Evenings With Bede is a homily podcast. The episodes are taken from the Sunday solemn Plainsong Evensong services of Saint Paul’s, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., where I am Rector.

SEASON TWO is devoted to understanding the Song of Songs with the Venerable S. Bede as teacher. We will go verse by verse through the entirety of the Song of Songs.

The format is a short passage from the Song of Songs, then comes commentary from the Bede, and finally a reflective homily by yours truly expounding upon both. The audio for all three is found above. The text of the two passages is found below.

A Lesson from the Song of Songs, 2.1

I am a flower of the field and a lily of the valleys; as a lily among thorns, so is my friend among daughters. As an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among sons. I sat down under his shadow, which I desired, and his fruit was sweet in my throat. The King brought me into the wine cellar, He set charity in order in me. Prop me up with flowers, encompass me with apples; for I am faint with love. His left hand is under my head, and His right hand will embrace me.

A Lesson from a Treatise by the Venerable S. Bede

Now when the Church has been praised by the Lord because she has kept the purity of her faith unspoiled among the barbs of the faithless and has shone more gloriously among the terrors of the wicked, she immediately reciprocates in reply by exalting Him with great praise, and because the Holy One is especially prominent among the faithful deeds of good people, the Church declares to her Bridegroom: “As an apple tree,” she says, “among the trees of the woods, so is my Beloved among sons.” Now this is what the Psalmist says: “For who in the skies shall be compared to the Lord, or who among the children of God shall be like unto God?” (Ps 89) Therefore, as an apple tree that is pleasing in appearance, smell, and taste is accustomed to excel among the trees of the woods, so is the God-man justly deemed superior to all the Saints who are pure human beings, and so does His power surpass the merit of those who are children of God by grace, since He is a Son by nature. For this reason, S. John says, “And we have seen His glory, the glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14); for this reason the Apostle S. Paul says: “And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken, but Christ as the Son in His own house” (Heb 3:5-6). Therefore let the cypress shine and the cedar lift itself up in height; let the other trees of the woods show forth the wonders of their comeliness, odor, and strength; the apple tree distinguishes itself above them all because in addition to its fragrance and appearance it has a sweet flavor and the ability to give nourishment. Let all the righteous shine with their virtues; the One born from a Virgin excels them all because He serves us with the provisions of eternal life.

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