Moralia in Job 972

48. By the left hand the Gentiles, by the right hand the Jews are to be understood. — For calamities would rise on the left hand, if the Church were to suffer the adversities of persecution from any set outside religion and openly denying Christ. But when she suffers the torment of afflictions from certain as though faithful, the calamities arise for her as it were on the right hand, because these who serve under the name of Christ assail within her the name of Christ. For by the very usage of speech we call that 'of the right hand' which we weigh as great, but that 'of the left hand' which we despise; which Zechariah openly intimates, saying: And he showed me Jesus the high priest, standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan stood at his right hand to withstand him (Zech. iii, 1).

And that he might more plainly show what he had premised, he added by way of continuation: And the Lord said unto Satan: The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan, even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem. Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? And Jesus was clothed with filthy garments (ibid., 2). For Jesus was clothed with filthy garments, because although he was a stranger to all sin, yet he came in the likeness of sinful flesh. To him coming, Satan stood at the right hand. For the Lord seemed to hold the Jewish people for great, and the Gentiles for nothing. But after he appeared incarnate, the Gentiles, who had been held for the left hand, believed; whereas the Jewish people declined into perfidy.

Satan therefore stood at his right hand, because he snatched from him that people which had long been beloved. But because that same Jewish people, now lost, is at the last one day to believe—as the prophet testifies, who says: A remnant shall be saved (Isa. x, 21)—the Lord removes Satan from his right hand, saying: The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan (Zech. iii, 1). And indicating the deliverance of that same people, he subjoins: Because he hath chosen Jerusalem (ibid., 2). And this people, because through the leading of perfidy it was flowing down toward the fires of Gehenna, yet when it is led back to the faith is delivered by the same Lord from the fire of eternal burning, straightway there is subjoined concerning it: Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 49. And those who follow the faith of the Church, from whom she sometimes suffers violence.

— As, therefore, there the Jewish people stands for the right hand, so in this place by the term 'right hand' is designated the faithful people of the holy Church. Whence also the Judge who is to come will set the goats at the left hand, the lambs at the right (Matt. xxv, 33). But when, in a time of adversity, the holy Church is assailed even by those very ones who seemed to be faithful, calamities without doubt arise for her on the right hand. And well is this same right hand called the East. For of that same Head of hers it is written: The East is his name (Zech. vi, 12). For because light rises from the East, rightly is he called the East by the light of whose justice the night of our injustice is illumined.

Calamities therefore arise on the right hand of the East, because these too spring forth to persecution, who were believed to be cast-out members of our Redeemer. And rightly does he assert that these calamities arise on the very spot, because, since those who persecute were not strangers, from them evils arise suddenly and on the spot. But if by 'the right hand' those who are truly faithful are named, calamities arise on the right hand of the East, because, when the crisis of persecution bursts forth, the just endure the cruel assaults of the depraved. There follows: