"Heavens (v. 3) is the name here given to the apostles, the preachers of a new and heavenly law, because they preach heavenly things and things that come down from above. Therefore Bernard, On Canticles, sermon 27, says: “The church has her own ‘heavens,’ spiritual men, outstanding in life and judgment, pure in faith, strong in hope, broad in charity, elevated in contemplation. And these, raining the saving rain of the Word, thunder with rebukes, flash with miracles, proclaim the glory of God. They are stretched like tents over the whole earth.” And the apostle agrees, saying (1 Cor. 15:49): “If we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” Therefore he says: When I see, that is, “believe” and “approve,” I will not be envious like “the avenger” and “the enemy” (v. 2). And, in my opinion, this is the meaning, that after the avenger and his law have been destroyed, a new law and “the heavens,” its proclaimers, are to be received. He will achieve this destruction not by [riotous] force, but by the humility of his people, that is, by the preaching of the humble and the evangelization of the poor"
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