From the Second Easter Oration of Gregory of Nazianzus ..
Ch. XXIV.
If you are a Simon of Cyrene,take up the Cross and
follow.
If you are crucified with Him as a robber,acknowledge God as a
penitent robber. If even He was numbered among the transgressors for you and
your sin, do you become law-abiding for His sake. Worship Him Who was hanged for
you, even if you yourself are hanging; make some gain even from your wickedness;
purchase salvation by your death; enter with Jesus into Paradise, Luke xxiii. 43.
and if you be a Joseph of Arimathæa,Luke xxiii. 52.
beg the Body from him that
crucified Him, make thine own that which cleanses the world. 1 John i. 7.
If you be a Nicodemus, the worshipper of God by night, bury Him with
spices. John xix. 39.
If you be a Mary,
or another Mary, or a Salome, or a Joanna, weep in the early morning. Be
first to see the stone taken away,and perhaps you will see the Angels and Jesus
Himself. Say something; hear His Voice. If He say to you, Touch Me not, stand
afar off; reverence the Word, but grieve not; for He knoweth those to whom He
appeareth first. Keep the feast of the Resurrection; come to the aid of Eve who
was first to fall, of Her who first embraced the Christ, and made Him known to
the disciples.
Be a Peter or a John; hasten to
the Sepulchre, running together, running against one another, vying in the noble
race. And even if you be beaten in speed, win the victory of zeal; not Looking
into the tomb, but Going in.
And if, like a Thomas, you were left out when the disciples were assembled
to whom Christ shews Himself, when you do see Him be not faithless; and if you
do not believe, then believe those who tell you; and if you cannot believe them
either, then have confidence in the print of the nails.
If He descend into
Hell, descend with Him. Learn to know the mysteries of Christ there also, what
is the providential purpose of the twofold descent, to save all men absolutely
by His manifestation, or there too only them that believe.
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