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Sunday 16 April ’17
The Resurrection of
Our Lord Jesus Christ
Pascha
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There is arguably no
sermon ever preached that has been read more than this sermon on the
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is the work of one of the greatest of Christian preachers, perhaps
even the greatest, St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople. It is quite brief, but in spite of it’s
brevity, it speaks volumes with a power for which there are no words.
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If any man
be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him
rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let him
now receive his recompense. If any have
wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him
with thankfulness keep the feast. If any
have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in
nowise be deprived thereof. If any have
delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh
hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is
jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest
unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from
the first hour.
And he
shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one he gives,
and upon the other he bestows gifts. And
he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and
praises the offering. Wherefore, enter
you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and
likewise the second. You rich and poor
together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and
you who have disregarded the fast. The
table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.
Enjoy ye
all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. let no one bewail his poverty, for the
universal kingdom has been revealed. Let
no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death
has set us free. He that was held
prisoner of it has annihilated it. By
descending into Hell, He made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell,
said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in
chains. It took a body, and met God face
to face. It took earth, and encountered
Heaven. It took that which was seen, and
fell upon the unseen.
O Death,
where is your sting? O Hell, where is
your victory? Christ is risen, and you
are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the
demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and
the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and
life reigns. Christ is risen, and not
one dead remains in the grave. For
Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have
fallen asleep. To Him be glory and
dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.
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Father Timothy
The Rev'd Timothy Alleman, M.Div.
Rector @ The Church of the Holy Cross
Staff Chaplain @ Geisinger Wyoming Valley
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