Glorified With Him In The Resurrection

“Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him; yesterday I died with Him; today I am quickened with Him; yesterday I was buried with Him; today I rise with Him.

But let us offer to Him Who suffered and rose again for us— you will think perhaps that I am going to say gold, or silver, or woven work or transparent and costly stones, the mere passing material of earth, that remains here below, and is for the most part always possessed by bad men, slaves of the world and of the Prince of the world.

Let us offer ourselves, the possession most precious to God, and most fitting; let us give back to the Image what is made after the Image.

Let us recognize our Dignity; let us honor our Archetype; let us know the power of the Mystery, and for what Christ died.”

St. Gregory the Theologian
 

The Comforter

 

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Psalm 27:14 (NKJV)

The Holy Spirit is called Comforter, because He comforts and encourages us and “helps our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself pleads for us with unutterable groaning,” that is, clearly, to God.

Often a person for Christ’s sake is treated with contempt and unjustly dishonored; martyrdom is at hand, tortures on every side, fire, swords, wild beasts and the abyss.

But the Holy Spirit gently whispers, “Wait for the Lord,” for your present sufferings are slight, while your rewards will be great. Endure for a little while, and you will be with the angels forever.

“The sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that will be revealed in us.” He portrays for the person the kingdom of heaven and even gives him a glimpse of the paradise of pleasure; and the martyrs, who must present their bodily countenances to their judges, are in spirit already in paradise, despise what appear to be hardships.

St. Cyril Of Jerusalem

Fasting and Sackcloth

Fasting and sackcloth are the weapons of faith, and helper of sinners. Fasting first and then the sackcloth; the first represents the invisible and the latter the visible. One is always before the Lord; the other is temporary for people's eyes.