A person, described as a “verbal sheep,” who strives to offer themselves as a sacrifice to our Creator, can present wool as virtuous deeds, milk as spiritual nourishment for the mind, and lamb as the fruits of teaching to guide a disciple towards God, mirroring Divine perfection. Such an individual also reflects the eye that follows the sun, which signifies a mind that adheres to the Sun of righteousness, as it navigates life’s challenges with gratitude, acknowledging God’s sovereign care. In this manner, they ‘produce’ the three hundred and sixty-five droppings daily, symbolizing their rejection of all temporal and superficial matters that are ultimately worthless.
Regarding the bull, it is noted that it possesses a triangular heart, five-sided kidneys, and three stomachs, while having day-lit eyes and fiery ones at night. For one-third of the day and night, the bull breathes, exhaling and gazing towards the East. Its right nostril is invigorated by the scent of calves, with its blood being harmful to all domestic animals except dogs. Likewise, we are called to carry the yoke of Christ as oxen, wielding the plow of the Word, breaking through the hardened places of our hearts, and uprooting thorny passions, thereby preparing our hearts to receive the Word of God. A triangular heart reflects a sound understanding of the Trinity, linking the essence of life to proper reverence for God that unites the soul’s faculties. The five-sided kidneys symbolize a righteous orientation of the soul’s desires, redirecting them not towards earthly pleasures but towards a yearning for the Creator through the five senses. The bull's three stomachs metaphorically represent discerning food, digesting the pure essence to embody the soul, and attending to the body, which can be seen as the womb of our existence. Breathing at equal intervals throughout the day and night symbolizes recognition of God’s continuous Providence in preservation, transformative regeneration, and nurturing guidance, prompting gratitude during trials as well as during times of blessing.
Eyes that burn brightly at night and shine during the day symbolize the contemplation that grasps divine wisdom during virtuous living, as well as enduring the dark nights of temptation for the sake of virtue, striving to understand God’s apparent distance. The bull’s right nostril, sensitive to sweet aromas, signifies that the soul, being dual in nature, emanates fragrance to others when enriched by the Holy Spirit's virtues. The description of the bull’s blood implies that misdirected anger can lead others to destruction, nourishing the dark forces that assail us. The goat is characterized by its agility in ascending heights, navigating steep terrains, and responding joyfully to the music of the shepherd; its right horn, when lit, echoes the tremors of an earthquake, and daily it generates two hundred droppings. Our souls are called to leap over the challenges posed by temptations, scaling the mountains of prophetic insight to reach profound understanding. Not only are we to savor this knowledge, but also, through the articulate expression of our faith, we must share its joy with others. The goat's right horn indicates that an individual who nurtures the contemplative aspect of their soul in prayer becomes a source of spiritual aroma, elevating others beyond earthly distractions. Such a person consistently dismisses sensory temptations, recognizing that the intertwining of tangible reality reflects the dynamics between the four core elements of creation, the five senses, and their implications for sacred law.
THEOSIS