Tuesday, January 30 : Saint John Chrysostom

“When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said: ‘Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they ridiculed him.” Jesus teaches us in this way not to fear death since death is death no more: from now on it is only a sleep. And he prepares his disciples, by raising others, to put their trust in him and not be alarmed by his death as he himself was about to die. For ever since Christ’s coming, death is no more than a sleep. However, they ridiculed him. But he was not indignant at this refusal of trust in the miracle he was about to carry out; he did not condemn their smiles, so that the smiles themselves, along with the flutes and other preparations, should confirm the little girl’s death. Seeing the musicians and the crowd, then, Jesus sent them all out. He accomplished this miracle in the presence of her parents… as though awakening her from sleep… It is clear that death is now no more than a sleep. Today it is a truth that shines more brightly than the sun. “But,” you say, “Christ did not raise my child!” Yes, but he will raise him up and with even greater glory. Because this little girl whose life he restored died again, whereas your child, when he has raised him up again, will abide forever. So let no one weep any more, let no one groan, no one criticize Christ’s work. For he has conquered death. Why are you weeping useless tears? Death has become a sleep: why do you moan and weep?
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team