The Eleventh Saturday: The First Glorious Mystery – The Resurrection of Jesus
Gospel Readings:
Matthew 28
Mark 16
John 20
MEDITATION
1. Consider, my soul, how Nicodemus and the rich and noble Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Jewish Council, placed Jesus in a new tomb hewn out of the rock, wrapped in a linen shroud covered in spices. They rolled a great stone before the entrance of the tomb, and went away. However, the Chief Priests and Pharisees, recalling Jesus’ prophecy that He would have risen on the third day, obtained permission from Pilate to keep watch before the tomb: “So they went and made the sepulchre secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard” (Mt 27:66). How narrow is our vision, O My God! O human prudence, how weak are you against the Lord! You shall serve for your confusion and his glory. Jesus, who died on Friday, rose on the third day by virtue of his divinity. His most holy Soul, separated from his Body, remained joined to his Divinity and was still the Soul of a God. His sacred Body, though separated from his Soul, was still united with his Divinity and was still the Body of a God, even in death worthy of the admiration of man and of the Angels. Jesus descended to Limbo as God and as deliverer.
Imagine, my soul, how these holy souls were expecting him for so long a time; some, as Abel, from the world’s very beginning. Observe with what love and gratitude the Saints of the Old Testament, on seeing their Saviour, offered him their adoration and thanks. You too must imitate them in desiring to be admitted one day to Paradise through the merits of your Redeemer.
Jesus’ most sacred Body rested in the tomb for three days, because by suffering and dying He had freed from eternal death the people of the three ages of the world: those having piously lived under the Law of Nature, those under the Law of Moses and those who were to live under the Law of Grace.
It was barely dawn of the third day when Jesus in an instant rose from the dead and came forth from the sealed tomb, as He had come from the immaculate womb of his Mother, and as He would shortly enter the supper-room behind closed doors. As the omnipotent God He did not want to make known the manner of his resurrection, but worked in secret. This was to be revealed to man by means of Angels, as belonging to the supernatural order. “And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow” (Mt 28:2-3). One Angel was enough to terrify the soldiers on guard before the tomb, topple them over like dead men, and make them all flee.
Come, Priests, Scribes and Pharisees, see now those men whom you armed against a dead man you called a seducer. Your example has been followed by the impious among us, who think they can quiet the apprehensions haunting them by numbering Jesus among outstanding men, like Numa, Moses and Mohammed.
But which of your fabulous heroes could ever state, while still living: After three days I shall rise? These portentous words were reserved to the true Son of God: neither fables, nor impiety, demons nor man, no matter how sublime and powerful, could imagine something similar! No one touched your soldiers, no one said a word to them; yet, behold their bewilderment, solely because of what they have seen. If they are not dead, if they are able to rise and flee, it is only so that you yourselves learn of your defeat and shame from these same undeniable witnesses of the Resurrection; indeed, so that everyone might realize that they have seen him undergoing scourgings, thorns and death only because He himself wished it. You are not worthy of understanding the Mystery of the Resurrection from the witnesses chosen by God.
O true Son of God, what consolation this is for me and for all those who sincerely believe in You! Your Resurrection, O my glorious Saviour, filled your enemies with fear while inspiring only joy and great consolation in me, for Your Resurrection assures me of my reconciliation with God, and therefore my justification as well. Yours is the model of the resurrection of our souls to grace, and of the final resurrection. And just as You took on a new life in rising, we too, having risen from sin to grace, live a new life. Help me, O Lord, to overcome the obstacles which still stand in my way. Remove the enemies of my salvation, send your holy Angels to me, and may you alone govern my actions till the moment when You shall manifest yourself to me in blessed eternity.
2. Observe, my soul, how Magdalene suffers at having to quit her beloved Master’s tomb. On Friday evening she wets this tomb with her tears; and the Sabbath rest surprises her still before this grave. On Saturday evening she returns, and does not leave but to go and buy spices, and once again return on Sunday morning. O noble example of a true conversion to God! O model of the human heart, though fragile yet made strong in God’s love! True love is not extinguished by the death of the beloved person, for “love is stronger than death” (cf. Song 8:6).
It is still night and the full moon continues shining brightly over the land, when Magdalene awakes her companions and urges them to set out on the journey with her. Magdalene anticipates daylight for the hours pass too slowly for her. Alas, why do I not possess Magdalene’s same longing, pious impatience and devout solicitude for the body of Jesus in the tomb, when I go to Jesus Christ to receive his living Body? I am so unlike her because I do not possess her same love! My soul, imitate her fervor by often visiting your Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament: there express your tender feelings of love and burning desire to receive him, and through this spiritual Communion internally embrace him as often as possible throughout the day, during the wakeful hours of the night and upon awakening in the morning.
“Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb…” (Jn 20:1). The first object that surprises her is the huge stone (sealed upon the order of the Pontiffs) removed from its place and overturned. She approaches, glances inside the tomb and sees that her divine Master’s Body is no longer there. What a shock she receives! Without a doubt, she thinks, someone took it during the night; but where can she look for it? “So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’
Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
Stooping to look in, he saw the linen clothes lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen clothes lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen clothes but rolled up in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that He must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.” (Jn 20:2-10).
