was not to be sorrow and loss, but joy and gain, 'Touch Me not, for I
have not yet ascended.'

Our present relation to the ascended Lord is as much an advance on
that of the disciples to the risen Lord, as that was on their
relation to Him during His earthly life. They had more real communion
with Him when, with opened hearts, they heard Him interpret the
Scriptures concerning Himself, and fell at His feet crying 'My Lord
and my God!' though they saw Him but for short seasons and at
intervals, than when day by day they were with Him and knew Him not.
As they grew in love and ripened in knowledge, they knew Him better
and better.

For us, too, these forty days are full of blessed lessons, teaching
us that real communion with Jesus is attained by faith in Him, and
that He is still working in and for us, and is still present with us.
The joy with which the disciples saw Him ascend should live on in us
as we think of Him enthroned. The hope that the angels' message lit
up in their hearts should burn in ours. The benediction which the
Risen Lord uttered on those who have not seen and yet have believed
falls in double measure on those who, though now they see Him not,
yet believing rejoice in Jesus with joy unspeakable and full of
glory.



THE UNKNOWN TO-MORROW

_A New Year's Sermon_