Notes in the Octave VIII: Salvation--the Goal

Although you have not seen Him you love Him; Even though you do not see Him now yet believe in Him, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 3:9)

From C to sonorous C, from the glory of God to the salvation of our souls, spans the octave of Easter and the song of the disciple.  We end our Paschal reflections not with the "double bar" that signals finalization, but with the "fermata," the hold that prompts the singer to sustain the note of living faith until the Conductor lowers His hands and the coroner closes our eyes. 

Incidentally, "coroner" derives from the Latin "corona," meaning "crown."  Originally the coroner was an officer of the royal crown who directed the property of executed criminals into the treasury; now he or she investigates deaths and oversees any inquiries into the "treasure."  The desire of our merciful King is to award the crown of life to His faithful servants who have persevered until death (cf. Rev 2:10).  The joy of discipleship is to devote oneself to the fourfold activity of the Church: "the teaching of the apostles, the communal life, the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42).  A spirit of divine awe and human charity motivates members of the Lord's company to worship and serve, and to enlist everyone around us to do likewise.

St. John relates that "Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written."  He concludes his Gospel thus: "If these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written" (21:25).  What else can we call this but an invitation to keep inscribing His words and deeds into the book with the pen and ink of our lives? 

The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.