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The Resurrection of
Jesus Christ
29.1
First Point
This feast is a day of
joy for the entire Church; that is why we so frequently and so solemnly sing
these words of the Royal Prophet: This is the day the Lord has made; let
us rejoice and be glad in it.[i]
Indeed, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is at once very glorious for him
and highly advantageous for all the faithful.
It is
glorious for Jesus Christ because by it he overcame death. This led Saint
Paul to affirm that Jesus Christ was raised up for the glory of his
Father and that once risen he dies no more, because death will no longer
have power over him.[ii]
It is
advantageous for us because it is an assurance of our own resurrection.
Certain it is, adds the apostle, that just as all died in Adam, so too
all will rise again in Jesus Christ.[iii]
According to this same apostle, it was on this happy day that death was
destroyed[iv]
once and for all. Rejoice with the whole Church over so great a favor, and
thank Jesus Christ Our Lord very humbly for it.
29.2 Second Point
The resurrection of
Jesus Christ was glorious for him and advantageous for us in another sense,
because, according to Saint Paul, he destroyed sin and rose again only
that we might live with a new life. For it is certain that if we are united
with him through likeness to his death, we shall also be united with him
through likeness to his resurrection, and if we die to sin with Jesus
Christ, we shall also live with him.[v]
Because by
rising Jesus Christ destroyed sin, you must take care, following Saint
Paul's advice, that sin may no longer reign in your mortal body.[vi]
Attach that body with all your disorderly affections to the cross of Jesus
Christ;[vii]
this will make your body share in anticipation the incorruptibility proper
to his body by preserving you from sin, the source of all corruption.
29.3 Third Point
The resurrection of
Jesus Christ should also procure for you the benefit of making you rise
spiritually by causing you to live according to grace. This means it will
cause you to enter an entirely new and heavenly life.
To enter into these
practices and to show, according to Saint Paul, that since you are risen
with Christ, seek the things that are above, love the things of heaven, not
those that are on earth.[viii]
Separate yourself from human association so thoroughly that your life may
be hidden and be totally in God with Jesus Christ.[ix]
Mortify
your earthly bodies, continues the same apostle, and put off the old
man in order to be clothed in the new.[x]
Show by your conduct that the resurrection of Jesus Christ has produced
these happy effects in you.
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