examination of the heart 198 everything fast. Love is like the winged Pegasus.74 But as for you, notice the speed with which you perform the actions you undertake out of love for God. Notice how quickly you run to the Fountain of living waters: Do you imitate a deer and Pegasus, or a sluggish donkey and a tortoise? If you realize that you are sluggish, then you do not love, you do not have the true ardor of divine love, which would set your heart afire [f.41r] with the desire of receiving Christ your Love and would inspire, compel, and urge you to receive Holy Communion. Second, consider the difficulties that these women, burning with love, met on their way to the tomb of the Lord. Indeed, it was particularly difficult for the two women to get to the Lord’s tomb very early in the morning, in the hours before daybreak, since the tomb was surrounded by soldiers and closed off by a great stone. Although, thinking it over, “they were saying to one another: ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?’” (Mk 16:3), yet, like the blind, they were led by blind love. Armed solely with love against every difficulty, they knew only one thing: Nothing is too difficult for those who love. You too should not fear any difficulty in matters regarding the love of God. For love overcomes all, since the power of the Beloved, which those who love Him never lack, can do all things. 2. “so that they might go and anoint him” (Mk 16:1). Consider that Mary Magdalene alone anointed Jesus several times with precious aromatic oils. And yet, when she goes to the tomb of the most beloved Lord, she wishes to have a companion, the other Mary, Salome, not only to accompany her, but perhaps to share the expense. “They bought,” says the Scripture, “perfumed oils” (perhaps both of them) “that they might anoint Jesus.” (cf. Mk 16:1) Although presumably they bought the aromatic oils individually, the expense was one. Admire their unique alliance in this good work. Together they go to anoint Christ, and together they expose themselves to all dangers. 74 “Pegasus” is the name of the winged horse (from Greek mythology). He was later adopted as the symbol for speed and grace. Cf. Parandowski, pp. 111, 203, 217.
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