Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!

The Paschal Homily of
St John Chrysostom

If any be pious and a lover of God, let him delight in this fair and radiant festival. If any be an honest servant, let him come in and rejoice in the joy of his Lord. If any have wearied himself with fasting, let him now enjoy the recompense. If any have worked from the first hour, let him receive today his just reward. If any have come after the third, let him feast with thankfulness. If any have arrived after the sixth, in no wise let him be in doubt; in no way shall he suffer loss. If any be later than the ninth, let him draw nigh, let him not waver. If any arrive only at the eleventh, let him not be fearful for his slowness, for the Master is munificent and receiveth the last even as the first; He giveth rest to him of the eleventh even as to him who hath wrought from the first hour. He is merciful to the last and provideth for the first; and to this one He giveth, and to that one He showeth kindness. He receiveth their labours and acknowledgeth the purpose, and He honoureth the deed and praiseth the intention. Wherefore, enter ye all into the joy of our Lord, and let the first and the second take part in the reward. Ye rich and ye poor, join hands together. Ye sober and ye heedless, do honour to this day. Ye who fast and ye who fast not, be glad today. The table is full: do ye all fare sumptuously. The calf is ample: let no one go forth hungry. Let all enjoy the banquet of Faith. Let all enjoy the wealth of righteousness. Let no one lament his poverty, for the Kingdom is made manifest to all.

Let no one bewail transgressions, for forgiveness hath dawned forth from the tomb. Let no one be fearful of Death, for the death of the Saviour hath set us free. He hath quenched Death by being subdued by Death. He Who came down into Hades, despoiled Hades; and Hades was embittered when he tasted of Christ’s Flesh. Esaias, anticipating this, cried out and said: Hades was embittered when below he met Thee face to face. He was embittered, for he was set at nought. He was embittered, for he was mocked. He was embittered, for he was cast down. He was embittered, for he was fettered. He received a body, and encountered God. He received earth, and met Heaven face to face. He received what he saw, and fell whither he saw not.

O Death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy victory? Christ is risen, and thou art overthrown! Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen! Christ is risen, and the Angels rejoice! Christ is risen, and life doth reign! Christ is risen, and there is none dead in the tomb! For Christ is raised from the dead, and is become the first-fruits of them that slept.

To Him be glory and dominion unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Paschal Greetings from around the World

Chrysostom on Scandal - and food for thought before the Great Fast

Accordingly, dearly beloved, let us do everything for the purpose of giving glory to our Lord, and let us not be an occasion of scandal to anybody. This after all, is the unfailing lesson given us by the whole world’s teacher, blessed Paul, as for example when he says, “If food is a source of scandal to my brother, let me never till the end of time touch meat again;” and again, “By sinning against your brothers in this way through bruising your tender conscience, you sin against Christ.” A stern admonition that, entailing a heavy condemnation. In other words, he is saying, don’t think the harm will be inflicted solely on one person: it passes on to Christ himself, who for that person was crucified. So if the Lord was not swayed from being crucified for him, would you not make every effort to avoid giving him any occasion for scandal? You will find Paul giving this advice everywhere to his disciples; it is, after all, the factor that keeps our life together. Hence he uses these words in writing in another letter: “Let each of you consider not your own concerns but the concerns of others;” and again in another place: “Everything is lawful for me, but not everything edifies others.” Do you see the apostolic attitude? Even repercussion for myself on that account, yet to avoid interfering with my neighbor’s spiritual progress I would not presume to behave like that. Do you see the soul full of loving concern - how he has no eye at all for his own interests, but shows us in every way that the greatest virtue consists in taking great care for our neighbor’s spiritual progress.

Taken from the Book: Daily Reading from the Writings of St John Chyrsostom
H/T to Milk & Honey

Words of Wisdom from the Church Fathers

On Living Simply
XLIV
St. John Chrysostom

"How should the Church be governed? Should the patriarchs act like emperors, issuing decrees which all believers must obey? Should bishops see themselves as local governors, demanding unquestioning submission of the people? Should the clergy be a kind of spiritual army, enforcing the will of the patriarchs and the bishops, and meting out punishment on sinners? The first consideration for the Church is not how to punish sins, but how to prevent sins from being committed... Moreover, each individual is answerable not to a priest, bishop or patriarch, but to God. So the primary authority of those within the Church is not to issue decrees, but to stir up the souls and enliven the consciences of believers... In short those in authority within the Church should see themselves not as rulers, but but as preachers and pastors."

I discovered the above quote on another website and found it such a beautiful and inspirational statement that I had to cop it for inclusion here. I account myself most blessed to serve in a Church whose superiors are exemplary of the kind of clergy the good Patriarch John endorses. For those of you who read or follow this rambling blog, please pray for me that I may grow in humility, obedience, and tenderness as a pastor and preacher. May I ever grow more deeply in love with the Gospel that is life and light for all who will accept it.

Note to self: Find a copy of Patriarch John's book and study it. Then pray it and study it again!

THE PASCHAL HOMILY OF ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Whosoever is a devout lover of God,
let him enjoy this beautiful bright Festival.

And whosoever is a grateful servant
let him rejoice and enter into the joy of his Lord.

And if any be weary with fasting,
let him now receive his penny.

If any have toiled from the first hour,
let him receive his due reward.

If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join the Feast.

And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt;
for he too shall sustain no loss.

And if any have delayed to the ninth hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay;
for the Lord is gracious
and receives the last even as the first.

He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour
as well as to him that toiled from the first.

Yea, to this one He gives,
and upon that one He bestows.

He accepts works,
as He greets the endeavor.

The deed he honors
and the intention he commends.

Let all then enter into the joy of our Lord.

You first and last receiving alike your reward;
you rich and poor,
rejoice together.

You sober and you slothful,
celebrate the day.

You that have kept the fast,
and you that have not,

rejoice today;
for the Table is richly laden.

Fare royally on it.

The calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry.

Partake you all of the cup of faith.
Enjoy you all the riches of His goodness.

Let no one grieve at his poverty;
for the universal Kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death,
for the Death of our Saviour has set us free.

He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He spoiled Hades when he descended thereto.

He vexed it
even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he cried,
“Thou, O Hades, has been vexed by encountering Him below. ”

It is vexed;
for it is even done away with.

It is vexed;
for it is made a mockery.

It is vexed;
for it is destroyed.

It is vexed;
for it is annihilated.

It is vexed;
for it is now made captive.

It took a body,
and it discovered God.

It took earth,
and encountered Heaven.

It took what it saw
and was overcome by what it did not see.

“O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?”

Christ is risen,
and thou art annihilated.

Christ is risen,
and the evil ones are cast down.

Christ is risen,
and the Angels rejoice.

Christ is risen,
and life is liberated.

Christ is risen,
and the tomb is emptied of the dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.