CHRIST, OUR RESURRECTION.

"Rise, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ will enlighten thee." (Eph. 5:14)

I.

When Christ raised His body from the dead, He decorated it with all the attributes of glory. Lacerated and deformed before, it now becomes beautiful and lovely. Reflect on the difference which exists between a body that is dead, pale, wan, and motionless, and the same body when it is invested with the attributes of glory. The same difference exists between a soul in sin and a soul in the state of grace. The same difference, with due proportion, is to be found between a fervent and a tepid soul. In the state of tepidity, the soul slumbers, as it were; it is void of all heroical motion; it is insensible in regard to spiritual things; it is filled with idle fancies and vain trifles; and pursues shadows instead of real and substantial good. It conceives itself to be in a good state, whilst in reality it may be addressed as God addressed the Bishop of Laodicea in the Apocalypse of St. John: "Thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Apoc. 3:17)

II.

Our Savior is ready to raise us from the state of tepidity and sin, if we consent on our part, and therefore He says of Himself: "I am the resurrection and the life." (John 11:25) He is the Cause and Author of both, as well in regard to the soul as the body. What a benefit it is to be raised from the death of sin or tepidity, and to be placed in the bright light of the children of God, and to be enabled to pursue the road of virtue with fervor. This benefit Christ will bestow upon you today in the Eucharist if you approach Him with fervor. Hence, He is called the Bread of Life; and if we shall owe to Him the resurrection of our bodies "at the last day" (John 6:40), so are we now indebted to Him for the resurrection of our souls. (John 6:35, 40)

III.

The marks by which we may discover if we have really risen with Christ are our attention to spiritual things, and our disregard of the things of this world. "If ye be risen with Christ," says St. Paul, "seek the things that are above." (Col. 3:1) Seek, therefore, only heavenly things, and as "Christ rising again from the dead, dieth now no more" (Rom. 6:9), so you, having risen from the state of sin or tepidity to grace and fervor, persevere in your "newness of life," and continually guard against relapsing into your former state.

CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.

I.

Sufficient time having elapsed to evince the reality of Christ's death, early on the third day His divine soul hastened to bring the Holy Fathers out of Limbo, to comfort His Blessed Mother and His disconsolate Disciples, and to fill the whole world with His glory. How the holy prisoners in Limbo rejoiced when they saw that the hour of their deliverance had arrived! Free in like manner, O Lord, my soul from "the lion's mouth" and from "the deep lake," and suffer not my enemies - the devil, the world, and the flesh - to domineer over me.

II.

What were the feelings of the Holy Fathers, when leaving Limbo, they saw the dead body of Christ! How their affections glowed for the Being who suffered so much for them! When our Lord immediately afterwards reunited this body to His soul, the oracle of David was fulfilled: "The Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty; the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself." (Ps. 92:1) He now assumed the four properties of a glorified body, viz., 1. Lucidness, by which He becomes brighter than the sun itself; 2. Subtilty, by which He can penetrate the sepulcher, and every other material substance; 3. Agility, by which He can move Himself to the most remote place, in the smallest division of time; 4. Impassibility, so that He is now incapable of suffering or dying. Thus crowned with glory, our triumphant Redeemer may say in the words of David, "Thou hast turned for Me My mourning into joy; Thou hast cut My sackcloth, and hast compassed Me with gladness." (Ps. 29:12)

III.

The eternal Father, joined by all His Angels and the liberated Saints of Limbo, congratulates the glorious Savior of mankind, and they exclaim: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and benediction." (Apoc. 5:12) Join your voice with theirs, and say: "This is the day which the Lord has made: let us be glad and rejoice therein." (Ps. 117:24) Be convinced that the tribulations of the just are short, and their joys eternal, and that "if we suffer with Christ, we shall be also glorified with Him." (Rom. 8:17)

CHRIST'S APPARITION TO HIS MOTHER.

I.

