“For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and giveth life: so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.” (Jn 5:21)

“Isn’t it true what Scripture has said? Yes, on account of the merits of the saints and graces dispensed by the Son to whom he wills.”

The teachers and scholars ponder over what has been said.

“Is it not a coincidence that we are here on this night, united together, in this chamber to celebrate the wonderful work and the glory of Our Father? See the many faces around me, all distinct, from the land as far as the East is to the West. See the marvel of God’s plan in the economy of salvation. We are all united, men of different tribes, of different culture, and of different nationality; we are united in Our Lord, Jesus Christ. How beautiful is that? What can be more universal and all-encompassing than the mystical body of God?”

“Think of the angels in Heaven. They did not procreate; they did not have children. Yet, they are diverse and distinct from one another. They come in different ranks and they have different powers. They have different orders and come in different grace. Do you not think the Heavenly Father as the same plan for us?”

“We come in many different background, and we all are incorporated into Christ. Our parents or some distant relative converted to the Faith. This is what it means by the merits of the saints. Not one of you is here without the plan of God beforehand. He knew you before you were born. He brought your souls into existence to the fallen nature in a fallen world. Your parents provide the material form, God provide the spiritual.”

“Do not think that your human nature is by accident. Our mothers conceived us in sin, but God has made us whole again in the glory of His Son. Some of you, as the saints have been blessed, may have been sanctified in the womb like John the Baptist, but all are subject to the New Law in Baptism. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. We are the inheritance of God.”

“And now I turn to you teachers and scholars. Do you not understand how you have come about? How God has formed you? As high as the hierarchy of angels, so too will the kingdom of God on earth be in relation to the Church triumph. Do not think I do not know that your intelligence and your tempered human nature have been molded by God unto perfection. You are the keepers of the doctrine of Our Lord; you hold judgment over the kingdoms of the earth. The higher your office, the greater responsibility you have before God. You do not disappoint us in the lower ranks. We look up to you. Without the Faith, it is impossible to please Our Father. Without love in that Faith, it is impossible to be sanctified.”

“We were all barbarians before our ancestors converted. We were the vagabonds that walked the earth. We were the outcasts and the savages that roamed the land, without a country, without a title. No longer are we of the past man, but have become the new man in Our Lord Jesus Christ. Our lower human nature troubles us, but we are now motivated by the higher spiritual goods. We no longer judge others irrationally or harshly, but have become citizens of the New Law. Our moral conduct is based on the commandments of God. Our laws come from nature and revelation.”

“But, master, are we all equal then?”

“We were born unequal, but our earthly existence will come to an end, until the day of judgment comes. We are equal by the judgment of death, but our sanctity differs on different levels and in different areas. Our personal human nature correspond differently to the grace of God, as God gives us different tests and our temperament and personality are different. Everything is within the mystery of salvation. Some of us are more inclined to goodness than others, some of us have to learn from our mistakes. The merit is the same when we are victorious, but our happiness will depend on close we are like unto God.”