769 discourse ii: the freely accepted bonds knocked them over with [His] word, must be bound for it [i.e., our freedom]. Let no one become frightened of evil, who understands this mystery here contained. He frightens the enemies, and our Savior forces them to the ground in order that He might reveal to them His power [and] unveil to us His immeasurable charity. He was able with that omnipotent, divine word of His to expel them to Tartarus itself; yet, because He desired to pluck us up from there, He raised upright those who were prostrate and revived again those who were almost dead. He fortified all those lacking strength [and] gave His permission to be assaulted, to be seized, and for whatever [else] pleased their hostile profanity and arrogance. Luke, skillfully depicting all this with his sacred pen, shows Jesus speaking a second time in this manner to the already standing enemies: “Then Jesus said to the chief priests and captains of the temple and elders, who had come out against [H]im, ‘Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on [M]e. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness’” (Lk 22:52-53). He [St. Luke] rightfully rebuked the wicked servants who came to seize as though a criminal the One, who being without any personal crime of His own, had decided to be bound for any and all criminals! For only thieves and malefactors flee from the chains, inasmuch they can, and they do not allow themselves to be captured since they are guilty of the crimes and are certain of punishment. They seek hiding places; furthermore, they protect themselves with weapons as long as they are able. He [Christ] would allow Himself to be captured by someone, to be led, and to be sacrificed! On account of our evil deeds and sins, He who committed no evil at any time, whom no one dared to accuse of sin, desired to be captured; He desired to be bound, He desired to suffer, He desired to die. The eternal Father ratified this most holy will of the eternal Son and: “[...] did not spare [H]is own Son” as the Apostle taught the Romans, “but gave [H]im up for us all” (Rom 8:32) to be bound tightly, to be crucified, and to be put to death.
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