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.