Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/232

 III. "And bowing  down  His  head,  He  gave  up  the ghost." (John xix.  30.)  O  ineffable  mystery! The sun of glory  is  eclipsed,  the  temple  of  the  living  God  is  dissolved, and  the  Author  of  life  yields  to  death. How true is the  sentence  of  the  Apostle,  "Ye  are  bought  with  a great  price." (1 Cor.  vi.  20.)  Do  not  feel  less  affected at the  completion  of  this  awful  mystery  than  all  nature seemed to  be  on  this  occasion. For, "  the  sun  was  darkened, and  the  veil  of  the  temple  was  rent  in  the  midst" (Luke xxii.  45);  "the  earth  quaked,  and  the  rocks  were rent,  and  the  graves  were  opened." (Matt, xxvii.  51.)  Be ashamed  and  confounded  at  your  sins. Tear asunder the veil  of  self-love  that  hangs  between  you  and  your God. Tremble at  the  account  that  you  will  have  to  give for Christ's  death  and  passion. Rend your  heart  with true contrition,  and  quit  the  loathsome  grave  of  tepidity and sin.

" Arise, O  Jerusalem;  loose  the  bonds  from  off  thy  neck,  O  captive daughter  of  Sion,  ye  were  sold  for  nought,  and  ye  shall  be  redeemed without  money." (Is. lii.  2.)

I. The  Church  in  a  particular  manner  at  this  holy  time celebrates the  benefits  of  our  common  redemption. We were all  subject  to  the  tyranny  of  the  devil  and  children of wrath  in  consequence  of  original  guilt,  and  there  was no created  being  able  to  atone  for  the  crime. We should all have  been  lost  forever,  had  not  God  sent  His  only begotten Son  as  "a  redemption  to  His  people." (Ps. cx. 9.)  This  divine  Son  offered  Himself  a  sacrifice  for  us, and enabled  us  to  address  Him  in  the  prophetic  language of Isaias,  "  Thou,  O  Lord!  art  our  Father,  our  Redeemer, from  everlasting  is  Thy  name." (Is. lxiii.  16.)