Father J. Kentenich, Sermon at St Michael, Milwaukee, April 18, 1965
Jesus Christ has withdrawn us from the power of the devil and planted us into the kingdom of the Father through his suffering and death, and through his resurrection (see SC I,6). Let us listen to this again: what is meant here is not his suffering alone, but also his resurrection and hence his glorification.(…)
We are concerned here with two facts of the redemption: two events, not just one! And these two may and should not be understood as existing loosely next to each other. These two events form an insoluble unity, a two-in-oneness. So the process of redemption has to be traced back to a holy, insoluble two-in-oneness. It follows that in our practical lives, in our religious lives, also in our teaching on the religious life, we have not merely to talk about – if I may put it in learned terms for once – the myterium passionis (the mystery of suffering), but also of the mysterium gloriae (the mystery of glory/glorification).
That is to say, we have to see, teach and live both at the same time: the theology, the asceticism and the pedagogy of the cross and suffering, but also the theology, the asceticism and the pedagogy of a blissful and blessed resurrection. Put more precisely – and that is the most important point – not just a resurrection that takes place at the end of our lives (it will then take place in a perfect way, because also the body will be drawn into the glory of the transfigured body of our Lord), no, we are now, here on earth, drawn into a participation in the transfigured life of our Lord….we should remember that not just the cross, the suffering of our Lord, but also his glorious resurrection should be an example for our lives.
- For personal reflection:
How can I, in my life, give witness to the victorious spirit that Christ secured for us in his resurrection? How can I overcome the influence of negativism and pessimism?