Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/760

 one day  be  thus  transformed,  and  made  like  unto  our  Lord’s  glorious Body. “He (Christ)  will  reform  the  body  of  our  lowness,  made  like to the  body  of  His  glory”  (Phil.  3,  21). The dead  body  of  the  just man is  laid  in  the  grave,  as  a grain  of  corn  is  laid  in  the  earth,  that it may  spring  up  glorious. “It (the  body)  is  sown  in  corruption,  it  shall rise in  incorruption;  it  is  sown  in  dishonour,  it  shall  rise  in  glory;  it is  sown  in  weakness,  it  shall  rise  in  power;  it  is  sown  a natural  body, it shall  rise  a spiritual  body”  (1  Cor.  15,  42 — 44).

Service of  the  Angels. Even  as,  thirty-three  years  before,  angels announced the  Birth  of  our  Lord,  so  rich  in  blessings  to  man,  so  now did they  announce  and  bear  testimony  to  His  glorious  Resurrection. They take  most  active  part  in  all  that  concerns  our  salvation.

Mary, the Holy  Mother  of  God, was  the  first  to  behold  the  risen Lord, for,  according  to  the  most  ancient  tradition,  He  appeared  first  to her,  to  console  her,  and  to  reward  her  for  her  faithful  love  and  deep compassion.

Generosity. Magdalen  and  the  other  women  bought  costly  spices, and got  up  before  the  break  of  day  to  visit  the  grave  of  Jesus  and render Him  their  last  service  of  love. As a reward,  they  were  the  first of all  our  Lord’s  followers  to  learn  the  glad  tidings  of  the  Resurrection, and to  be  charged  with  the  honourable  embassy  of  carrying  the  good news to  the  apostles.

Easter (the  first  Sunday  after  the  first  full  moon  in  spring)  is  the greatest feast  in  the  ecclesiastical  year.

Paschal Communion (the  soul’s  resurrection). “As Christ  is  risen from the  dead,  so  may  we  also  walk  in  newness  of  life”  (Rom.  6,  4).

The terror  of  sinners. When  the  soldiers  on  guard  saw  the  angel they trembled  with  fear,  and  fell  to  the  ground,  as  though  they  were dead; and  yet  they  were  brave  soldiers,  who  had  never  trembled  on the  field  of  battle! How will  sinners  tremble  when  the  Lord  of  the heavenly hosts  comes  to  judge  the  world.

One sin  leads  to  another. The  chief  priests  and  scribes  were  not a little terrified  when  the  soldiers  came  and  told  them  of  our  Lord’s Resurrection. The voice  of  their  consciences  cried  to  them: “He  whom you have  killed  is,  then,  after  all  the  Son  of  God! Do penance  and believe in  Him!”  But  they  suppressed  this  inner  voice  and  obeyed their wicked  impulses. They hated  Jesus,  and  resolved  to  prevent  at any  price  the  people  from  believing  in  Him; and  therefore  they  bribed the soldiers  to  support  them  in  their  wicked  lie,  that  the  Body  of  Jesus had been  stolen  by  His  disciples.

The obduracy  of  His  enemies  was  the  reason  why  our  Blessed Lord did  not  show  Himself  to  them  after  His  Resurrection. They would not  believe  in  Him  before,  and  they  would  not  have  believed