year. Just as it's not enough, you see, for what is written to be read only once,
SERMON 229K
PREACHED ON THE THURSDAY AFTER EASTER
Date: after 412
It is better to touch Christ by faith than in the flesh
1. It's right that you should be reminded of what you hear regularly every year. Just as it's not enough, you see, for what is written to be read only once, it's not enough either for what is not understood to be explained only once.1 Those of you therefore who have kept in mind what you heard and understood, and remember it well, must listen patiently, while others too who have perhaps forgotten are being instructed, or those who possibly haven't heard are hearing it for the first time.
What's puzzling, you see, is why the Lord Jesus Christ said to the faithful woman, who was trying to get at the body of her Lord, which she hadn't been able to find in the tomb, Stop touching me; for I have not yet ascended to my Father (Jn 20:17). I mean, if he didn't want to be touched before he had ascended to the Father, he certainly hadn't ascended to the Father when he said to the disciples, See my hands and my feet; feel and see (Lk 24:39). He didn't want to be touched, but was willing to be felt. That's what raises the question that clearly needs to be solved. I mean, no one has had the nerve2 to say, "He was willing to be touched by men before he ascended to the Father; but he was keeping himself to be touched by women after he had ascended to the Father." After all, when he ascended to the Father, or rather after he had ascended to the Father, has anyone ever touched him? So he kept himself to be touched by women, at a time when he couldn't even have been touched by men?
And yet because of his charity3 Saul the persecutor was not only touching but also ravaging him on earth, when he said from heaven, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? (Acts 9:4). The Lord Christ, you see, is both there at the Father's right hand, and toiling away here on earth. He's there, but his members are here. Up there he is the one who is going to judge the living and the dead, and he's the same one here in his own people, about whom he says, When you did it for one of the least of mine, you did it for me (Mt 25:40). So what's the meaning of Stop touching me; for I have not yet ascended to the Father? Christ is better touched in faith than in the flesh; touching Christ in faith, that really is touching him.