That Maximus is the author of this sermon likewise is shown not only by the style but also by the authority of the manuscripts. And Muratori indeed freely grants this, relying together on the trustworthiness of the Ambrosian codex. We, examining the ancient monuments, have found the Turin codex to agree with the Ambrosian, in which the same sermon is among those of Maximus, being On the Ascension of the Lord, Sermon XI; and the Cassinese codex 102, page 70. With most religious joys and devout gladness, most dear brethren, the festivity of today's mystery is to be celebrated by us, because Christ our Lord, to whom, at the very beginning of his combat, that tempter said: 'If thou art the Son of God, say that these stones be made bread' (Matthew
chapter 4): today, penetrating heaven, he confirms every believer with the safeguard of the living stone, and gives life by the refreshment of the heavenly bread; and that contriver of every deceit tempted him, saying: 'If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down'; yet not only did he not fall down, but, having taken the wings of eternal glory, he flew as victor over his rival to heaven: 'For he ascended,' as it is written, 'upon the cherubim, and he flew; he flew upon the wings of the winds' (Psalm 17). And he, to whom the devil then promised the kingdoms and powers of the world, if he were worshiped by him, spurning the vanity of the tempter, received the dominion of the world and the everlasting empire of heaven, as he himself says: 'All things have been delivered to me by my Father, in heaven and on earth' (Matthew 11).
And not without reason was he rewarded with a most blessed kingdom, who, bearing the spirit of a lawful king, despised the tyrant's promises. When his great and incomprehensible miracles are thus approved, the mysteries and powers of Christ increase upon us. For he whom a maternal womb brought forth by human increments into the use of the present life, being confederate with the unbegotten Father, took his seat as the everlasting ruler at his right hand; and he whom on earth the impious voice of persecutors blasphemes, the unwearied praise of obedient angels now celebrates together, as it is written: 'His praise remains from age to age' (Psalm 111).
Let us therefore rejoice, brethren, and exult in the Lord, because today, transcending the heights of the heavens, Christ has ascended to the unimaginable majesty of the Father's throne, and has set in the angelic homeland man—whom the envy of the malignant enemy had made an exile, driven from that first dwelling of paradise and cast into this ruin of the world—and has made the exile of paradise a citizen of the heavenly ones. Wherefore, dearly beloved, we ought to rejoice with immense congratulation, because those whom the tempter dashed down, the Savior has raised up, and those whom the sin of the devil had bound, the grace of Christ has set free; as the most blessed apostle Paul says: 'Where sin abounded, grace also did superabound' (Romans 5).
Truly superabounding grace, which transferred to life man who had been destroyed by death, and turned punishment into reward. For what greater reward can there truly be for the sinner, than that on his account the Only-begotten of God put on flesh, endured the cross, deigned to be buried, did not shrink from the underworld, and, the very author of sin being condemned, carried the manhood he had taken up into heaven? Consider therefore, most beloved, that the fault profited man more than it harmed him; for he who, humbled by the law of transgression, had subjected his captive neck to the diabolical yoke, escaped, taken captive by the Son of God, all the bonds of tyrannical captivity. As venerable David says of our very Lord and Redeemer: 'Ascending on high, he led captivity captive; he gave gifts to men.'
What, then, does it profit us if the Lord led our captivity captive on high, and would not suffer what had been captured by the devil to remain captive? It profits us in all things, most beloved, and profits us inestimably, because in the capture of the devil the servitude is harsh, but in the captivity of Christ the liberty is blessed. Nor is there any doubt that everyone captured by the devil, handed over to the darkness of hell, is ever in mourning, and that the captive of Christ exults in the light of the heavenly kingdom. Blessed David therefore says: 'He led captivity captive; he gave gifts to men.' See and observe how it profits us to be captives of Christ, who not only grants his captives eternal liberty, but also lavishes upon them the ineffable gifts of heavenly rewards.
Therefore in another place the patriarch sings: 'Turn, O Lord, our captivity, as a torrent in the south' (Psalm 125). 'Turn,' he says, not 'turn away'—that is, grant, O Lord, that we who have long since been captured by the devil may at last deserve to be your captives. For we know that to be subject to the devil is a most bitter and unsatisfying condition, but to serve you, O Lord, is a delight. Nor is this doubtful, brethren, since the Lord himself says: 'My yoke is sweet, and my burden light' (Matthew 11). Therefore, breaking the bonds of unbelief and casting the yoke of the devil from our necks, let us with all devotion put our necks under the Lord's dominion, because the yoke of the Gospel and the captivity of Christ confer great sweetness upon believers.