My soul, consider Magdalene’s grief in not finding Jesus; and learn what must be the pain of a heart that truly desires to be converted to God. She does not quit this place, “but stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb…” (Jn 20:11). She is left behind by everyone and has only her pain and tears to keep her company. And how many tears she shed! How many times did she call her divine Master! How many times did she repeat his adorable name! O grieving heart, O desolate soul, why do you remain in a place so sad for you? Why do you continue looking into a tomb, where your Master no longer is? Ah, if only we sought Jesus, like Magdalene! If only, after losing his grace by sinning, or the consolation of his love by our indifference, we felt the gravity of our loss, like Magdalene. If only, like her, we persisted in looking for Jesus and calling him with our tears. Like her we would find him, with an abundance of joy far surpassing our expectations.
My God, today I shall recall the day of your Resurrection, and today is to be the day of my perfect conversion to you.
I now understand: to the tomb go those hearts most in love with You: Peter, John and Magdalene with the other pious women; and You wish that I too find You, by dying to myself, by burying my unhealthy desires, by practising mortification. Then grant me the grace to die to myself, to rise with you and to then lead a life similar to yours, that is, a new, divine and immortal life: new in the changing of my ways; divine in the purity of my sentiments; immortal in the perseverance of good. Work in me, O my God, this happy change. Let me pass from death to life, from darkness to light, from an imperfect life to a perfect life worthy of you.
3. Consider, my soul: another quality of a heart converted to God is an indifference towards anything that does not relate to Jesus. God alone, nobody but God: this is her motto, her daily exercise, her longing and the cause of her every desire. No other affection, no other interest must occupy her heart, for Jesus is soon to come and establish his kingdom therein. Take Magdalene as your model.
“And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
They said to her:
‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them: ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him’” (Jn 20:12-13).
She is restless; she is not astonished at the appearance of the two angels, nor is she dazzled by their beauty or flattered by their words. She sees and hears them, and responds, but only to find out from them where Jesus is, ready to quit them for a gardener if he can offer her an explanation. She believes that everyone understands the reason for her weeping. She even mistakes Jesus for a gardener and offers to go take his dead body by herself, as though it were a flower. “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away” (Jn 20:15).
How courageous is true love! Everything seems easy: the worst torments are borne with the same courage, as was seen in millions of martyrs. And what will she do when she hears her Master’s voice calling her by name? She who had never left the cross of her Jesus, nor could pull herself away from his tomb?
See, my soul, the sublime effects of a heart’s true conversion. It then becomes the Most Holy Trinity’s throne, satisfaction and delight, the object of its favours, and the admiration of angels. Observe this in Magdalene. With what satisfaction this divine Saviour observes her sentiments and desire, her love, perseverance and courage, wherefore she is willing to undertake anything! He rewards the love of the souls which convert to him by filling their hearts with the purest and most ineffable love, If Jesus were to see Magdalene’s generous disposition in me, what would He not do for me?… Alas, quite the opposite happens! To please the world and satisfy my passions I undertake things beyond my powers. Only when I should be serving God and trying to acquire perfection do I claim weakness and helplessness!
O Jesus, I acknowledge you as my true Master; deign to acknowledge me as your disciple. Manifest yourself to my heart and kindle it with your divine love. What is this I hear from your divine lips, O my Saviour? Go to my brethren… O Lord, You had said You would call them servants no more, but friends: and now You call them brothers?… O burning love of my Saviour! He calls them brothers who only a few days before had fled from him for fear, leaving him in the hands of his enemies! O my benefactor, You do not complain about them nor reproach them, rather, you call them by the loving name of brother? You set Peter apart to assure him of the forgiveness already granted to him, and You honour him as head of the Apostles. O love of Jesus, how compassionate You are towards the children of man, always gentle, always loving towards sinners! And who is the sinner so foolish, so hardened, that he does not throw himself at the feet of the best of fathers, always gracious and merciful towards his tormented children?
Peter immediately obtained forgiveness for his faults; though he had relapsed on Friday, he at once repented and ran to throw himself at the Blessed Virgin’s feet, saying, most certainly in tears: My Lady, forgive this unfaithful servant who out of fear has denied his God, your Son! And Mary comforted him. Moreover, he no longer doubted having received Jesus’ pardon too, for Jesus is never contrary to what his Mother wishes.
My sinful soul, if for your many relapses you lack the courage to come before Jesus, though He be gracious and compassionate, turn to his Mother, a source of divine mercy. Go before her with confidence; from her Son she will obtain for you the means of relinquishing sin and the grace of a sincere conversion. Jesus Christ, having received from Mary his most holy Humanity which He sacrificed for our Redemption, gave her all the treasures of the merits acquired during the course of his earthly life.
O Mary, you were the first to receive from Jesus the consolation of seeing him risen, you who as his Most Holy Mother had participated in his Passion more than anyone else. You were the first to see him in all the splendour of his glory, surrounded by the angels and the souls of the saints, just as you were the last to quit his cross when, dead and disfigured, you held him in your arms.
He thanked you for all you had suffered throughout his thirty-three years: for the very rough moments in Bethlehem, for the people’s rejection, the abjection, poverty and flight to Egypt among strangers, and the bitter participation in all his sufferings, as the Co-Redeemer of humankind. Make me a part of your spiritual joy, and fulfil the burning desire of my heart. Convert it to God, draw it entirely to you, and stamp upon it all the pain and the passion of your crucified Lord. Amen.
VIRTUE – Conversion of your heart to God.
REFLECTION – Examine your conscience to see what prevents you from progressing in your love of God and in the full conversion of your heart to Him; and seek a remedy by following the advice of your Confessor. Today arise from your sluggishness, and from this moment begin a new life of fervour and charity. Throughout the day renew fifteen times your resolution not to displease God any more, nor your Guardian Angel, by repeating: “Lord, better that I die than offend you any more”.
EJACULATION – O Mary, Queen of the world, take possession of my restless heart.
