the suffering christ 790 Doubtless, it was necessary that the Renewer of the World must gather “flowers and fruit of glory and virtue” (Eccl 24:23) [DRB], not only from the thorns, but equally from the tree of fate. When Christ pondered this in His heart (and) — like a boxer who has just entered into battle not thinking about his wounds, although they are life-threatening —He was becoming more courageous and more vigorous due to the wounds suffered in battle. The more difficult it was to finish what remained to be accomplished, the more zealously He desired the battle that was to bring Him greatly distinguished glory and splendid honor. This way, “love sustained Him in His intense zeal for new punishments.” 4. We come at last to contemplate that scepter of the King, a theatrical king for the Hebrews, but for us and those living in Heaven, the Most High. “[They] put,” says Matthew, “a reed in [H]is right hand” (Mt 27:29). Is He adorned by this royal staff, with which kings rule, princes command, the powerful determine justice? Indeed, it is so. Why? So that through His humility He may completely destroy our pride. The symbol of humility is the reed: For as this reed is moved by every movement of wind without any resistance, so the humble spirit gives reverence to all. He was the most humble man, about whom Truth says: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind?” (Mt 11:7). Therefore, Anselm says most truly about Christ Himself: “In order that the account written against us because of sin, (I supposed it to be pride) may be completely destroyed, He assumed a reed” (Tract. de Passione).46 No one was permitted to come near the Assyrian kings unless called. For this reason, when Mordecai was urging Esther to go to Ahasuerus to beg for the salvation of her own people, she responded: “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law; all alike 46 This Tractatum de Passione was not able to be found among the existing works of Anselm.
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