4 April 2013 The Resurrection: Model of our spiritual resurrection The Lord is risen! He has left the grave, entered upon a new life more perfect than the first; and subject to none of its infirmities. So must we at this holy season rise from the grave of sin, imperfection and tepidity; to a more perfect and fervent life exempt, as far as possible, from our past defects. The Lord is risen ‘indeed’. Not only in appearance, as Samuel raised up Saul. Nor for a time only, as our Lord raised Lazarus. “Christ rising from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has dominion over him.” (Rom 6:9) Such should also be our spiritual resurrection — ‘indeed!’ A real passage from a life more or less tepid to one of fervor. To a life based upon the resolution to persevere in the grace of God, and to fall no more into our former state of infidelity. Our Lord put the fact of his resurrection beyond dispute by appearing to his apostles and disciples several times during the forty days he remained on earth. He allowed them to touch him, and ate with them. The third mark of our spiritual resurrection must be ‘exterior’. It must not be known only to God, but be seen by our colleagues or subordinates — before everybody we come in contact. They must perceive the change in us, and rejoice at it. Perhaps our former negligences and defects have annoyed or grieved them; or even scandalized our neighbors. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp194-6 The Apostles beside Our Lady The Body of Christ lay in the tomb. The world was in darkness; Mary, the only light still burning. “The Mother of Our Lord, my Mother, and the women who have followed the Master from Galilee, after taking careful note of everything also take their leave. Night falls. “Now it is all over. The work of our Redemption has been accomplished. We are now children of God, because Jesus has died for us and his death has ransomed us. ‘... you and I have been bought at a great price.’ (1 Cor 6:20) “We must bring into our own life, the life and death of Christ. We must die through mortification and penance, so that Christ may live in us through love. And then follow in the footsteps of Christ, with a zeal to co-redeem all mankind. We must give our life for others. ... the only way to live the life of Jesus Christ, to become one and the same with him.” (Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way of the Cross”, 14th Station) We don’t know where the Apostles were that evening. Perhaps they were hovering around, disorientated and confused. We see them united once more on the Sunday (Cf Lk 24:9) because on this Saturday or perhaps on Friday evening, they had turned to Our Lady. With her faith, hope and love, she protected the nascent Church, still weak and startled. Thus was the Church born under the mantle of Mary. From the beginning she has been the ‘Comforter of the afflicted’, of those under pressure. This Saturday, when everyone fulfilled the festival day of rest ‘as the law required’ (Lk 23:56), was not a sad day for Our Lady. Her Son had stopped suffering. She serenely awaited the Resurrection. Thus, she did not go with the holy women to embalm the Body of Jesus. “Our Lady is rest for those who work, consolation for those who weep, medicine for the sick, a harbour for those assailed by tempests, pardon for sinners, sweet relief for the sad, succour for those who implore.” (St John Damascene, “Homily on the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary”) Beside her we live the immense joy of the Resurrection. Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:291-2 Your Grace Be Upon Us The Lord Jesus took the path of Lent together with His disciples during His life on earth. He continues to follow it together with His Church. Lent is the period of a particularly intense presence of Christ in the life of the Church. So we ought to try to get closer to Christ in a more special way during this season. We must live in intimacy with Him, open up our hearts to Him, our consciences: ‘Lord, may your grace be upon us, because we hope in You.’ Lent is especially a time when grace ought to be ‘over us’ in a particular fashion. Hence it is necessary for us simply to open up to it. God’s grace is actually not so much something to be won as something available, like a gift without impediments being raised. This is concretely possible through an attitude of deep prayer; and an attitude of sincere humility, because faith is precisely adherence of heart and mind to the Word of God. Finally, through practice of authentic charity, which should reflect that love the Lord has already made us the object. Just as the Lord commanded Abraham to set out on his path, so we, too set out once again along this path of Lent at the end of which is the Resurrection. We see that Christ overcomes death and causes life and immortality to shine forth by means of the Gospel. Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp115-6 Mortification “The appropriate word you left unsaid; the joke you didn’t tell; the cheerful smile for those who bother you; that silence when you’re unjustly accused; your kind conversation with people you find boring and tactless; the daily effort to overlook one irritatting detail or another in those who live with you ... this, with perseverance, is indeed solid interior mortification.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 173) “In our poor present life, let us drink to the last drop from the chalice of pain. What does it matter to suffer for ten, twenty, fifty years, if afterwards there is heaven forever, forever ... forever! “Above all — even better than for the sake of the reward, what does suffering matter if we accept it to console, to please God our Lord with a spirit of reparation, united with him on his cross — in a word, if we suffer for Love? ...” (Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 182) “Conquer yourself each day from the very first moment, getting up on the dot, at a set time, without granting a single minute to laziness. “If with the help of God, you conquer yourself in that moment, you’ll have accomplished a great deal for the rest of the day. “It’s so discouraging to find yourself beaten in the first skirmish!” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 191) • Our Lady of Grace, in Normandy. This image is very famous in the country, and people from all parts come to venerate it. — Archives of the Church. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Grace, Normandy, France. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • “Notre Dame de Grace”. Normandy, France. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)