765 discourse ii: the freely accepted bonds without any delay. From this heart of Etna, burning with the greatest flames of charity for us, was bursting out this fiery desire of being handed over as soon as possible: “What you are going to do, do quickly.” What do such words mean to me, that already as the betrayer was leaving the Cenacle, Jesus (whom the most beloved disciple remembers) rushed forth, almost triumphant in the tremendous glory attained by such a tremendous disgrace? “When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of man glorified, and in [H]imGod is glorified’” (Jn 13:31). Bernard,9 pausing here to gaze upon Christ, says, “He rejoices, and He dances, He is gladdened and exults, and says, ‘Now is the Son of man glorified.’”10 O unfathomable love of the Son of God for us most miserable and most ungrateful men! For them, He decided to hand Himself over in bonds voluntarily accepted, and He saw [this act] as His highest and exceptional glory. For their liberty, He so greatly desired to be bound that, out of regard for the bonds and the cohort, He released the traitor. And as the traitor was leaving, Jesus jumped and danced with joy. So then, who can deny to me that these voluntary bonds, by which our Redeemer and Savior was bound, were not for our sake? 2. After He had prayed for the third time in the Garden and had most willingly offered to the eternal Father the chalice of the most bitter suffering, which He Himself had to drink to the dregs, He noticed that Judas was already hastening near, and that by then the soldiers of the Praetorium, sent by the priests, were approaching. Indeed, almost as if He felt nothing, since He feared nothing, He urged His sleeping disciples to advance toward the enemy: “Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand” (Mt 26:46). He searches not for a hiding place, nor does He prepare defenses: He goes voluntarily to meet the enemies, in order that He would not be seized grudgingly and bound unwillingly; and, 9 St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church († 1153). 10 Cf. Bernardus (Aliena et Suppositia, Ogerii Abbatis Lugedii Ordinis Cistersiensis), Sermo IV: De sermone Domini in ultima caena ad discipulos habita, in: vers. 31-33, c. XIII Ioannis, n. 2: PL 184 (S. Bernardi Operum tomus V), 896.
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