“Young man, I tell you, arise!”
These words should bring hope to each of our hearts. In some way or another all of us have been touched by some kind of death. We might know family members or friends who have now gone before us into life eternal. We have also been touched by the death of sin which has cast down humanity.
There are some who might reflect upon these words and wish that similar words could be spoken when it pertains to those who have now gone before us. Thankfully these words are spoken for all who have come to know death, they have been spoken for us, as well as they are spoken to those who have been touched by the death of sin.
As Saint Augustine comments, “Did not Jesus say to the young man: ‘Young man, I say to thee, Arise.’ Was not this young man restored to his mother? In the same way if he who has committed sin, awakened and treambling at the word of truth, rises again at the word of Christ, he is restored to life. Let him who sees himself lying in this death take means to rise again with speed.”
As the Catechicsm of the Catholic Church instructs, “Those who die in God’s grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live forever with Christ.”
When Jesus died upon the cross He defeated death for all time and opened the gates to the Kingdom of Heaven which were closed through the original sin caused by Adam and Eve. Let us always latch onto this ultimate reality when we continue to mourn for those who have now gone before us into life eternal and strive for the same reality in how we come to live and order our life on this earth; as saints who are destined for the Kingdom of Heaven.
If we are to strive for such a hope we must realize the important gift that the Church plays for each of us. It is here that we encounter the gift of the sacraments which pour out upon us the gift of God’s grace. In baptism we were restored to life and once passing through these life giving waters we have come to be nourished by the Most Holy Eucharist. It is this gift which continuesly presents us with Christ who commanded this man to arise.
Let us be sent forth from here to place our trust in the healing words of Christ. No matter the struggle that we face He has laid down His life for us in order that we may be healed. Sin holds no power over Christ and His healing mercy let us prevail ourself to it. Let us come to full live in the midst of the Church and all that Christ has handed down to us.
In such manner Christ comes to command, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