Christ made known His Resurrection by different means: 1. By Saints, who rose in their bodies and appeared to many; 2. By angels, who appeared at the sepulcher; 3. By appearing in His own proper person, "showing Himself alive, after His Passion, by many proofs; for forty days appearing." (Acts 1:3) In the same manner is he accustomed to display Himself to His faithful servants, by the agency of pious men, by their Guardian Angels, and immediately by Himself. "He who loveth me," He says Himself, "shall be loved by My Father; and I will love Him, and will manifest Myself to Him." (John 14:21) Love Him, therefore, in order that you may receive this favor.

II.

It is piously believed that Christ first appeared to His Blessed Mother in order that she, who had drunk deepest of the cup of His affliction, might be the first to enjoy the glory of His resurrection. "As ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation." (2 Cor. 1:7) She believed with the most certain faith, and expected with the most ardent hope the hour of His resurrection, and therefore her desires were not frustrated. Learn hence to desire heavenly things with fervor, and patiently to wait for the destined hour. "If it make any delay, wait for it; for it shall surely come, and it will not be slack." (Hab. 2:3)

III.

What were the feelings which Christ and His Mother experienced at this joyful meeting? What expressions of affection passed between them? The Saints who had long been dead, Adam, Abraham, Moses, and David, might well congratulate her in the language of the Church: "Thou, daughter, art blessed by the Lord, for by thee we have been made partakers of the fruit of life." Do you in like manner rejoice with Holy Mary, and address her in the language of the Church at this holy time: "Rejoice, O Queen of Heaven! Because He whom thou broughtest forth is risen from the dead. Pray for us, therefore, O Holy Queen, to thy adorable Son; He will not refuse to grant the petition, which you address to Him."

APPARITION OF THE ANGELS TO THE DEVOUT WOMEN.

I.

"And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came to the sepulcher, the sun being now risen." (Mark 16:2) These devout women brought ointment and perfumes, in order to perform the last offices of love to their Lord, by anointing His body. For this purpose, they rise very early, "it being yet dark." (John 20:1) Learn hence to spare no expense or labor in the service of God, consistently with your abilities. Follow the principle, and adopt the expression of the Wise Man: "We must prevent the sun to bless thee, O God, and adore thee at the dawning of the light." (Wis. 16:28) Examine whether you be so early employed in the service of your Creator.

II.

"And they said one to another, Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulcher?" (Mark 16:3) Such were their anxiety and conversation on the way. But they no sooner arrived at the tomb, than, "looking, they saw the stone rolled back." Thus we frequently imagine many difficulties to exist in the way of virtue and perfection; but when we begin to walk resolutely in that way, we find them either entirely removed by the grace of God, or greatly diminished. "And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side." God rewards the piety of these women with the vision of an Angel. "And His countenance was as lightning, and His raiment as snow." (Matt. 28:3) Who would not wish to dwell forever in such happy company?

III.

"Fear not, for I know you seek Jesus, who was crucified." (Matt. 28:5) Among the titles of the glorified Jesus, that of His having been crucified stands in the first place. Hence, you should learn to appreciate duly the value of suffering, "and to glory in nothing but the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Gal. 6:14) St. Paul, who was a faithful imitator of the suffering Son of God, says of himself: "I judged not myself to know anything among you, but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." (1 Cor. 2:2) Imagine what sincere joy the holy women experienced when they heard that Christ had risen! "They went out quickly from the sepulcher, with fear and great joy, running to tell His Disciples." (Matt. 28:8)

CHRIST APPEARS TO MAGDALENE.

I.

"But Mary stood without the sepulcher, weeping." (John 20:11) Ponder the fervent love and unshaken constancy of this devout penitent, which prompted her still to remain at the sepulcher when her companions had left it. Hence, she deserved to see our Lord the first; for, as St. Gregory, commenting on this passage of the Evangelist observes: "Persevere in the essence of a good work." Learn hence to seek God, when you have lost Him by sin, or when by desolation He withdraws Himself from you. You must seek Him with sincerity and ardent affection, in order "that you may find Him whom your soul loveth." (Cant. 3:4)

II.

