Sermons · Sermon 2652

1Therefore, brothers, see what you most love, what you firmly hold. The Lord, glorified by rising, commends the Church; about to be glorified by ascending, He commends the Church; sending the Holy Spirit from heaven, He commends the Church. For rising again, what does He say to His disciples? "These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things written about me in the Law and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." And then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer, and rise from the dead on the third day." Where is the commendation of the Church? "And repentance for the remission of sins is to be preached in His name." And where? "To all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." This He conveyed in His glorification by resurrection. What did He convey in His forthcoming glorification by ascension? As you heard, "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." What upon the arrival of the Holy Spirit itself? The Holy Spirit came: those He first filled spoke in all the languages of all nations. Each man speaking in all tongues signified what else but unity in all languages? Holding this, strengthened in this, fortified in this, fixed in unshakable charity within this, let us praise the Lord, children, and say alleluia. But only in one part? And from where? To what extent? "From the rising of the sun to its setting, praise the name of the Lord."