28. But perhaps He feared the pain of
wounds. Say then, What terror had the thrust of the nail for Him
Who merely by His touch restored the ear that was cut off? You
who assert the weakness of the Lord, explain this work of power at the
moment when His flesh was weak and suffering. Peter drew his
sword and smote: the High Priest’s servant stood there,
lopped of his ear. How was the flesh of the ear restored from the
bare wound by the touch of Christ? Amidst the flowing blood, and
the wound left by the cleaving sword, when the body was so maimed,
whence sprang forth an ear which was not there? Whence came that
which did not exist before? Whence was restored that which was
wanting? Did the hand, which created an ear, feel the pain of the
nails? He prevented another from feeling the pain of a
wound: did He feel it Himself? His touch could restore the
flesh that was cut off; was He sorrowful because He feared the piercing
of His own flesh? And if the body of Christ had this virtue, dare
we allege infirmity in that nature, whose natural force could
counteract all the natural infirmities of man?