4/23/2019 7:23:35 AM
Thought Of the Day
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"Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb... So they laid Jesus there" (Jn 19:41-42)
At what season does the Savior rise? In the Song of Songs it says: “The winter is past, the rain is past and gone; the flowers appear on the earth...” (2:11-12). Isn't the earth full of flowers already, then...? For when this month of April comes it is already spring. And this is the season of the first month, according to the Hebrews, in which the Passover feast occurs: formerly in type, but now the true. The place of the Lord's burial was a garden. And what will he who is buried in the garden say? “I have gathered my myrrh with my spices”, and again: “Myrrh and aloes, with all chief spices” (5:1;4:14). Now these are symbols of the burial; for in the gospels it is said: “The women came to the sepulcher bringing the spices which they had prepared” (Lk 24:1)... But before he entered through closed doors, this Bridegroom and Suitor of souls was sought by those praiseworthy, brave women. They came, those blessed ones, to the sepulcher, and sought him who had been raised... Mary came seeking him, according to the gospel, and did not find him, but shortly afterwards she heard from the angels and subsequently saw the Christ. Are these things also written, then? Yes indeed, for Mary says in the Song of Songs: “On my bed I sought him whom my soul loved” (3:1)... “Mary”, the gospel says: “came while it was yet dark” (Jn 20:1). “On my bed I sought him by night, I sought him but found Him not.” And in the gospels Mary says: “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” But the angels, being then present, cured her lack of knowledge when they said: “Why seek the living among the dead?” (Lk 24:5)... But Mary did not recognize him and, in her person, the Song of Songs says: “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?” “It was but a little that I passed from them (that is, from the two angels) until I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go” (3:3-4).