meditation of the day

“Take courage, I have conquered the world”

Let the Christian soul have confidence. For we ought not to be ashamed that we believe Christ himself to have been crucified. For that cross is not a disgrace for the faithful, but a triumph. That cross is our battle flag against our adversary the devil. The diabolic adversary spread terror by threatening death, but Christ promised eternal life. The adversary, the devil, was saying that the flesh would be annihilated by him. To teach how his army would conquer, however, our King showed in himself that bodily death ought not to be feared. As leader he deigned to die for all, lest the army be killed in its spirit by the devil.

The Light permits himself to be seized by darkness, to be led away, to be hung, to be killed, in order that, stripped of the cloud of flesh, he might restore the splendor of his majesty. That strong King, and the unique plan through which he was born and through whom the whole saving plan is directed, faced down the one battle line and preserved the other through patience and power. For he both preserved patience, since he did not descend from the cross, and demonstrated power, because he rose from the tomb. As he hung on the cross, the disciples were grieved, made sad, and scattered; when he rose from the tomb, rejoicing, they gathered in one house (Acts 1:13-14). As he hung on the cross, the lack of the disciples’ faith is revealed; when he rose, the gathering of the Gentiles is revealed. As he hung on the cross, Peter denied him out of fear; when he rose, the whole world believed out of love.

This battle was waged not only then but also is waged now. It is fought because the members of Christ struggle with the adversary pressing them hard. The adversary’s attack is halted, for our head already sits in heaven. For this reason Christ chose to fight: to teach you how to conquer. But if your powers are frail, call upon the Savior himself, call on the helper himself. When he who hung on the cross for you has seen you calling on him faithfully, he will prepare both the victory here and the crown of victory in heaven.

Saint Quodvultdeus of Carthage

Saint Quodvultdeus († c. 450) was a bishop and Church Father who suffered exile after the Vandals captured Carthage in 439. His name means “what God wills.” / From Quodvultdeus of Carthage: The Creedal Homilies, translation and commentary by Thomas Macy Finn. © 2004 by Thomas Macy Finn, published by Paulist Press, Inc. New York/Mahwah, NJ. www.paulistpress.com. Used with permission.