It was due to our estrangement from the Spirit, as the ancient admonition states, “My Spirit shall not abide in these men, because they are flesh.” These words are spoken by the incarnate Word of God, who, being God from God the Father, became man for our sake without alteration; He is anointed with the oil of gladness alongside us: the Spirit descended on Him at the Jordan as a dove. Previously, both kings and priests were anointed symbolically, receiving a measure of sanctity; yet He, who became incarnate for our benefit, was anointed with the true oil of sanctification and the genuine descent of the Spirit, receiving it not for Himself but on our behalf. Since the Spirit had departed and did not reside in us due to our flesh, the world was filled with sorrow, lacking the presence of God.
He proclaimed freedom to the captives, a liberation He achieved by binding the strong man, Satan, who had oppressively ruled over humanity, reclaiming what was rightfully ours. The expression “He anointed Me” pertains to humanity, for it is not the divine nature that is anointed but rather what is akin to us; similarly, the phrase “He sent Me” pertains to human nature. Those whose hearts had been darkened from the beginning by the devil’s shadows experienced enlightenment when He arose as the Sun of righteousness, transforming them into children of light, as Paul indicates: “And those who were blind, ---- for the apostate had blinded their hearts, ---- received sight and recognized the truth; and, as Isaiah states, ‘their darkness was made light’: that is, the ignorant became wise; those who once strayed learned the paths of righteousness.” Additionally, the Father speaks to the Son, saying, “I have made You a covenant of kinship, a light to the Gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring the prisoners out from their bonds and from the prison of those who dwell in darkness.” For the Only Begotten entered this world and established a new covenant for His people, the Israelites, from whom He was biologically descended; this covenant had been foretold by the prophets long beforehand. However, the divine and celestial light also reached the Gentiles: He descended into Hades, proclaimed to the spirits imprisoned there, and liberated all from bondage and oppression.
How does all this not testify that Christ is God and of God by nature? To let the broken go free means to liberate those whom Satan has shattered with spiritual violence. What does it signify to proclaim the gracious year of the Lord? It is to announce the joyful news of His arrival, indicating that the time of the Lord, the Son, has come. This was the year when Christ was crucified for our sake, through which we became pleasing to God the Father as the fruit He bore. Therefore, He declared, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to Myself.” Indeed, He rose on the third day, triumphing over death, after which He proclaimed to His disciples, “All power... is given unto Me.” This, too, marks a year of grace, as we entered His family, washed clean of sin through holy baptism, and became participants in His divine nature through the communion of the Holy Spirit. This is also a year of grace in which He displayed His glory through miraculous acts, for we welcomed the time of His salvation, as the wise Paul stated: “Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation.” This is the day when the impoverished, who formerly lacked everything good and were without hope, much like the Gentiles, were enriched by faith in Him, receiving the divine and heavenly treasure of the gospel of salvation; through this, they became partakers of the kingdom of heaven, heirs to benefits that surpass comprehension or description. “For it is said, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what God hath prepared for those who love Him.”
Although it is true that this passage speaks of the abundant grace Christ offers to the poor in spirit, those who are wounded in heart refer to those burdened with weaknesses and unable to resist their passions, rendered like captives by their plight; to these, He promises both healing and forgiveness. To the blind, He grants restoration of sight. For those who serve created things instead of the Creator and proclaim to wood, “You are my father,” and to stone, “You have fathered me,” while failing to recognize Him who is by nature and truth God, how can they be anything but blind if their hearts lack the light of the divine? However, to these, the Father imparts the light of true knowledge of God, as they are called by faith and recognize Him, or rather are acknowledged by Him; and those who were once children of night and darkness have become children of light. The dawn has arisen for them; the sun of righteousness shines, and the bright morning star has appeared. No one objects to ascribing these words to the Israelites, for they were indeed poor, broken-hearted, and captives in darkness. “For there was not a man on the earth that did good, not one. But all were corrupted, all together were made unfit.” Yet Christ came and first preached to the Israelites the glory of His coming. Their afflictions mirrored those of the Gentiles; however, they have been redeemed by Him, enriched with His wisdom and granted understanding. Now their minds are no longer frail and broken, but strong and healthy, ready to embrace and perform all good and salvific works. In their deception, they required wisdom and understanding, especially those who misguidedly worshipped creation instead of the Creator, inscribing on stones and rocks the names of their gods. Conversely, those who once lived in darkness and despair, lacking the knowledge of Christ, now acknowledge Him as their God.
THEOSIS