THEOSISBeda Venerabilis
In a spiritual context, as the walls of the Church are established—meaning when new nations embrace the faith or when those who have strayed find correction—the gates of sound doctrine must be firmly positioned. This prevents the ancient adversary, who prowls like a roaring lion (1 Pet. 5:8), from invading the flock of believers. It is essential to appoint gatekeepers, singers, and Levites to protect this entrance, reflecting the role of holy teachers. The gatekeepers are those entrusted with the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19), allowing the humble and worthy to enter while barring the proud and unrighteous, declaring to them, ‘You have no part and lot in this, for your heart is not right before God’ (Acts 8:21).
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The singers are those who, with a holy voice, share the delight of the heavenly homeland with their audiences. The Levites are ever watchful in upholding the worship of God. Nehemiah wisely instructed that the gates of Jerusalem remain closed until the sun has warmed, indicating the need for vigilance during the night. Indeed, beneath the cover of darkness, an enemy could invade, or inhabitants could be captured or slain. Similarly, during this age of night, the guardians of souls must act judiciously to prevent the devil from leading the faithful astray, bringing disorder among the brethren and leading to their downfall. When the Sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2) arises, illuminating the promise of eternal joy, there will be no need for restraint, for the adversaries will be utterly vanquished, facing eternal condemnation. Thus, in the Revelation of the future glory of the holy city, John states: Its gates shall not be shut by day; and there shall be no night therein (Rev. 21:25).
The stewards of souls should not be chosen from the newly converted or the general populace, but only from those who have been liberated by God’s grace from the struggles of sin. These individuals have cultivated a mindset aligned with the vision of the serenity of the world, echoing the Apostle’s declaration, Our dwelling is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). It is fitting that each individual is appointed to his designated watch so that upon their departure from this life, others can swiftly be selected to continue shepherding the faithful. To ensure there is never a gap in those committed to safeguarding the tranquility of the holy Church, even amidst the shadows of the night (Song 3:8), the prophetic words declaring to the Church, Instead of thy fathers, there shall be thy sons (Psalms 44:17), remain true until the end of time. Additionally, the phrase: everyone opposite his house, underscores that vigilance within the Church is best realized when each guardian tends to the well-being of all believers, especially focusing on those entrusted to their care by divine guidance.