Though Angels appeared and asked Mary: "Woman,, why weepest thou?" (John 20:13), they could not satisfy her mind and affection. No worldly comfort, nothing, in fact, but God Himself can satisfy the soul that truly seeks God. Christ assumed the appearance of a gardener and presented Himself before her; Magdalene immediately applied to Him and asked: "If thou hast taken Him away, tell me where thou hast laid Him; and I will take Him away." (John 20:15) How great was the force of her love! No place, no danger, no toil, could prevent her from seeking Him. Examine if your love be of so sterling a character.

III.

"Jesus saith to her, Mary." Christ often conceals Himself from His servants, and seems to be at a great distance from them, when in reality He is very near. He acts thus to inflame our desire and love; but He discovers Himself at last, and as Sara remarked, "after tears and weeping, He poureth in joyfulness." (Tob. 3:22) Beg your Savior to be so familiar with you as interiorly to call you by your name, and so to speak to your heart that you may know His voice, and with holy Magdalene, be more and more inflamed with His divine love.

CHRIST APPEARS TO OTHER WOMEN.

I.

While the holy women who had visited the sepulcher were returning to the city, Christ appeared to them on the way, and said: "All hail!" (Matt. 28:9) Ponder here the goodness of God, who affords comfort at a seasonable hour, and makes no exception of persons. Recollect that the same word was used by the Angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin, and believe that it produced in their hearts the effects which are signified. Thus speak to my soul, O Lord: "Let thy voice sound in My ears, for thy voice is sweet, and thy face comely." (Cant. 2:14)

II.

"But they came up, and took hold of His feet, and worshipped Him." (Matt. 28:9) Thus were they permitted to touch and kiss His sacred feet. With what reverence and joy they do it! To reward their good desires of anointing the body of their Lord in the sepulcher, Christ "anointed them with the oil of gladness above their fellows." (Ps. 44:8) Conceive hence with what affection you ought to embrace, not the feet only, but the whole of Christ in the Sacrament, as often as you approach it. Do not suffer Him to depart from you, until He has given you His blessing, as the Angel did to the devoutly-importunate Jacob.

III.

"Jesus said to them, Be not afraid. Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee; there they shall see Me." (Matt. 28:10) Admire the sweet conduct of Christ in removing all fear from His servants, and in comforting them. Meditate on the title which He gives to His Disciples: "My brethren." He who is the King of Glory does not disdain to call poor, ignorant fishermen His brethren. Oh what a happiness it is to have such a Brother! Love Him, therefore, as your Brother, and place all your confidence in Him; for if "a brother that is helped by his brother," as the Wise Man says, "is as a strong city" (Prov. 18:19), how much more is he who is assisted by such a Brother as Christ?

PETER AND JOHN GO TO THE SEPULCHER.

I.

The devout women relate to the Disciples what they had seen at the sepulcher, and it "seemed to them as an idle tale." (Luke 24:11) The Apostles were as yet attached to sensible things, and were not enlightened by the Holy Ghost. The Mysteries of the Cross and Resurrection always appear folly to the wise ones of this world. Entreat Christ to enlighten your darkness, and not to suffer you to follow the incredulity or fashionable errors of the world.

II.

Peter and John, more desirous than the rest of discovering the truth, ran to the monument, entered it, and found all to be as the women had related. But they neither saw angels, nor did Christ appear to them, for their greater trial, and because they ought to have believed those whom Christ had ordered to communicate the news of His resurrection to them. Learn hence the importance of "believing, although you have not seen," when the object of faith rests on the divine veracity.

III.

On the same day, Christ, as we learn from St. Luke, appeared to Peter, who "went away wondering in himself at that which had come to pass." "The Lord has risen indeed," the Apostles exclaimed, "and hath appeared to Simon." Thus Christ confirmed St. Peter, in order that He might afterwards confirm others in their faith. He had denied his Lord and Master; but having satisfied for his guilt by due penance, he now deserved consolation. Among all the Disciples, He seems to have loved Christ most, and to have felt the most poignant grief at His death. Learn to accompany your Redeemer in His sufferings, in order that you may rejoice with Him in His Resurrection; for "according to the multitude of your sorrows in your heart His comforts will give joy to your soul." (Ps. 93:19)