More thoughts on the Resurrection

Around the throne of the kingdom of the Resurrection we may see, by faith, those whom we shall hereafter see in vision – the Blessed Mother of God, sinless always; John, the beloved disciple who was without spot; Mary Magdalene, once stained through and through, now white as snow. There they stand, the type of saints and penitents, in the kingdom of God, redeemed by the same Lord and Saviour, washed in the same precious blood, arrayed in light: the penitent white as the sinless, because sinless eternally, for all sins are done away.

After the fret and fever of a few short years will come the river of the water of life – “the times of refreshment” and the rest of God. Let us remember that He Who is the Resurrection is always with us; and if we be in Him, all things are ours, all shall be restored to us, all made new, all sinless and deathless, all our own again – and for ever.

(Cardinal Manning)

Bishop Anthony writes:  The death and Resurrection of Christ has brought into being for us an unending Kingdom  of refreshment and light – if only we will have it. We are not worthy that the living God should come under our roof, yet come He does because he loves us so much, sinful though we are and unworthy of that great love. He cares for every single one of us and wills our salvation – the salvation that is ours if we follow JESUS to the end of this earthly pilgrimage. We all know how so many things (and people too) pass out of our lives and how others (things and people) replace them. But God never leaves us, even in our sinfulness. It is, after all, our sin – if you like, that first losing of His friendship, that caused Him to be born as one of us and to offer Himself on the Cross as the prefect propitiation for our sins. If we come to Him in penitence and love, He forgives us. As the hymn says: “Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me – and that Thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come!”
So let us walk now in the light of the Resurrection so that after this earthly pilgrimage, we shall be with Him eternally. As St. Augustine said: “Thou hast made me for Thyself and my heart is restless till it rest in Thee.”

Let us pray:

Enter my heart, O Holy Spirit: come in blessed mercy and set me free. O Holy Spirit, very God, Whose presence is liberty: grant me the perfect freedom to be Thy servant today, tomorrow and evermore! Amen

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And a passing thought:

Tomorrow let both him who has never loved and him who has often loved, love again.

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OUR LADY OF VICTORIES AND SAINT PANCRAS, PRAY FOR US!

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