Woe to him that is faint-hearted! for he believes not; therefore shall he not be defended.
All Commentaries on Wisdom of Sirach 2:13 Go To Wisdom of Sirach 2
Fulgentius of Ruspe
AD 533
Faith competes with human nature"something for which the Creator has taken a great deal of care in ensuring that even the very hairs on our head are counted"such that it is obvious that only when human nature senses that it is loved by God does it love God who loves it and then binds itself to him by means of pure-hearted faith. Faith is the way that carries us to blessedness; lack of faith brings great misery. Because of this you will be rightly punished when you do not believe in the Son of God, because your infidelity is your vice, just as faith is your strength"although it not the kind of strength one discovers in evil spirits but the kind God gives to his saints that triumphs over their wickedness. It is the same "faith that works through love." In fact, "the evil spirits believe and tremble," but they do not love him from whom they are far removed because of pride. The first man was made to fall in pride through the counsel of the devil, through which he lost humility, through which he lost faith. And when he lost his faith, he lost divine protection. It is in fact written, "The one who does not believe in God will not be protected by God." From that moment the one who was earth and ashes began to be proud because he threw away what was innermost in his life. The Word of the Lord, thus, does not stop calling humanity to return to its most intimate longing, saying: "Return, you rebels, to the heart."
