24. Lastly, that paralytic was waiting for a
man. And what man save the Lord Jesus, born of the Virgin, at
Whose coming no longer the shadow should heal men one by one, but the
truth should heal the whole. He it is, then, Whose coming down
was being waited for, of Whom the Father said to John the
Baptist: “Upon Whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending
and abiding upon Him, this is He Who baptizeth with the Holy
Spirit.” S. John i. 33. And
John bare witness of Him, and said: “I saw the Spirit
descending from heaven like a dove and abiding upon
Him.” S. John i. 32. And why
did the Spirit descend like a dove, but in order that you might see,
that you might acknowledge, that that dove also which just Noah sent
forth from the ark was a likeness of this dove, that you might
recognize the type of the sacrament?