From the early Church Fathers to now.
3 Patristic · 1 Jewish · 1 Catholic
“With a vehement wind thou shalt break in pieces the ships of Tharsis.”
“Outside the city, we have heard. Inside the city, we have seen. God is the eternal light of this city. The light of day shines there without the sun we know in this world, and of the moon there is no need. The foundation of this city belongs not to time but to eternity.”
“So what did he hear, and what did he see? That the grace of God renders the city stronger and intact. This, in fact, is its foundation, this its strength, this makes it impregnable—not human aid and help, or the power of weapons or towers and ramparts. What instead? God rules it as his own. This most of all it was, in fact, that they should have been taught, and towards this the inspired author constantly urges them.”
“"As we have heard, so have we seen" [Psalm 48:7]. Blessed Church! At one time you have heard, at another time you have seen. She heard in promises, sees in performance: heard in Prophecy, sees in the Gospel. For all things which are now fulfilled were before prophesied. Lift up your eyes then, and stretch them over the world; see now His "inheritance even to the uttermost parts of the earth:" see now is fulfilled what was said, "All kings shall fall down before Him: all nations shall serve Him:" see fulfilled what was said, "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Your glory above all the earth." See Him whose feet and hands were pierced with nails, whose bones hanging on the tree were counted, upon whose vesture lots were cast: [Matthew 27:35] see reigning whom they saw hanging; see sitting in Heaven [Matthew 26:64] whom they despised walking on earth: see thus fulfilled, "All the ends of the earth shall remember, and turn to the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Him." Seeing all this, exclaim with joy, "As we have heard, so have we seen." Justly the Church herself is so called out of the Gentiles....They to whom the Prophets were not sent, first heard and understood the Prophets: they who first heard not, afterwards hearing marvelled. They remained behind to whom they were sent, carrying the books, understanding not the truth: having the tables of the Testament, and not holding the inheritance. But we,..."As we have heard, so have we seen." And where do you hear? Where do you see? "In the city of the Lord of Hosts, in the city of our God. God has founded it for ever." Let not heretics insult, divided into parties, let them not exalt themselves who say, "Lo, here is Christ, or lo, there." [Matthew 24:23] Whoso says, "Lo, here is Christ, or lo, there," invites to parties. Unity God promised. The kings are gathered together in one, not dissipated through schisms. But haply that city which has held the world, shall sometime be overthrown? Far be the thought! "God has founded it for ever." If then God has founded it for ever, why do you fear lest the firmament should fall?”
“With an east wind That is an expression of retribution, with which the Holy One, blessed be He, recompenses the wicked, as it is stated (Exod. 14:21): “and the Lord led the sea with a strong east wind, etc.” Similarly (Ezek. 16:27, 26): “The east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas”; (Jer. 18:17), “Like an east wind, I will scatter you before the enemy.” the ships of Tarshish They are the neighbors of Tyre, which is Africa, and it is of Edom.”
“"As we have heard." Here the confession and testimony of the witnesses is set forth. And first they confess the truth of what they have heard. "As we have heard," through the preaching of the apostles, "so we have seen," that is, we have perceived it to be true. This they said when they were converted to Christ. Or, so that it may be the conversion of the Jews: "We heard through the prophets, and behold, now we have seen." But it sometimes happens that someone hears something great and does not believe it to be so until he experiences it; and this Jacob said, Gen. 28: "Truly this place is holy," etc. 1 Kgs. 10: "The Queen of Sheba, who came to verify what she had heard, did not, however, believe the greatness of Solomon's wisdom"; and she saw more incredible things in him than she had heard. And so it is with these, who see more than they hear before they come to the faith. And where do we see? "In the city of the Lord of hosts," namely of the heavenly hosts. Here he shows that he can lead you there. And lest it be believed that he is so exalted that you cannot go to him, he says, "In the city of our God." As if to say: he is so much the God of hosts that he is nevertheless our God. And he has founded it, namely this city, not for a time, but "forever." Sir. 26: "Eternal foundations upon solid rock."”
The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.