Moralia in Job 641

Verse 14.—'I have said to rottenness: Thou art my father; to worms, my mother and my sister.' 50. From a corrupted origin we draw the worms of concupiscence and of cares.—What is this that he said to rottenness: Thou art my father, but that every man descends from an origin now corrupted? Wherefore it is also added: 'my mother and my sister, to worms,' because assuredly we both come from that very rottenness and come with it into this world. For as regards the matter of the corruptible flesh, our mother and sister are worms, because we both proceeded from rottenness and came with the rottenness which we bear. But if this can be understood spiritually, then nature is not unfittingly called mother, and custom sister, because from the one we are together with the other.

Which mother and sister are indeed worms, because from corruptible nature and perverse custom we are compelled to be wearied in mind by restless thoughts as by certain worms. For a vitiated nature of the flesh and a perverse custom, because they beget innumerable cares in the heart of our weakness, are well called mother and sister worms. For cares gnaw the mind while they disquiet it. For just men cease not either to think anxiously and consider what they may do, or providently to look to whither they are to be led after the present life.

Because, therefore, the elect, before the coming of the Lord, both perceived themselves to be in the labour of the present life, and yet after the present life not yet to receive the heavenly goods, they were consumed by many thoughts. For they awaited the grace of their Redeemer, and yet could not, by living in the flesh, attain to it. Wherefore it is also aptly added: