The Youth And The Resurrection

Et introeuntes monumentum viderunt juvenem sedentem a dextris, coopertum stola candida... Vident juvenem, ut cernerent nostrae resurrectionis aetatem; vident juvenem, quia nescit resurrectio senectutem, neque aetates recipit aeterna perfectio. Homo ubi nescit nasci, mori nescit; et ubi nasci morique nescit, ibi aetatum nec admittit detrimentum, nec indiget incrementis. Vident juvenem sedentem a dextris, quia resurrectio recipit nil sinistrum. Vias, inquit, quae a dextris sunt, novit Dominus. Et, Tunc statuet justos ad dexteram suam. Orate, fratres, ut et nos moriamur vitiis, sepeliamur temporalibus pompis, ut aeternitati resurgamus in Christo, et a dextris positi mereamur audire: Venite, benedicti Patris mei, percipite regnum quod vobis paratum est ab origine mundi. Coopertum stola candida. Stola ista non ex mortali vellere, sed ex virtute vitali; splendens coelesti lumine, non colore terreno; et clara Creatoris munere, non arte fullonis, dicente Propheta: Amictus lumen sicut vestimentum, et de justis: Tunc justi fulgebunt sicut sol. Terreni terrenis velati sunt vestimentis; et ideo sicut novitate splendent, ita vetustate sordescunt: coelestes vero amictu coelestis luminis ambiuntur, et a terreno squalore suspensi, nec foedantur vetustate umquam, nec ullis sordibus obscurantur; sed vestes quas semel dederit resurrectio, perpetuo lumine vestiuntur. Sanctus Petrus Chrysologus, Sermo LXXXII, De Christi resurrectione Source: Migne PL 52.431c-432a

And entering the tomb they saw a youth sitting on the right side wearing a white robe... 1 They see the youth, they look upon the time of our resurrection. They see the youth because the resurrection does not know old age, nor does eternal perfection allow it. When a man knows neither birth nor death, and where birth and death is not known, there neither loss by age is permitted, nor is there need for increase. They see the youth sitting on the right side, because the resurrection does not allow the left. 'The Lord knows the ways on the right,' it is said. 2 And: 'Then the righteous shall stand at His right hand.' 3 Let us pray brothers, that we shall die to vice, and be buried to the world's pomp, so that we may rise to eternity with Christ, and placed at His right side merit to hear: 'Come blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom which has been prepared for you since the beginning of the world.' 4 'Wearing a white robe' This robe is not made from mortal wool but from living virtue, it is resplendent with the light of heaven, not with any hue of the earth, and with the gift of the Creator not with the art of the fuller, 5 as the prophet says: 'You wore light like a vestment.' 6 And concerning the righteous, 'Then the righteous shall shine like the sun.' 7 Worldly garments are for the worldly, and thus as they are resplendent with newness, what is old falls away, but the heavenly are surrounded by a garment of heavenly light, and they are lifted up from earthly squalor, having no part with that which ages, nor are they dulled with anything sordid, but the vestments which the resurrection shall give shall be worn in endless light. Saint Peter Chrysologus, from Sermon 82, On The Resurrection of Christ 1 Mk 16.5 2 Prov 4 .27 3 Mt 25.33 4 Mt 25.34 5 cf Mk 9.2 6 Ps 103.2 7 Mt 13.43