Bonaventure

In his own words on 2 Samuel

• 2 Samuel 6:16

  On 2 Kings 6, upon the text: Michal, the daughter of Saul, looking out, saw King David leaping and dancing, and she despised him in her heart; Gregory says: "Behold, the one whom the Lord singularly preferred above all others despises himself before the Lord by making himself equal to the least and by exhibiting what is abject. The power of kingship is not recalled to memory; he does not fear to become vile in the eyes of his subjects by dancing. What others may think of these deeds, I do not know; I am more amazed at David dancing than at David fighting: by fighting he conquered his enemy, but by dancing before the Lord he conquered himself." If, therefore, to conquer oneself is a work of perfect virtue, and this is accomplished through self-abasement: therefore self-abasement is a work of perfect virtue.

  Disputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 1

• 2 Samuel 6:22

  A little further on in the same place: I will play and become yet more vile, etc.; upon which Gregory says: "As if he were openly saying: I desire to become vile before men, because I seek to keep myself noble before God through humility." If, therefore, to be noble before God is nothing other than to be perfect, and self-abasement makes one noble before God: therefore it is an act of perfect virtue.

  Disputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 1

• 2 Samuel 6:22

  Bernard calls this humiliation the vilification of oneself; whence he adds: "I will play and become yet more vile, I will play, that is, so that I may be mocked. A good game, at which Michal grows angry, but God is delighted; a good game, which provides a laughingstock indeed to men, but a spectacle to the Angels; a good game, I say, in which we are made a reproach to the affluent and a contempt to the proud. With this chaste and devout game he was playing who said: We are made a spectacle to this world and to Angels and to men. With this game let us also play in the meantime, that we may be mocked and confounded and humbled, until he comes who casts down the mighty and exalts the humble, who will make us glad, exalt us, and glorify us for eternity."

  Disputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 1