WEBVTT 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:06.040 Unlike any other feast day of the Church, the 00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:12.339 celebration of Pascha continues in an uninterrupted 00:00:12.339 --> 00:00:16.920 fashion for more, to be precise, for 40 days. 00:00:17.420 --> 00:00:25.379 Until when? Ascension Day. It is unlike any other 00:00:25.379 --> 00:00:29.960 feast day because... Pascha is the beginning. 00:00:32.759 --> 00:00:40.439 It is the center. It is, in fact, the crown of 00:00:40.439 --> 00:00:44.179 the liturgical year. In a word, we could say 00:00:44.179 --> 00:00:48.740 it is the epicenter of all our liturgical functions. 00:00:51.100 --> 00:00:53.960 Furthermore, it is the foundation of the Church. 00:00:57.130 --> 00:01:00.189 the resurrection, there would be no proclamation 00:01:00.189 --> 00:01:04.569 of Christ is risen. There would be no Christian 00:01:04.569 --> 00:01:11.290 faith. There would be no New Testament. So overwhelmingly 00:01:11.290 --> 00:01:17.170 important is this glorious and radiant feast 00:01:17.170 --> 00:01:21.930 day that we continue to greet one another with 00:01:21.930 --> 00:01:26.079 that wonderful salutation. Christ is risen. He 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:33.000 is risen. This feast brings unparalleled joy. 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:40.239 Even unrestrained and unabashed joy. Because 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:47.500 we declare and we chant and we sing. This is 00:01:47.500 --> 00:01:52.180 the chosen and holy day. The day of the Lord. 00:01:52.599 --> 00:01:58.219 The feast of feasts. And on this day, we say 00:01:58.219 --> 00:02:05.019 we bless Christ forevermore. Why then, why then 00:02:05.019 --> 00:02:10.639 this joy? Because Christ's resurrection is the 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:16.740 historical declaration that Christ overcame the 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:23.030 power of sin and more. specifically and importantly 00:02:23.030 --> 00:02:28.009 the power of death. What greater news is there 00:02:28.009 --> 00:02:32.770 to stand before this congregation or any other 00:02:32.770 --> 00:02:36.789 people in the world and say salvation has come 00:02:36.789 --> 00:02:42.430 and it is a reality, a present reality. The message 00:02:42.430 --> 00:02:46.629 of Pascha as it unfolds in the pages of the New 00:02:46.629 --> 00:02:55.219 Testament declares as was so poignantly and insightfully 00:02:55.219 --> 00:03:00.060 mentioned in Father Lawrence's homily on Good 00:03:00.060 --> 00:03:05.439 Friday in his message of the three crosses. What 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:09.979 did it mean? But that our world is in the hands 00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:16.439 of God and not in some uncaring, unpleasant, 00:03:16.939 --> 00:03:23.219 impersonal, Or indifferent power. Never forget. 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:36.759 Never. The last word. The last event of Christ. 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:44.240 Was not on the cross. If Christ offered nothing 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:52.219 but the cross. We would not be here. We would 00:03:52.219 --> 00:03:56.360 not have a Christian religion. If Christ remained 00:03:56.360 --> 00:04:02.639 in the grave. Then life. As some cynics tell 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:07.180 us today. Ends with death. And the ultimate value. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:12.919 Of everything is nothing. Nor the Christian. 00:04:13.979 --> 00:04:19.220 Doctrine. And faith is that. crucifixion did 00:04:19.220 --> 00:04:29.680 not end his life pasta to use a rather earthly 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:36.600 expression is a sneak preview into the joy of 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:46.759 eternity it is a sneak preview of what is to 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:58.720 come Why this joy? Why this glorious celebration? 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:09.459 Because it is a resurrection. Our resurrection. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:15.000 And that's the message. Because Christ resurrected, 00:05:15.399 --> 00:05:22.139 he has given us the absolute. Assurance that 00:05:22.139 --> 00:05:33.500 we too shall resurrect. His resurrection. Destroys. 