Captivity And Liberation

Dum avertit Dominus captivitatem plebis suae. Captivitas proprie gentium est, qui in corde suo dixerant Non est Deus; qui trepidaverunt ubi non erat timor, qui spem inopis confuderant et illuserant, quia Dominus spes ejus est; qui in generatione justa Dominum habitaturum negaverant, capti religionibus daemonum, superstitionibus temporum, officiis creaturae. Haec captivitas apellitur, hoc servitium adimitur. Sed Israel erit ille qui credit, Israel erit ille qui Deum oculis cordis adspiciet: quia Israel Deum videns est, qui post captivitatem aversam hoc Dei salutare cognoscit. Laetatur Jacob, laetatur et Israel captivitate aversa, libertate concessa, Deo contemplato, Abraham et Jacob patribus per adoptionem familiae nuncupatis. In his ergo laetemur, et in his exsultemus, scientes per nostram redemptionem ob unius poenitentis salutem esse in coelis gaudia angelorum; et cum coelestis laetitia pro nobis sit, oportet in Christo gaudia nostra esse perpetua, qui est benedictus in saecula saeculorum. Sanctus Hilarius Pictaviensis, Tractatus super Psalmos, Tractatus in Psalmum XIII Source: Migne PL 9.298a-c

When the Lord averts the the captivity of His people. 1 The true captivity is of the Gentiles, who say in their hearts: 'There is no God,' who fear where there is no fear, who confound and mock the hope of the poor, because the Lord is the poor man's hope, who refuse to dwell among the generation of the righteous with the Lord, 2 who are snared by the religion of demons, the superstitions of the times, the service of created things. This is named captivity, this is called servitude. But Israel shall be the one who believes, Israel shall be the one who sees God with the eyes of the heart, because Israel sees God, who after the removal of captivity knows the salvation of God. Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel rejoice, captivity is removed, liberty is given, 3 God is contemplated, with the fathers Abraham and Jacob being called to adoption into His family. In these things then let us rejoice, and in these let us exult, knowing by our redemption that the repentance of just one for salvation is the joy of angels in heaven, 4 and when there is heavenly joy for us, in Christ our joy should be eternal, He who is blessed in eternity. Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Homilies on the Psalms, from Psalm 13 1 Ps 13.7 2 Ps 13.5-6 3 Ps 13.7 4 Lk 15.7