Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/243

 ly removed  by  the grace  of  God,  or  greatly  diminished. "And entering  into  the  sepulchre,  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, xxviii.  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, xxviii.  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. vi.  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.  ii.  2.)  Imagine  what  sincere  joy  the  holy  women experienced when  they  heard  that  Christ  had  risen! "They went  out  quickly  from  the  sepulchre,  with  fear and  great  joy,  running  to  tell  His  disciples." (Matt, xxviii. 8.)

I. "  But  Mary  stood  without  the  sepulchre,  weeping." (John xx.  11.)  Ponder  the  fervent  love  and  unshaken constancy of  this  devout  penitent,  which  prompted  her still to  remain  at  the  sepulchre  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  Him-