May 20
By falling down, Christ rose up
e see that when
Christ rose like the sun from his sepulcher this meant that it was not
only a ray of sunlight that was arising and shining at that moment, but
rather many rays, many shining splendors, life itself, and the very future
of the world, being embraced and enhanced by Christ. Joy, birth, a new
birth for all of us: a wonderful birth in which we were all reborn, and
moreover one that overcame death, anguish, despair. By contrast with darkness
light shines brighter. The anguishing hours before such a birth, hours
of despair and death, enhance such a birth, since out of suffering, misery,
grief, came out victory and life. A paradox: By falling down Christ rose
up, out of death life arose and conquered the heavens. In such a manner,
we conclude that the deeper the roots, the higher the plant that grows
out of such roots, and in a parallel way out of an experience so deep and
poignant, of agony and despair, Christ came to know an existence of bliss.
From John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., Tradition Day by Day: Readings from
Church Writers. Augustinian Press. Villanova, PA, 1994.
HTML text prepared by David P. Steelman
