The Victory Disclosed in Christian Death
What a great mystery into which we have been baptized! In this very mystery even the meaningless of death is plunged into the saving Truth of God. Born of the Virgin, the Word of the Father has shown Himself to us in the flesh so that we might live in His Spirit. In the communion of his Mother and the Disciple whom He loves, the Risen Lord has suffered our death so that we, even when we die, might rise to new life. To the astonishment of his Apostles, He remains with us even in the cold social darkness of this present culture of death so that this old dying world might still find a reason to hope – a light that cannot be overcome, a warmth that gives courage when courage is most needed, a saving connection that no power on heaven or earth or under the earth can ever take away.
St. Irenaeus declares that the life of humanity is the vision of God. The Risen Lord shines forth with Eucharistic glory in the holy places of our faith. The Word unveils His saving presence through His words in the Bible. He manifests his riches in the poorest of the poor. He makes known his glory in the death of his beloved. We can add that the victory of good over evil is discovered in this vision. We can also add that the glory of new life shines in the heart on those who turn by faith to this contemplation. We can even add that in the adoration that this vision evokes, we come to realize that the living God has taken our side and is raising us into the circumcession of that eternal life, love and truth that flows undaunted in the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I love to remember that word — Victory! That's what this life is all about, living in the victory. It often doesn't look like victory; it certainly isn't what the world considers victory. But so it is. Help us to see with your eyes, O Jesus!