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SERMON 64 A Second on the Resurrection of Lazarus1 f a book each were allotted to each word of Scripture , and not even with that would the mysteries contained therein be entirely clear to those who heard them, what then will an extemporaneous and brief sermon do in providing elucidation? Before it illumines our eyes, it already runs away, and furnishes those who see it not with light but with dread. Pray then, since we dwell in the world’s darkness and inasmuch as we are placed in the flesh, the time we spend is night and not day, pray that Christ may enkindle the light of his word for us,2 and that with it lighting the way we may set out into the darkness of the heavenly mystery, and by walking slowly we may arrive at the clarity of divine knowledge, as far as we can. May we imitate those magi who took stock of their mind’s eyes and did not dare to subject themselves to the sunlight or bright daylight, but at night by depending upon the delicate light of the star with their eyes, more delicate still, they arrived at Christ’s crib, most delicate of all.3 But now, as we promised, let us investigate what remains of the Gospel reading. 2. When Martha heard that Jesus had come, it says, she went to meet him ( Jn 11.20). Was there no servant, neighbor, or friend —certainly there must have been someone there to console her—such that the woman had to go all by herself through the midst of the crowds, through the whole town, outside the city and in the time of mourning, to meet the Savior as he came? Brothers, with regard to these people things do not unfold as one might expect, since mysteries are being signified. 255 1. Jn 11.20–37. For the liturgical season of this sermon, see Sermon 63, n. 1. 2. See Ps 118 (119).105. 3. See Mt 2.1–12. 256 ST. PETER CHRYSOLOGUS The woman runs on account of a death, she who ran to death; she hastens to receive pardon, she who hastened to her guilt; she reaches her merciful Redeemer, she whom the very wicked seducer overcame; she looks for the resurrection, she who looked for destruction; and the very one who brought death to a man is all out of breath in her quest to restore life to a man.4 This is why Christ remained in that place, why Christ waited, why he did not enter the crowds, why he did not head for the house, why he did not stop off at the grave, and why he did not hasten to Lazarus, the very reason for his visit. But he takes time with the woman, he lingers with the woman, she is the first one he deals with, since she was the first one the tempter corrupted. He banishes faithlessness from the woman, he calls her back to faith, so that the very same one who was the accomplice in destroying might assist in saving, and so that, in short, thanks to her faith she might be the mother of the living,5 who thanks to the devil was for so long the mother of the dead. And because a woman had been the origin of evil, the cause of death, he proceeds to wash away the offense before bestowing his favor; to remove the cause before overturning the sentence; and he takes the precautions necessary for man not to shun as his lifepartner the woman through whom he had once been deceived. And in short, woman would have perished if Christ the Lord had come to the man first. This is why, brothers, Christ is born by means of a woman; this is why the woman always awakens man from the tomb of her womb, so that she may call back with her pains the one whom she drove out with her enticements; so that she might restore through her morning sickness the one whom she ruined by eating. And so when Martha professed her faith in Christ,6 and wiped out by her reverent confession whatever blame there was in womanhood, a message is sent to Mary, because without Mary death could not be banished, nor life be restored.7 Let 4. See Sir 25.23 (24). 5. See Gn 3.20. 6. See Jn 11.27. 7. In Sermon 63.3 Chrysologus also...

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