13 October, Antonio Cardinal Bacci: Meditations For Each Day

The First Glorious Mystery

The Resurrection of Our Lord

1. Jesus could not have remained lifeless in the sepulchre. He was the Man-God, the conqueror of sin and of death. He willed to be subject to all the conditions of human existence with the exception of sin; therefore, He suffered and died for love of us.

However, as He had foretold, He rose gloriously from the tomb on the third day. This resurrection is proved historically in a most certain manner by the behaviour of the Apostles, who were at first downcast and incredulous, and were transformed into heroes and martyrs by the glorious apparitions of Jesus. It is confirmed by the obstinacy and deceitfulness of the Jews, who went so far as to bribe the soldiers who were guarding the sepulchre not to reveal the truth. It is proved, moreover, by the fact that the Apostle Thomas refused to believe in the Resurrection until he had placed his finger in the wounds of the Redeemer, Who afterwards appeared to him.

We read in the Gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles that the risen Jesus appeared many times to the Apostles to confirm their faith, to speak with them of the Kingdom of God, and to give them His final instructions and commands. We read also that He appeared to Mary Magdalen to reward her great love and to console her. Nowhere do we read that He appeared to His beloved Mother, Mary. However, the heart tells us what the Gospels omit to mention. Surely it is impossible to suppose that the risen Jesus would not have hastened to embrace and to console her who had borne Him in her chaste womb and had loved Him so much that she followed Him to the foot of Cross?

The apparitions of Jesus narrated in the Gospel had a public purpose, being intended to confirm the faith of those who were fearful, discouraged, or incredulous. The apparitions to Mary were intimate and affectionate meetings with His dear Mother, who had never doubted for one moment that He would rise again. There may be another explanation, however. It is possible that Mary’s humility would have prevented her from discussing with others her happy moments of reunion with her risen Son.

2. Do we wish to share also in the joy of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? Let us imitate Mary. First of all, we must participate as she did in the sufferings of Christ. By meditating frequently on the passion and death of Christ we can nourish in our hearts an intense love for Him Who suffered so much for our salvation. Let us learn to carry our cross, as He carried His, with resignation and with conformity to God’s will. Spiritual joy is always the fruit of renunciation and of love.

We cannot be happy with Jesus triumphant if we have not first imitated Jesus suffering. We cannot rise gloriously into Heaven if we have not first walked patiently with Mary along the way of Calvary.

3. The Resurrection of Christ demands a resurrection on our part also. If we are in sin, we must rise again. Or it may be that we must rise from a state of torpor to one of fervour, or from a life of worldly pleasure to an interior life nourished by grace, or from a life of selfishness to one of sacrifice.

In which state do we find ourselves? In the presence of the risen Christ and of His Blessed Mother happy in the contemplation of His glory, let us resolve to rise from sin and from spiritual tepidity in order to set out on the way of Christian perfection.