787 discourse iv: the crown of thorns honor through all the crossroads of the city, so much that the entire people turned their eyes to the most magnificent pomp of such a joyful spectacle. Even Haman, in the place of the herald, proclaimed with an unwilling tongue: “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor” (Est 6:11). Such great honor was decreed and given to Mordecai as a reward for discovering the plot of two of the eunuchs directed against the King. How many [even] greater benefits have we all, together with the wicked Hebrew Synagogue, received from the Son of God, above all Kings the most excellent and the most dignified! And with what honor was He endowed by us? “[H]e put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in fury as a mantle” (Is 59:17). The eternal Father punishes in His Son the evil deeds we have committed; the wounds and penalties that we deserve are inflicted upon Him; the anger we should bear is poured upon Him. One of the Phoenician Kings, whom Josephus, the Hebrew Livy,38 remembers in the fourth book of the Antiquities, “designated his son to be dressed in purple as sacrifice”39 to placate the gods. Regarding our Savior, the Doctor (of the Church) Jerome says: “Before the people, He was seen clothed in purple, to indicate the uniqueness of the sacrifice.”40 But what is the uniqueness of this sacrifice? Truly, the Prince and Author of Sacrifices, the Creator of Priests and the High Priest, was designated to be sacrificed. The most just wrath of God had to be appeased for human wickedness, which was justly judged. Who is worthy to appease God if not God Himself? Therefore, in order to be satisfied, the very angered Heavenly Father “designated [His] Son,” who willingly and freely offered Himself to it, “to be clothed in purple for sacrifice.” 3. The immensity of such kindness overwhelms me! I cannot understand, I cannot grasp such love. And so, I go further. I pass from the purple [cloak] to the crown of the heavenly King. To the 38 Cf. Momigliano, A., Giuseppe, Flavio (Flavius Iosephus), EI XVII, 376-377. 39 This quote was not able to be found in the text of the Antiquities. 40 This text was not able to found in the commentary of St. Jerome.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==