It will be comforting and joyful for the just. There, my dear brethren, we have the infallible truth taught to us by our faith about the calling of all mankind to the last judgment. Now let us make a few reflections on this truth. First, what a great change shall take place in man} minds when the dead shall arise out of their graves and hear for the first time the trumpet that summons them to the tribunal! Just souls! what a joyful sound that will be for you! To you alone does Our Lord say the words that we read in the Gospel of St. Luke: “When these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads: because your redemption is at hand.”[1] What joy for the student at the end of the scholastic year to hear his name called out in public, that he may ascend the stage to receive a gilded volume. And although during the performance he may have represented the person of a poor, tattered beggar, he considers his honor greater than if he had represented a king, without receiving any mark of honorable distinction: for in the latter case he would try to hide away and weep for very shame. Arise, ye dead! These words, pious Christians, shall bring nothing but joy to you; they will be the loving invitation of the Spouse to His bride: “Arise, make haste, my love, my dove, my beautiful one, and come,”[2] “for winter is now past, the rain is over and gone.”[3] Come, and thou shalt be crowned! Arise, ye poor in spirit! Come to eternal riches! Arise, ye mourners who have bewailed your sins with tears and contrition; who have suffered many tribulations with contented hearts for My sake; come! you shall be comforted; the rude winter is past; the rough toil is over; there is an end to all suffering; come, and enter into eternal joys! Arise, ye merciful; now shall ye obtain mercy without end or limit! Arise, ye meek, ye peacemakers; come and possess the kingdom of the beloved children of God! Arise, ye chaste of heart; come and behold your God forever! Arise, ye humble; come now and be exalted, and sit on a throne of everlasting glory! O my God! should I not during this short and uncertain time of my life love Thee above all things with my whole heart, and serve Thee with all possible zeal, that I may one day be awakened by such a joyful invitation? But otherwise, alas! what a terrible sound shall that of the last trumpet be for me and all sinners!
