But the two disciples returned immediately to Jerusalem, and found the other disciples, except Thomas, assembled together, and told them what had happened ; whilst they in turn heard that the Lord had risen indeed, and had appeared to Simon. Then the Lord Jesus, coming in to them, the doors being shut, stood in the midst and said unto them, “Peace be unto you.” 1 And the disciples fell to the ground, and charged themselves with the fault of having forsaken Him ; and they received Him gladly and eagerly. Then the Lord says, “Rise, my brethren, for all your sins are forgiven you.” Then He stood and talked with them familiarly, and showed them His Hands and Side, and opened their understanding, that they may understand the Scriptures and know His Resurrection. He seeks from them, whether they have anything to eat ; and He eats before them a piece of a broiled fish, and of a honeycomb. He breathes upon them, and says to them, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” # See you, how they are filled with sweetness and joy. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. They fejoice before Him, who at first were terrified. 0 how readily did they give Him what He asked ; how eagerly they served Him ; how delighted were they to be near Him ! How would our Lord’s mother rejoice at this, and they with her ; how would she be delighted, if she could be near her Son, and minister to Him ; and He, too, we may imagine, would delight in such attendance. And then, Magdalen too, for we must not forget her, a beloved disciple, a sort of Apostle of Apostles. You may depict her, sitting again at Jesus’ Feet, and listening gladly to His words, her heart full of joy and willingness to serve Him. O what a holy company, and how delightful to dwell therein 1 If you have any devotion, does this not seem to you a great Easter ? Yes, indeed, it is. But the Lord remained but a little time with them, for it was somewhat late. Haply they pressed Him to stay a little longer with them, beseeching Him not to depart so quickly. Magdalen fain would hold His robe, and with reverent boldness detain Him a little longer; holding that robe of light and brightness with which He seemed enveloped, with a holy confidence and love, yet without presumption. And Jesus delighted in this desire to detain Him, for He sought, as we have seen at Emmaus, to draw it out Then the Lord, bidding all adieu, and blessing them, withdrew. And they, prostrating themselves before Him, besought Him soon to return to them. But they remained hungering and thirsting for their Lord, whose presence was wont to be so abundantly granted to them, calling Him back to them with sighs and longings. You see how often to-day you have kept Easter ; for all these appearances were on Easter Day. But, perhaps, you have heard all this without realizing it, because you did not enter with sympathy into the mystery of the Passion. For I believe that if you had sympathized with His Passion, and kept your mind fixed and collected with regard to it, not scattered upon worldly, superfluous, and curious objects, you would in all these instances taste the joy of Easter. And this may take place in a measure on every Sunday, if on the Friday and Saturday you prepare yourself by meditating with all your powers on the Passion ; for the Apostle especially says, “As ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.”1
Notes: S. Luke xxiv. 36 — S. John xx. 22.
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Footnotes
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i Cor. i. 7. ↩