Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 28. De adimpletione scriptaranim in morte Christi et de verbo: Consummatum est

Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 28. De adimpletione scriptaranim in morte Christi et de verbo: Consummatum est

I bless you and give thanks to you, Lord Jesus Christ, revealer of mysteries, completer of the law and the prophets, for your perfect fulfillment of the Father's will in this brief and acceptable word, which you rightly proclaimed as the closing statement of your life immediately after the drinking of vinegar, saying: "It is finished," as if you were clearly saying: "It is now fulfilled, whatever the old law foretold about me, whatever the sacred rites of sacrifices and ceremonies designated." Indeed, the oracles of the holy prophets have been truly fulfilled, and the longed-for desires of the ancient fathers have been realized. Now everything that pertains to the redemption of the human race has been completely accomplished, whatever has been promised in the holy scriptures from heaven, all of it has been fulfilled, just as it was necessary and fitting for the time and place; it has been publicly enacted and brought to a healthy conclusion. Moreover, the few things that remain will undoubtedly be fulfilled in their own time. I have fulfilled the command of my Father, who sent me into the world; I have completed the work that he gave me to do. I have performed signs of divinity clearly, and as the Father taught me, so I have preached in the world, and I have not withheld anything of the saving teachings from their ears. For thirty-three years I have wandered in this land, conversing gently with people; frequently fatigued on my journeys, I have been harshly slandered by adversaries, betrayed by a disciple, abandoned by friends, captured by enemies, scourged by ministers, condemned by judges, mocked by priests, and here I hang innocent on the cross. What more should I have done that I haven't done? What more should I have suffered and did not endure? If I've done anything less than I should have or endured more than I could, I'm ready to make up for it before my death; indeed, in my death, I will fully repay every debt. So today I must be fulfilled. I can no longer endure the end of my life being prolonged, but I will willingly offer my soul for my sheep out of pure love, and I will accept the death of the body, which I do not deserve by obligation, for the debts of sins I will voluntarily take on at this hour, when I know that the first man incurred eternal death by tasting the forbidden tree. Indeed, what concerns me will soon come to an end. I won’t speak many words in this world, because I won’t be here long, but I hurry to the Father. All labor will cease, pain and groaning will flee, the struggle will quiet, no trouble will remain after this, and death itself will perish; nothing more will need to be accomplished, except that I commend my spirit to my Father and leave my body until the third day. I know for sure that men of mercy, who haven't forgotten the old friendship, will take that with them to be buried in a new tomb. Therefore, to demonstrate that all legal justice has been effectively fulfilled and for the observance of the new law, I declare to all who are listening the final and abbreviated word: It is finished. O most illustrious and learned Master, Lord Jesus Christ, as you say and testify, so it is in truth, and there is no reproach at all in your words. For all that you say, you confirm with holy deeds and demonstrate through prophetic words. For now is the time for you to rest from all the work you have done on earth. And indeed, Lord, you created all things with the Father at the beginning, and now, with the Father cooperating, you have restored all things. You created the work of the earthly condition in six days, and now in the sixth age of the world, you have completed the work of human redemption. On the sixth day, you formed man from the dust of the earth, and on the sixth day, you redeemed him with your blood. On the sixth day, Adam was tempted and deceived by Eve; on the sixth day, you were announced by an angel and conceived in the Virgin. On the sixth day, humanity sinned and lost paradise; on the sixth day, you suffered for our sins, and the thief, while you were showing mercy, received paradise. So that the new may respond to the old, and the last to the first deeds, the sixth word on the cross was fittingly: It is finished. So go now, Lord Jesus, wherever you wish, and return to your Father in heaven, because you have completed the great work of mercy on earth. Lead your servants, and prepare a way for them to follow you more quickly. Open the door to the heavenly kingdom, which the stubbornness of the first parent had closed for so long. Go visit the holy fathers in limbo, enlighten those sitting in darkness, break the power of the devil, loosen the bonds of the captives, lift up the weary, comfort the mourners, redeem those who are waiting, lead your captives out of the infernal prison, and when you have brought them forth and placed them among the angels in the heavenly mansions, then remember me, Lord, in your kingdom, so that you may lead me out of this prison, from the slimy dwelling of the flesh, from my perilous state in this wandering and miserable world. As a follower of Christ, imitate Him in this word of His, and don’t stop working as long as you have time and strength; complete what you’ve started, so that when the evening of your life comes, you can say with your friendly Jesus: "It is finished." Therefore, walk the path of true virtue, pursue justice, prepare yourself for death against vices, so that you may grasp eternal life and be able to say with Paul: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."^✦ You'll work a little, and you'll endure a little longer; soon your hour will come, so that you may be made complete in a short time and fulfill many things. O most radiant and perfect example of all virtues and the endless reward of good works, Jesus Christ, Lord of heaven and earth, guide all my actions according to your good pleasure and purify and enlighten the thoughts of my mind. Teach me to begin all my works humbly for the praise and glory of your blessed name, to carry them out diligently, and to bring them to completion successfully. Grant that I may not grow weary before the appointed time from the Father, but work for the eternal life wage day and night in the vineyard of holy religion, and toil in the school of heavenly exercise until the spirit departs, so that, with your mercy, I may finally, after many struggles and long labors, joyfully say to you at the final hour: It is finished. Lord Jesus, grant me the reward for my labor, rest for my fatigue, joy for my sorrow, a crown for my struggle, glory for my shame, and blessedness for the misery I endured in this world. You were and are the final cause of all my work in this place of pilgrimage. Let this be my reward in the kingdom of heaven, because I desire to have you alone as the reward for my labors, you who are the happiness and glory of all your saints.