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:40.139 Any doubt we might have. Regarding our future 00:05:40.139 --> 00:05:47.139 life. His resurrection. Has overcome the forces 00:05:47.139 --> 00:05:52.660 of evil. Of darkness. And thus he is the sovereign 00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:58.300 over all history. The victorious Lord of life 00:05:58.300 --> 00:06:05.279 and death. Pascha, my dear people, furthermore 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:10.980 inaugurates what the fathers of the church continually 00:06:10.980 --> 00:06:18.639 preach. Something comparable to what God has 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:24.649 done As described in the first chapters of the 00:06:24.649 --> 00:06:31.769 Old Testament. There is a new creation. A new 00:06:31.769 --> 00:06:39.069 age has dawned. Because Christ has given us eternal 00:06:39.069 --> 00:06:43.350 life. And this is not a wishful or sentimental 00:06:43.350 --> 00:06:47.769 hope. But again and again I say to you it's a 00:06:47.769 --> 00:06:53.079 present reality. And this is what St. Paul implied 00:06:53.079 --> 00:06:55.839 when he wrote to the Christians at Philippi. 00:06:59.139 --> 00:07:05.420 When he spoke this, knowing Christ, knowing Christ 00:07:05.420 --> 00:07:13.079 and the power of his resurrection. So do away 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:17.420 with doubt and fear and uncertainty and unsureness. 00:07:18.569 --> 00:07:23.009 With our Lord's rising from the tomb, the uncreated 00:07:23.009 --> 00:07:27.430 light appears in all of its supernatural glory. 00:07:28.310 --> 00:07:35.850 And our world is touched by the divine likeness. 00:07:37.110 --> 00:07:41.529 Because in his resurrection, he renews all nature. 00:07:43.790 --> 00:07:48.149 Furthermore, And it's endless, my people, endless. 00:07:49.209 --> 00:07:52.389 The fathers of the church teach that Pascha is 00:07:52.389 --> 00:07:56.350 the eighth day, meaning the never -ending day 00:07:56.350 --> 00:08:03.509 of the kingdom. Pascha celebrates the death of 00:08:03.509 --> 00:08:09.329 death and the beginning of eternal life. As we 00:08:09.329 --> 00:08:13.889 heard last night and again today in our magnificent 00:08:13.889 --> 00:08:18.480 hymnology, Pascha has opened the gates of paradise 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:28.959 for us. Every scar. Every hurt. Every tear. Every 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:33.960 sorrow. Every disappointment will be no more. 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:40.460 For we will live in a new age. And this is the 00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:45.580 central message of the gospel. Yet. Again, I 00:08:45.580 --> 00:08:49.679 say there is infinitely more. There's also the 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:56.240 theme of light. We sing, let us purify our senses. 00:08:56.539 --> 00:09:01.039 And listen to this carefully. And we shall see 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:06.740 Christ shining in the unapproachable light of 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:10.360 his resurrection. That's an absolute assurance. 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:16.360 In last night's gospel, The evangelist John tells 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:20.940 us that Christ is the light of the world. He 00:09:20.940 --> 00:09:26.559 enlightens and illumines all mankind. And more, 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:35.080 there is the theme of joy. Literally, it permeates 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:39.019 every hymn that was sung and we will continue 00:09:39.019 --> 00:09:44.909 to sing for 40 days. Today, Christ comes from 00:09:44.909 --> 00:09:50.370 the tomb and fills the women with joy saying, 00:09:50.730 --> 00:09:57.950 proclaim the glad tidings to the apostles. Yet, 00:09:58.009 --> 00:10:03.350 this is the day which the Lord has made. Let 00:10:03.350 --> 00:10:06.970 us rejoice and be glad in it and let us embrace 00:10:06.970 --> 00:10:10.330 each other. And in the words of St. Gregory, 00:10:10.490 --> 00:10:14.230 and I will... even though I hesitate to do so. 00:10:15.669 --> 00:10:21.690 Let us dwell upon the wonder of this mystery 00:10:21.690 --> 00:10:26.629 that we may understand why Christ died. He came 00:10:26.629 --> 00:10:31.690 down that we might rise up. He was tempted that 00:10:31.690 --> 00:10:36.590 we might learn to overcome. He was despised that 00:10:36.590 --> 00:10:40.980 we might be loved and be given honor. He died 00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:46.360 that he might save us from death. He ascended 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:51.820 into heaven that we may be lifted up to him. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:57.559 Because of Christ's resurrection, let us rejoice 00:10:57.559 --> 00:11:03.299 and let us be glad in it. Let us be illumined 00:11:03.299 --> 00:11:07.539 by the feast day and let us embrace each other. 00:11:08.299 --> 00:11:39.370 And even those who hate us, let us sing. Let 00:11:39.370 --> 00:11:39.970 us sing.