Editor's Note: The following letter and commentary are taken from Volume 1 of Letters of the Faith Through the Seasons, an anthology of letters written throughout the history of the church. Compiled, edited, abridged, and annotated by Jim Houston and organized according to the church calendar, the selections for December through May trace the unfolding of the Christian faith as it has been received, articulated, and handed down within the life of the church.

Gerard Zerbolt of Zutphen (1367-1398) was the most intellectual and influential leader of the "New Devotion" or renewal movement of the Devotio Moderna after Geert Groote. He composed a treatise titled "The Reformation of the Soul," based on both his own reflections and those of the fathers. Though he died of the plague while still young, he writes the following in "The Spiritual Ascents." 

My dear One . . .

On the third day Christ rose a victor over death and showed that we too would rise. If you suffered with Christ's passion, rejoice now with his resurrection. Think devoutly on how Christ's soul descended to hell, what he did there, the joy of the holy fathers, the sadness of the demons, and the fear of the guards. Think of the angels' watch over the grave, of whom we are told that one sat alone, then stood, then sat upon a stone, then was in the tomb, and then of two in various positions—all of which shows a multitude of angels all around the tomb and several visits of the women. Think what love and desire compelled Mary Magdalene and the other women to run frequently to visit the Lord's tomb.

Think of Christ's various appearances, his sweet conversations with his disciples. Think why Christ wanted to appear in Galilee, namely to show that you too should move beyond your vices, whence "pasch" equals Easter, means a transition. In Galilee we see the passing over and changing of our bodies, like Christ's, after the general resurrection.

Scripture Meditation

He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.
—Ephesians 4:10

Thought of the Day

How closely do we really want to identify with Christ?

Prayer

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
—Psalm 34:1