Moralia in Job 620

Ver. 20.—'For behold, my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth me is on high.' 27. When men knew not Christ, he had the Father as his conscious witness in heaven.—For when the Son was cast down on earth, he had a witness in heaven. For the witness of the Son is the Father, of whom he himself says in the Gospel: 'And the Father who sent me, he hath borne witness of me' (John v, 37). Who is rightly also called 'conscious,' because with one will, with one counsel, the Father ever works together with the Son. Of whom he is also witness, because 'no one knoweth the Son but the Father' (Matt. xi, 27). Then therefore he had in heaven a witness and one 'conscious' on high, when those who beheld him dying in the flesh knew not how to consider the power of his divinity.

And though men were ignorant, yet in death the Mediator of God and men knew that the Father was working with him. This can perhaps also be referred to the voice of his body. (Vet. XIII.) For holy Church therefore endures the adversities of the present life, that supernal grace may lead her through them to eternal rewards. She despises the death of her flesh, because she looks toward the glory of the resurrection. And transitory are the things she suffers, perpetual the things she awaits. Concerning which perpetual goods she has no doubt, because she already holds the faithful testimony of her Redeemer's glory.

For with her mind she beholds the resurrection of his flesh, and grows strongly into hope, because what she sees already accomplished in her Head, she hopes for also in his body, namely in herself, which without doubt shall follow. And the Psalmist, beholding this Church destined to abide in perpetual perfection, describes her under the name of the moon, saying: 'The moon perfect for ever' (Ps. lxxxviii, 38). And because the Lord's resurrection strengthens her unto the hope of resurrection, he rightly subjoined: 'And a faithful witness in heaven'; because, that she may not tremble concerning her own resurrection, she now has in heaven, as witness, him who rose from the dead.

Therefore let the faithful people, when they suffer adversities, when they are wearied by hard tribulations, lift up their mind to the hope of the glory that is to follow, and, trusting in the resurrection of their Redeemer, let them say: 'For behold, my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth me is on high.' Who is rightly called 'conscious,' because he knows our nature not only by creating it, but also by assuming it. For to have taken up what is ours belongs to his knowing. Whence also it is said through the Psalmist: 'For he knoweth our frame' (Ps. cii, 14). For what wonder if he is said in a special way to know our frame, when it is certain that there is nothing he does not know? But to know our frame belongs to him in that he has taken it up in himself out of loving-kindness. 28. The same witness is to be sought by us.

Yet this voice can also fit us individually along with blessed Job. For everyone who from that which he does seeks human praises, seeks a witness on earth. But he who hastens to please almighty God by his deeds considers that he has a witness in heaven. And it often happens that even our good works themselves are reproved in us by incautious men. But he who has a witness in heaven ought not to fear the reproofs of men. Whence it is still subjoined: