As stated earlier, He orchestrates everything according to His divine will—not simply catering to our wishes—but according to His own purpose, enlightening us through His presence. Thus, when He decides to come, He does so with divine authority, and His entrance into our hearts is offered freely. The longing for His presence is distinct from our other desires. Moreover, it continues, And when I sat as a king surrounded by an army, yet I was a Comforter to those who cried. Job 29:25. The Lord "sits as King in the heart," as He guides the activities of our thoughts. Within the soul where He dwells, He ignites the passion of the weary, heals the restless, warms the cold, strengthens the feeble, softens the rough, and binds what is broken. This diversity of thoughts that rushes in resembles an army aligned orderly around Him. He sits as a king surrounded by virtues, presiding over the minds of the elect, and is known as the "Comforter of those who mourn," as His promise states: Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4. Furthermore, He assures, I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one will take away from you. John 16:22. The teachings regarding the Head of the Holy Church can also be understood as spoken through the voice of the Church. Within her community, teachers hold the role of kings, surrounded by a multitude of believers. This congregation can rightly be referred to as "the army," for she tirelessly equips them in good works, preparing them daily for the battles of temptation. The Holy Church consoles the hearts that grieve, encouraging the souls of the elect who endure hardship with the promise of an eternal homeland. She perceives the divine fear that grips the hearts of the faithful, and for those who receive stern admonitions about God that instill fear, she also shares the gentleness of His mercy to prevent them from losing hope.
In this manner, the Holy Church provides a balance of hope and fear for her faithful regarding the mercy and justice of the Redeemer, ensuring they do not recklessly depend solely on mercy nor fall into despair over justice. In the words of the Head, she uplifts the troubled, saying, Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32. Conversely, she warns those who are indifferent, Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. Mark 14:38. To those in distress, she encourages them, Rejoice, for your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20. For the presumptuous, she provides a caution, saying, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Luke 10:18. To the fearful, she provides assurance with His words to the thief, Today you will be with Me in paradise. Luke 23:43. Yet, she issues a warning to the arrogant, illustrated by Judas, who fell from the honor of apostleship into damnation. Of him, it was said, I have chosen twelve of you, and one of you is a devil. John 6:70. To those struck by fear, she reassures, If a man lets his wife go and she departs from him to become the wife of another, will he not be greatly polluted? Yet you have played the harlot with many lovers, and have returned to Me, says the Lord. Jeremiah 3:1. She cautions the prideful, questioning, Why do you cry out concerning your grief? Your wound is incurable. Jeremiah 30:15. For the afraid, she offers hope, saying, From this time on speak to Me, O My Father, for You are the guide of my youth. Jeremiah 3:4. Yet, she reminds the presumptuous, stating, Your father was an Amorite, and your mother a Hittite. Ezekiel 16:3. To those fearful, she reassures, Return, O backsliding children of Israel, says the Lord; I will not cause My anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful, says the Lord, and I will not be angry forever. Jeremiah 3:12. Conversely, she warns the arrogant by halting the intercessions of her prophet, saying, Do not intercede or pray for them; for I will not hear them in the time of their affliction, even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me; My soul is not drawn to this people. Jeremiah 14:11-12. Thus, the mind of her hearers is lifted up by the Holy Church concerning the grace of mercy, and simultaneously admonished regarding the severity of judgment. This ensures that while she rightly combines both elements, her elect do not deviate from righteousness due to arrogance nor succumb to despair over past transgressions.
Nevertheless, when he states, And when I sat as king surrounded by an army, nevertheless I was a comforter to those who wept, it is essential to know that even in historical context, this illustrates how a good ruler blends authority with compassionate consolation. When he speaks of sitting as a king surrounded by an army, it highlights ruling power, while his expression of comfort for the weeping reveals a spirit of mercy. Both discipline and compassion become devoid of meaning without the other. Rulers must embody both: mercy that comforts in justice, and justice that tempers anger with kindness. This balance is symbolized by the wounds of the half-dead man whom the Samaritan took to an inn, treated with both wine and oil, with wine cleansing and oil soothing. Therefore, those entrusted with healing should apply the severity of discipline with wine, while providing soothing mercy with oil, allowing for a balance that prevents excessive harshness or softness. The ark of the covenant serves as a metaphor for this, containing both the tablets of the law and the manna, suggesting that a good ruler who understands Scripture should marry discipline with sweetness. As David illustrates, Your rod and Your staff comfort me. Psalms 23:4. When experiencing the rod’s severity, we are buoyed by the staff, allowing endurance. We can embrace love without softness, strength without oppression, jealousy without excess, and mercy without imprudent pity. Moses serves as an exemplary figure of this balance: he exemplified mercy coupled with discipline. The people of Israel committed grievous sin, leading God to command him, Go; your people have sinned. Exodus 32:7. Yet, he stood in their defense, offering himself to bear punishment, saying, Forgive them this sin, or blot me out of Your book. Exodus 32:32. His selflessness underscores the depth of his love for those entrusted to him. At the same time, he was also justly incensed by their sins, first obtaining their pardon. Nevertheless, he then commanded, Each of you put your sword on your side, go in and out of the camp, and slay every man his brother, friend, and neighbor. Exodus 32:27. In this, we see a man who sought to save all yet executed judgment on a few. His heart burned with love, while his disposition shone with sternness. His deep love prompted him to offer his life for the people, conversely, his righteous anger compelled him to administer punishment for their offenses. He embodied the role of the mediator, interceding with God for the people while simultaneously executing judgment within them. His pleading stemmed from love, while his actions stood firm against sin through justifiable severity. In this way, he saved many at the expense of a few. Almighty God responded favorably to the prayers of His faithful servant seeking to protect the people because he understood what God desired for them. In his leadership among the Israelites, thus, he exhibited the blend of mercy and discipline, ensuring neither quality overwhelmed the other. Thus, when he said, And when I sat as king surrounded by an army, nevertheless I was a comforter to those who wept, he illustrated both the authority of governance and the heart of mercy.
Yet, as we consider all of this, it is time to return to a spiritual interpretation. The Holy Church, while facing oppression from her enemies in these last days, reflects on the laws that guided her past. She remembers the rewards of her mercy towards those in distress, even as her faithful adherence to both discipline and mercy is often ridiculed. Thus, it is evident:
THEOSIS