Spiritual Resurrection

u Son of man, can these bones live?” — Ezek, xxxvii. 3.

There are four degrees of wonderfulness in the Divine miracle of raising the dead. Some are like the daughter of Jairus; corruption has but begun when the arresting hand comes, and they revive. Some are like the youth of Nain; they are already on the road to burial when the mandate meets them, “Arise.” Some are like Lazarus of Bethany; they are already in the grave, corruption is not merely begun, but almost perfected, when the summons is heard, “Come forth.” There is one stage more wonderful still; it is that of Ezekiel’s vision. There we seem to have reached the climax of impossibilities. It is not merely death that we see, it is not merely burial, it is not merely corruption begun, it is not merely corruption in its closing stage; it is complete disintegration, it is the last result of decay. The bones are already scattered in the valley, and there is no sign remaining that they once had life. Could there be hope even for these? The prophet was doubtful, but He with whom he spake was not. There is more charity in the heart of God than in the heart of man. Finite love always despairs; Infinite Love hopes boundlessly, unfathomably. It descends into the depths to seek and to save. It goes down to the valleys in search of the earth’s rejected ones. It inquires for the lepers, the demoniacs, the Magdalenes whom the world has cast out. It weeps for those ruins of Jerusalem over which man rejoices, and its tears are not unprophetic of a redemptive hope.

My soul, never lose thy hope in the soul. However low it may have descended, however humiliating may be its valley, keep warm for it the fire of thy charity. Though it be already dead, though corruption be begun, though corruption be completed, though the last stage of disintegration be perfected, hope for it still. Let thy hope be the measure of thy love; where there is love there must be hope. It is not when thy vision is blackest that thy love is strongest. Art thou tempted to despair of humanity? Go and kindle thy devotion anew at the heart of Him who has borne its sins and carried its sorrows. Go and light thy torch at the glow of His life, who believed all things and hoped all things even whilst He endured all things. Then shalt thou despair no more, for in that glass of love wherein thou shalt behold His glory, thou shalt see His glory to be a ransomed soul.