Hildegard of Bingen: Diverse adornments

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When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. Luke 24:50-53

“The Son of God ascends to the Father, who alone with the Son and the Holy Spirit is the utmost excellent height of inexpressible joy and bliss. There the Son appears gloriously to the faithful in the abundance of bright sanctity and blessedness, and they believe in the purity and simplicity of their hearts that he is true God and man. Then the new bride of the lamb is showered with diverse adornments; she will be decorated with every kind of virtue for the great battle which will be fought by all the faithful against the venomous serpent.”

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) in Scivias, Part II, Vision 1.17. Hildegard was a mystic and friend of the famous monk, Bernard of Clairvaux. In Scivias she recounts visions she saw. She provided spiritual direction for prominent people including King Conrad III of Germany.  This post keenly aids us as we explore abundance in the 40 days between the resurrection and the ascension.

Ponder with me a moment on this Lord’s day.

It’s been 28 days since we celebrated the resurrection. Jesus spent this time with the disciples, undoubtedly helping them connect all the dots between His teachings, and then His death and resurrection. Soon He would bless them and ascend to the right hand of the Father in heaven. Notice in this vision of Hildegard, what she sees when she contemplates this moment.

On the ascension, she writes that “the Son appears gloriously to the faithful in the abundance of bright sanctity and blessedness” which echoes the words of Luke in today’s Gospel text. Then notice her related thought, “they believe in the purity and simplicity of their hearts that he is true God and man.” Again, this gives a glimpse into the heart of His worshipping followers.

Then don’t miss the generosity of Jesus that comes into view.

The “the new bride of the lamb is showered with diverse adornments” (that’s us). This foreshadows the coming of the Holy Spirit to us, which produces beauty in our lives. As a result “she will be decorated with every kind of virtue.” Why does this matter? Any goodness in our lives and any generosity that flows through our lives is as a result of these deep spiritual realities.

We are not generous because we work, earn a bunch of money, and give it away. That’s neither biblical nor Christian generosity. We are generous because we have been showered with “diverse adornments” and God has “decorated” our lives with “every kind of virtue.”

Father in heaven, thank you for the diverse adornments you have lavished on us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Decorate our lives with generosity so the world sees and experiences your love through us by the power of your Holy Spirit as we await your final victory in the Last Day. Amen.