201 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year 2. “He has risen, [H]e is not here” (Mk 16:6). You can reflect on these words in a twofold manner: Consider that Christ the Lord, whom you have received at the sacred altar, already left you because of your imperfections, and that your defects suddenly forced His grace to flee from you. On the other hand, consider that, due to the Lord of virtues coming to you, every perverse passion disappeared from your soul and you can exclaim, being freed from evil passions: “He has risen, [H]e is not here!” Lust quieted down or, rather, went away because it could not have endured the holy, heavenly flames. Impatience disappeared because it could come together with the most patient Lord. Anger and harshness of heart went away, because there was no room for them [f.42v] alongside the meekest Lamb. Gone is the worry about honor, glory, and self-esteem since it was inappropriate for them to remain next to the despised, condemned, insulted, stripped-of-all-belongings, and naked Son of God. For two contrary things (according to the doctrine of the philosophers, applied to devotion) cannot exist simultaneously in the same subject. Thus, carnal and spiritual love, sensuality and mortification, honesty and dishonesty, and other such things, cannot coexist in one heart. Therefore, rejoice, be glad, and give thanks to the Lord, since every plague got up and fled from your heart at the sight of Him. 3. “Do not be alarmed” (cf. Mk 16:6). The most loving and most gracious Lord never abandons His friends in adversities. Thus, at one time, He strengthened His disciples who were terrified by the waves of the stormy sea (cf. Lk 8:23-25); thus, He armed them against the furious ravings of hell and of the world: “Fear not” (Lk 12:32), etc. “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials” (Jas 1:2), etc. When they scourge you, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Mt 5:12). Thus, also today He consoles, strengthens, and confirms the pious women through an angel who says: “Do not be alarmed”; do not be troubled by the death of Christ. For the Risen One arose from the dead, and now “[H]e is not here”
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