My beloved put in his hand by the latch of the door, and my heart was thrilled for him.
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Aquinas Study Bible
AD 2017
The touch of the Beloved is the touch of love, and His hand is the grace He bestows upon the soul, and the opening through which He puts His hand is the vocation and the perfection, at least the degree of perfection of the soul; for accordingly will His touch be heavier or lighter, in proportion to its spiritual state. The belly that trembled is the will, in which the touch is effected, and the trembling is the stirring up of the desires and affections to love, long for, and praise God, which is the flowing of the balsam from this touch. (St. John of the Cross)
Touch. Of me, (Cassiodorus) or rather of the door or window. I was grieved that I had made him wait so long. (Calmet)
Hebrew, "were moved for him. "Protestants' marginal note, "or (as some read) in me. "Pagnin prefers this; Septuagint and Montanus the former explanation of halaiv. (Haydock)
Grace moves us to begin and prosecute good works. (St. Gregory of Nyssa) (Theodoret)
Christ gives it more abundantly, to make the champions of the Church contend with adversity. (Menochius)
My beloved put his hand through the key hole: The spouse of Christ, his church, at times as it were penned up by its persecutors, and in fears, expecting the divine assistance, here signified by his hand: and ver. 6, but he had turned aside and was gone, that is, Christ permitting a further trial of suffering: and again, ver. 7, the keepers, etc., signifying the violent and cruel persecutors of the church taking her veil, despoiling the church of its places of worship and ornaments for the divine service.
