Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Ecclesiastes 11:4

Western Saints

Jerome

"He that observes the wind shall not sow; and he that regards the clouds shall not reap. "He who considers what is good for him and does not give out to all who ask him, often destroys what he ought to receive. [Cfr. Luc 6, 30.] Differently: he who proclaims the word of God at the time when the people listen freely and a second wind of rumour comes, he is a negligent and lazy farmer. But favourably or not in his career he must proclaim the word of God [Cfr II Tim. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes ↗

Gregory the Dialogist

He that observeth the wind doth not sow: and he that regardeth the clouds never reapeth. For what is expressed by the wind but the temptation of malignant spirits? And what are denoted by the clouds which are moved of the wind but the oppositions of bad men? The clouds, that is to say, are driven by the winds, because bad men are excited by the blasts of unclean spirits. …

The Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 3, Chapter XV ↗

Bonaventure

He who observes the wind etc. Here he exhorts to giving unceasingly: and first he teaches that times are not to be watched; second, that divine works are not to be scrutinized; third, that works of mercy are to be continued. As to the first, he says: He who observes the wind does not sow, because frequently a wind comes that he does not want, and the wind that would please him does not come. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 11 ↗