Thursday in Easter Week.
by VP
Posted on Thursday April 04, 2024 at 01:00AM in Meditations
The three women on the tomb of Christ, by Irma Martin, 1843
"As the angel said to the holy women, who were looking for Christ among the dead: He is risen, He is not here; so the state of every Christian at this time ought to be such, that as to all wilful and affected sin, it may with truth be said of him: "He is risen, he is not here". The past time ought to suffice for sin: and now as to what remains, all ought to live to the will of God. This is what St. Paul says to the Corinthians: "You have been sinners, but now you are washed, now you are sanctified, now you are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. You have been darkness; but now you are light in our Lord: walk therefore as children of the light." This is the fruit of Christ's Passion, which ought to be found in every Christian. This it is which the present solemnity of the Resurrection demands of every one in particular; and wherever this is not, those who have it not are not the children of God, nor have they any part in Christ. And the Resurrection of our Lord, which is a day of joy to repenting sinners, what must it be to such as obstinately or carelessly abide in sin, but a day of reproach and confusion, even a beginning of that confusion, which, if not timely prevented, will be eternal?
For where the mercies of a Redeemer do not raise up from the grave of sin, what can be expected, but to lie buried in sin for ever?
Wherefore, it being a
common interest to escape this confusion, it is plain that it can be no
other way effected, than by rising with Christ from sin, and beginning
the life of the new man. And because the weight of our corruption is a
general hindrance to this work, and the occasion of its being
unfinished, though often begun; it is our present duty to consider of
the means proper for carrying it on. And since this was the time of our
Saviour's beginning a new life, beg of Him to give a new life to all who
believe in Him, that they may begin such a method, as may give them
well-grounded hopes of rising with Him to a life immortal." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
