And I shall raise him

2 NOVEMBER (Jn 6,37-40)

Faith in the resurrection at the last day is already a truth, a doctrine and a culture in the Old Testament. It is for this faith that one suffers even martyrdom. This is attested clearly by the Second Book of Maccabees and also the Book of Wisdom.

When the first brother had died in this manner, they brought the second to be made sport of. After tearing off the skin and hair of his head, they asked him, “Will you eat the pork rather than have your body tortured limb by limb?” Answering in the language of his forefathers, he said, “Never!” So he too in turn suffered the same tortures as the first. At the point of death he said: “You accursed fiend, you are depriving us of this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever. It is for his laws that we are dying.” After him the third suffered their cruel sport. He put out his tongue at once when told to do so, and bravely held out his hands, as he spoke these noble words: “It was from Heaven that I received these; for the sake of his laws I disdain them; from him I hope to receive them again.” Even the king and his attendants marveled at the young man’s courage, because he regarded his sufferings as nothing. After he had died, they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in the same way. When he was near death, he said, “It is my choice to die at the hands of men with the God-given hope of being restored to life by him; but for you, there will be no resurrection to life.”

They next brought forward the fifth brother and maltreated him. Looking at the king, he said: “Since you have power among men, mortal though you are, do what you please. But do not think that our nation is forsaken by God. Only wait, and you will see how his great power will torment you and your descendants.” After him they brought the sixth brother. When he was about to die, he said: “Have no vain illusions. We suffer these things on our own account, because we have sinned against our God; that is why such astonishing things have happened to us. Do not think, then, that you will go unpunished for having dared to fight against God.” Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother, who saw her seven sons perish in a single day, yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord. Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage, she exhorted each of them in the language of their forefathers with these words: “I do not know how you came into existence in my womb; it was not I who gave you the breath of life, nor was it I who set in order the elements of which each of you is composed. Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe who shapes each man’s beginning, as he brings about the origin of everything, he, in his mercy, will give you back both breath and life, because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law” (2Mac 7,7-23).

What changes with Jesus Christ? What is added to this faith? What noble truths are proclaimed that were not already known? Jesus is the universal Mediator between God and man. He is the Mediator in grace, in truth, in forgiveness, in mercy, in justice, in resurrection and in the eternal beatitude. Everything happens in Him, with Him, through Him. The resurrection in the last day happens through him, but to clothe us with his very glory, not outside of Him, but in Him. He calls us to new and eternal life, but by giving us his own life, his glory, his immortality and his light. Jesus raises us to wrap us entirely with himself. With the resurrection in the last day man that came out of God by the creative will, by the redeeming and saving will returns to God. He is made one with God, in Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it (on) the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him (on) the last day.”

The Father gives to Christ today and in eternity. Who does not let himself be donated to Christ from the Father today, he might not be with Him in eternity. It is today that we must cover us with Christ, if one wants to be covered with him in the blessed eternity. Too bad that today some progressive theology, unable to read according to the truth in the Scriptures, attests just the opposite. Whether we are clothed with Christ, or we are not clothed with him today, it is the same thing. Tomorrow everyone will be clothed with him. All will be embraced by his eternal glory. A greater folly does not exist.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints help us put on Christ today.