Bernard of Clairvaux, on Song 2:9

“My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart. Behold he standeth behind our wall, looking through the windows, looking through the lattices.”

“But also for each one of us who desire his coming, I think he stands no less behind the wall, while this body of ours, which is certainly of sin, hides from us in the meantime his face and shuts off his presence. For: "As long as we are in this body," he says, "we are pilgrims from the Lord" (2 Cor 5:6). Not because we are in a body, but because we are in this body, which assuredly is of sin and is not without sin. And that you may know that it is not bodies but sins that obstruct, hear the Scripture: "Our sins," it says, "separate between us and God" (Is 59:2). And would that only one wall of the body stood in my way, and I suffered only the obstacle of that which is the sin in the flesh, and that not many partition walls of vices stood between! For I fear that beyond that which is in nature, I have added very many from my own iniquity, by the interposition of which I have set the Bridegroom exceedingly far from me; so that, if I wished to speak the truth, I should confess that he stands behind walls rather than behind a wall for me. But I say this more plainly. The Bridegroom indeed is equally and indifferently present everywhere, by the presence assuredly of the divine majesty, and by the greatness of his power. Yet by the exhibition or withholding of grace he is said to be far from some and near to others, that is, of angels and men, that is, of rational creatures. For "salvation is far from sinners" (Ps 118:155). And holy David likewise says: "Why, O Lord, have you withdrawn far off?" (Ps 9:1). But from the saints, by a pious dispensation, he makes himself far for a time and not entirely, but according to something, sometimes. But from sinners of whom it is said: "The pride of those who hate you ascends always" (Ps 73:23); and likewise: "Their ways are defiled at all times" (Ps 9:5); he is always and very far away, and this in wrath and not in mercy. Wherefore the saint prays to God and says: "Do not turn away in anger from your servant" (Ps 26:9); knowing that he could also turn away in mercy. The Lord is therefore near to his saints and his elect, even when he seems to be far away; and not equally to all, but to some more, to others less, according to the diversity of merits. For even if the Lord is near to all who call upon him in truth, and is close to those who are of a troubled heart; yet not to all perhaps, so that they may be able to say that he himself stands behind the wall. But how near he is to the bride, who is separated by only one wall! For this reason she desires to be dissolved, and with the middle wall broken through, to be with him whom she trusts to be behind the wall.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.