Monday, April 21 : Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

Though, therefore, Chief Priests and Pharisees through Pilate’s means sealed the tomb; yet the women beheld Him who was risen. And Isaiah knowing the feebleness of the Chief Priests, and the women’s strength of faith, says, “You women, who come from beholding, come hither ; for the people has no understanding” (Is 27,11 ); The Chief Priests want understanding, while women are eye-witnesses. And when the soldiers came into the city to them, and told them all that had come to pass, they said to them, “Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept “(Matthew 28:13)? Well therefore did Isaiah foretell this also, as in their persons, “But tell us, and relate to us another deceit”. (Isaiah 30:10) He who rose has reveiled himself, and for a gift of money they persuade the soldiers. “If this come to the governor’s ears, they say, we will persuade him” (Matthew 38:14). Yes, though you persuade the soldiers, you will not persuade the world; for why, as Peter’s guards were condemned when he escaped out of the prison, were not they also who watched Jesus Christ condemned? Upon the former, sentence was pronounced by Herod, for they were ignorant and had nothing to say for themselves; while the latter, who had seen the truth, and concealed it for money, were protected by the Chief Priests…. They who hid the truth were themselves hidden; but they who received it were made manifest by the power of the Saviour, who not only rose from the dead, but also raised the dead with Himself. And in the person of these the Prophet Hosea says plainly, After two days will He revive us, and in the third day we shall rise again, and we will live before Him” (Hos 6:2)

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team