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On Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the book of Revelation (129:11-21) entitled "The victory of the Word of God". Our treasure, which follows, is from a sermon by Saint Gregory of Nyssa, bishop.

Saint Gregory of Nyssa was a fourth century archbishop of Constantinople and a theologian. He is numbered among the Doctors of the Church. He was a contemporary and close friend of Saint Basil the Great. He is widely considered the most accomplished rhetorical stylist of the patristic age. He was a classically trained orator and philosopher.

The primary contribution of Saint Gregory of Nyssa to the teachings of the Catholic Church is his profound development of the spiritual and mystical understanding of the Christian life, especially the idea that the soul is called to an endless growth in God. He taught that union with God is not a static state but a continual journey deeper into divine life—a concept often described as eternal progress (epektasis), grounded in the infinite nature of God.

Today's treasure from Saint Gregory's sermon "The Firstborn of the New Creation", teaches that Christ, through His resurrection, inaugurates a completely new humanity and restores what was lost through sin. By calling Christ the "firstborn," Gregory teaches that Jesus is not only preeminent, but the beginning of a renewed creation in which human nature is healed, transformed, and brought to its intended glory.

The sermon emphasizes that the Resurrection of Jesus is not just an isolated event, but the source and promise of our own new life. Christ's victory over death opens the way for all humanity to share in this renewal, becoming a "new creation" in Him. In essence, Gregory's message is that what Christ has begun in Himself, He intends to accomplish in us—restoring our nature and drawing us into eternal life.

The teaching from today's first reading, "The victory of the Word of God" (Revelation 19:11–21), is that Christ decisively conquers all evil through His divine authority, establishing the final triumph of truth and justice.

In this vision, Jesus Christ appears as a victorious rider on a white horse, called "Faithful and True" and "the Word of God." He represents not a worldly conqueror, but a divine judge whose power comes from truth and righteousness. The imagery of the sword proceeding from His mouth shows that His victory is accomplished by His word—His authority, judgment, and truth—not by human force.

The opposing forces, symbolized by the beast and the kings of the earth, gather to resist Him, but they are swiftly and completely defeated. Evil is exposed as powerless before Christ's sovereignty, and its apparent strength collapses in the face of divine judgment.

The passage emphasizes that Christ's victory is final and universal: all opposition to God will be overcome. For believers, this is both a warning and a source of hope—evil will not prevail, and those who remain faithful to Christ share in His triumph.