Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/155

Rh know Jesus, the joy that I can feel so deep a grief for my great sins is as strong as is my love; and so my grief hath become a joy, in like manner as my joy is the offspring of my grief. 'T is a strange mystery, this love of Christ, that maketh all things bearable; but, mother of Jesus, is it not a wondrous thing that Lazarus, who in life was wont to pass me on the other side and forbid his sisters to have speech with me, should after death appear to me a sinner?"

The virgin mother, borne down with grief, yet ever quick to sympathise, smiled her sweet, pathetic smile.

"Perchance, Magdalene, the dead know all," she answered; "he knoweth that thy heart is right with the Lord. Dost but remember His words: 'To her much is forgiven, for she loved much'? "

"Those words are written forever on my heart, O mother of the Lord. For when the Lord spake them they were life to me. Oh, it is marvellous, this new life of love, and yet of mystery, for we know nothing, do we? Yet, when He speaketh, one's heart burneth within one and one knoweth that every word He saith is true. Methinks it is not a thing that comes by learning," went on the Magdalene.

"It is a gift of God that Jesus hath brought on earth," replied the mother. "It is a problem none can solve. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh nor whither it goeth. So are they who are born of God."

"May I bide with thee this night?" asked the