VER. 47 53. ST. LUKE. 729
AMBROSE. The Lord inwipingaway thebloodywounds,con
veyedtherebya divinemystery,namely,thatthe servantof
theprinceof thisworld,not by the conditionof hisnature
butby guilt,shouldreceivea wound on the ear,forthathe
had not heard thewords of wisdom. Or,by Peterso will
inglystrikingtheear,he taughtthathe ought not to have
an earoutwardly,who had not one in a mystery. But why
didPeterdo this? Becausehe especiallyobtainedthepower
ofbindingand loosing;thereforeby hisspiritualsword he
takesaway the interiorear of him who understandethnot.
But theLord Himselfrestoresthehearing,shewingthateven
they,ifthey would turn,might be saved,who inflictedthe
wounds inourLord'sPassion; forthatallsinmay be washed
away in themysteriesoffaith.BEDE. Or thatservantisthe
Jewishpeoplesoldby theHigh Prieststoan unlawfulobliga
tion,who, by the Passionof our Lord,losttheirrightear;
thatis,thespiritualunderstandingofthelaw. And thisear
indeediscutoffby Peter'ssword,notthathe takesawaythe
senseofunderstandingfrom thosethathear,but manifestsit
withdrawnby thejudgment ofGod from the careless.But
the same rightear in thosewho among the same people
have believed,isrestoredby the Divinecondescensionto
itsformeroffice.
It follows,TJiensaidJesusuntothem,Are ye come out as
againsta thiefwithswordsandslaves?fyc.CHRYS. For they
had come atnightfearingan outbreakofthemultitude,there
foreHe says," What need was thereof thesearms against
One who was alwayswith you?" as itfollows,When I was
dailywith you. CYRIL. Whereby He does not blame the
chiefsof the Jews thattheyhad not soonerpreparedtheir
murderous designsagainstHim, but convictsthem ofhaving
presumptuouslysupposedtheyhad attackedHim againstHis
will;as ifHe says,"Ye did not takeMe then,becauseI
willeditnot,but neithercouldye now, didI notofMy own
accordsurrenderMyselfintoyourhands." Hence itfollows,
But thisisyourhour,thatis,a shorttime ispermittedyou
to exerciseyourvengeanceagainstMe, but theFather'swill
agreeswithMine. He alsosays,thatthispowerisgivento
darkness,i.e.theDeviland the Jews,of risingin rebellion
againstChrist.And thenisadded,andthepowerofdarkness.