Thursday, June 4 : Saint Athanasius
Death, having now been conquered and exposed by the Savior on the cross and bound hand and foot, all who are in Christ trample on it as they pass by and, witnessing to Christ, scoff at death, jesting at it and say what has been written against it of old: «O death, where is your victory? O grave, where is your sting» (1Co 15,55; Hos 13,14)… Is it a slight demonstration of the victory won over it by the Savior when young boys and girls in Christ despise this life and prepare to die? For we are by nature afraid of death and the dissolution of the body; yet there is this most startling fact, that whoever has put on the faith of the cross despises even what is naturally fearful and, for Christ’s sake, is not afraid of death… If – while previously death was strong and for that reason terrible – now, after the sojourn of the Savior and the death and resurrection of his body, it is despised, it must be evident that death has been brought to nought and conquered by the very Christ that ascended the Cross. For just as after night-time, when the sun rises and the whole region of the earth is illumined, it is not to be doubted that it is the sun, which has revealed its light everywhere, that has driven away the dark and given light to all things, so, in the same way… it must be quite plain that it is the very Savior who appeared in the body who has brought death to nought and displays signs of victory over it every day through his own disciples… Is anyone who is an eye-witness of men, women and children rushing and leaping upon death for their faith in Christ, so stupid or incredulous or so maimed in mind as not to see and infer that Christ, to whom these people bear witness, himself supplies and gives to each the victory over death, depriving death of its power in each one of those who have faith in him and bear the sign of his cross?
maronite readings – rosary,team
