Baruch — Chapter 5

Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning and affliction, and put on the beauty of the glory that thou hast from God for ever. The exchange of mourning garments for glory-vestments = the transition from exile to restoration. Lapide: allegorically, this is the soul's exchange of the garment of sin for the garment of baptismal grace; the Church's exchange of her age-long persecution for the glory of the final triumph.

For God hath shewn thy splendour to every nation that is under heaven. For the name of God shall be named to thee for evermore: the peace of justice, and honour of piety. The glorification of the new Jerusalem as the home of justice and piety — the Church named with God's own peace and honor. Lapide: the name 'peace of justice' = God's peace through Christ's justice (redemption), given to the Church.

Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the east, and behold thy children gathered together from the rising to the setting sun, by the word of the Holy One. Jerusalem standing on a high hill to see her children returning from all directions = the Church's vision of the universal gathering of the elect. 'The word of the Holy One' (jussio Sancti) = the prophetic command that gathers all nations to the Church.

For God hath brought down the high mountains, and the long hills, and hath filled up the valleys to make the ground level: that Israel may walk diligently to the honour of God. The leveling of mountains and filling of valleys for the return = echoing Is.40:4 (John the Baptist's preparatory work). Lapide: the mountains of pride and the valleys of humility are both leveled to create the royal road of the Gospel; applied to baptism which removes all obstacles to God's approach.