Job 37:21

"But now they do not see the light; suddenly the sky is covered with clouds; and the passing wind will drive them away." With his words he demonstrates how they do not see the light he demonstrates with his words by saying, "Suddenly the sky is covered with clouds"; the splendor of the sun is hidden by thick clouds and a darkened sky, but it is called back for the use of mortals through the repelling of the clouds.

"All can not see the light that" shines. in the clouds. He takes again what he has said of the hope of forgiveness for the sinner and of the grace which divine mercy shines in his soul. It is the light that shines in the cloud. Clouds have not essentially this property; their brilliancy comes from elsewhere. Another thing is to shine with one's own light, something else to reflect the brilliance of a strange light: but not all of them make this distinction, and many imagine that souls shine with their own light, when wisdom is in they. So it is written that there are some who call themselves wise and have become insane (1). "The spirit passes and purifies them:" it is the spirit of which it is said: "To your threat, to the breath, of your anger (2); And elsewhere: "Where shall I go to escape your mind? The trial of temptations reveals to men what they are worth; it teaches them that by their sins they are only darkness, and need the glory of God (4). Let them therefore seek to reflect his light, and attribute to him all the honor, never to themselves; and henceforth, having laid all pride; they will be cleansed from the greatest sin; for the spirit of sanctification does not pass, but remains.

But now they see not the light. The air will suddenly be gathered into clouds. And the wind passing over will drive them away. Of which light doubtless it is said even by the Prophet, The people which was sitting in darkness, saw a great light. [Is. 9, 2] But he shews how this light is seen by men, when he immediately adds; The air will suddenly be gathered into clouds. For the air is so diffused by its own tenuity, as not to be consolidated with any firmness. But clouds are firmer, the denser they are. What then is designated by the 'air,' but the minds of worldly men, which, given up to the countless desires of this life, are, being fluid, scattered hither and thither like the air? But the air is collected into clouds, when unstable minds are, by the grace of the Divine regard, strengthened with the solidity of virtue, in order that, by thinking of what is right, they may gather themselves within the bosom of their heart, and may not melt away in empty thoughts. Peter had been air, when the occupation of fishing for the life of the flesh used, as a transient breeze to agitate him, distracted still with earthly desires. The Apostles had been air, who had already learned exalted truths by the Law, but who as yet savoured not of strength by faith. But the air was suddenly gathered into clouds, because, through the look of divine grace, the unstable hearts of fishermen were turned into the solidity of preachers, in order that their infirm thoughts might become firm, by thinking boldly, that they might hold like clouds the waters of wisdom, and irrigate with the words of their preaching the earth lying beneath; and that, when this ministry was completed, they might return to the secret abodes of heaven, and attain, when their labour was passed, to eternal rest. Whence it is presently well subjoined; And the wind passing over will drive them away. For the wind that passes over is the present life. The wind then passes over, and drives the clouds away; because mortal life, passing along, conceals holy preachers from our bodily eyes. The passing wind drives away the clouds: because the onward course of temporal life withdraws the Apostles from the flesh, and conceals them, from the surface of the earth, in secret rest, as if in the centre of the heavens. But because they cease not to preach even to their death, and pass through the space of this present life,…