The Healing Ointment and Immediate Response

Not according to the flesh, but when one no longer perceives according to the flesh, but beholds 'his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten from the Father' (cf. John 1:14), and knows that he who has seen the Son sees the Father, and this is to exalt him.

Therefore, because he says this graciously, the following is brought forward: 'because you have taken me up' (John 14:19); having taken me up, you exalted me. When I was exalted, then I knew your height.

And this can also be seen from things held in the hands; one approaches by skill; not yet the magnitude, not yet the beauty, not yet the height of it he sees. But if he begins to grasp it and is improved by considering each part in light of what has already been made known, then seeing the magnitude and the height of the skill and the art, he exalts it, that is, he confesses its height.

For indeed, when he stands over the height and magnitude, he sees much remaining to himself. 'Your knowledge was marveled at from me; it was strengthened, I am not able toward it' (Eccl. 6:18). As much as I stand over it and marvel at it, it becomes strong, and I am no longer able toward it, as long as I am in a body.

This also Solomon says concerning wisdom: 'I said, I will be wise, and it was lengthened far beyond what it was, and a deep depth, who will find it?' (Eccl. 6:18). It was far from me, and when I desired to receive it, it became far from me beyond what it was before. And therefore he gives the reason: 'a deep depth, who will find it?' The 'who will find' may mean 'no one.' And the 'who' is the smallness and not a joy to my enemies upon me. Many enemies lie in wait for me, intending to harm me.

And they were saying that these things are also commonly said concerning the man the Savior and of those imitating him. And the saints had enemies and the Savior had enemies. And no one at all is able to approach him according to the divinity, in order that he might be tested to harm him. And to hate is to approach not for the sake of another but to harm.

And therefore, in the person of Jesus, it is said according to the man and of every imitator and of his member becoming so: 'because you have taken me up' (John 14:19); for if you had not taken me up, my enemies would have rejoiced having taken me in hand, and would not have exalted you. It is also possible from the person of the Savior, no longer dividing us and saying according to God the Word or according to man, as we were fully saying concerning the skilled man: 'I will exalt...'

You, Lord, have taken me; you took those two for me, for whom I cried out (Ps 132:13). 'Behold, I and the children, which God has given to me' and 'I will give you the nations for your inheritance' (Ps 2:8). The Savior regards this as his own contest and his own benefit; therefore 'I have not rejoiced my enemies' (Ps 69:20). For the captives were snatched away because of me, and on my account, and on account of those holding them, I will exalt you, but they do not rejoice.

Lord my God, I cried to you, and heal me (Ps 130:1-2). The voice has been heard; for if he cried concerning healing, he already received what he desired. 'I said, Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul, because I have sinned against you' (Ps 130:1-2). He had not yet been healed, for he who says this is confessing and repenting. The face of the Savior says this: 'I cried to you, and heal me'; I received an ointment, therapeutic and medicinal 'for every disease and weakness.' Why then did I have the ointment? So that he himself might become a medicine for those who were wounded. Then my healing occurs when the ointment heals others being my body. 'Lord' therefore 'my God, I cried to you, and heal me.' If each of the righteous says this, he will be heard by him to whom he cries. 'While you are still speaking, I will say, Behold, I am here.' The 'I will say, Behold, I am here' shows the work for which you are worthy, I find myself present to you; for your prayer does not delay my gift, but it happens at once; you have prayed, you have the thing. Let us take examples from the Scriptures; a leper came to the Savior saying, 'If you wish, you are able to cleanse me' (Lk 5:17). He says, 'I will, be cleansed'; and the cleansing happened as if there were no delay. By thought alone previously the worthiness occurred before the cleansing, not by time before. Again: 'Do you wish to be well?' Immediately: 'Rise, take up your bed and walk' (Lk 5:17). And the work of Jesus's command did not happen a second later. You know that the reflection imitates the thing seen, and it is not possible to say which is first, but by thought.

Lord, you brought up my soul from Hades (Ps 138:3). Having healed me, you brought up my soul from Hades. This could be said concerning Jesus; since I had an ointment and was wounded because of certain sins—perhaps those having sins in Hades—they descended there, so that the ointment, having approached...