestined time of his humanity, when he became the food of life for all spiritual beings.
Christ Touched Heaven, Earth, and Water
The incarnate Son touched heaven, earth, and sea, yet those who saw him bodily failed to recognize his divinity.
For heaven touched the Son of God, when he appeared in heaven in the Father's embrace; and earth touched him, when he lay in a manger; and the water felt him, when he walked upon the sea.✦ And although peoples saw him bodily, yet they did not consider him to be God.
From Darkness to the Spirit's Grace
Genesis 1:2 is read allegorically: unbelievers are empty and darkened, while the Spirit borne over the waters is fulfilled in the apostles and the faithful through grace.
Because what is written — "The earth was empty and void, and darkness was over the face of the abyss" — is to be understood through allegory of those who are unbelieving, empty of good work, and darkened by unfaithfulness; and what follows — "The Spirit of the Lord was carried over the waters" — was fulfilled in the apostles and in the believing people through the grace of the Holy Spirit.✦✦
Read the original Latin
« Et erit tanquam lignum quod plantatum est secus decursus aquarum, quod fructum suum dabit in tempore suo. » Hoc considerandum sic est: Filius Dei, qui per omnia voluntatem Patris sui secutus est, lignum salutis fuit, conceptus de Spiritu sancto, de quo viventes aquae fluunt, multum fructum sanctitatis dans, cum discipulos suos ad ecclesiasticam doctrinam pleniter instruxit. Nam Filius Dei secundum divinitatem quasi radix in corde Patris, et vis divinitatis fuit, et sic in uterum Virginis descendens, plenum fructum per humanitatem suam protulit, quia sicut humor aquae in viriditate ligni est, ita Filius Dei in Patre usque ad praedestinatum tempus humanitatis ipsius semper erat, cum cibus vitae omnibus spiritualibus factus est. Coelum etenim Filium Dei tetigit, dum ipse in coelo in sinu Patris apparuit; et terra tetigit, dum in praesepi jacuit; et aqua sensit, dum ipse supra mare ambulavit. Et licet illum populi corporaliter viderent, Deum tamen esse non cogitaverunt.
Quia id quod scriptum est: « Terra autem erat inanis et vacua, et tenebrae erant super faciem abyssi, » de incredulis a bono opere vacuis, et infidelitate tenebrosis per allegoriam intelligatur; et illud quod sequitur: « Spiritus Domini ferebatur super aquas » in apostolis et populo credente per gratiam Spiritus sancti impletum sit.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ps.1.3 — He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not wither; and whatever he does prospers.
- ↩Matt.3.17;Luke.2.7;Matt.14.25 — And behold, a voice from the heavens said, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' Luke.2.7 — And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Matt.14.25 — And during the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea.
- ↩Gen.1.2 — And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
- ↩Gen.1.2 — And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
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