Unlike any other feast day of the Church, the
celebration of Pascha continues in an uninterrupted
fashion for more, to be precise, for 40 days.
Until when? Ascension Day. It is unlike any other
feast day because... Pascha is the beginning.
It is the center. It is, in fact, the crown of
the liturgical year. In a word, we could say
it is the epicenter of all our liturgical functions.
Furthermore, it is the foundation of the Church.
the resurrection, there would be no proclamation
of Christ is risen. There would be no Christian
faith. There would be no New Testament. So overwhelmingly
important is this glorious and radiant feast
day that we continue to greet one another with
that wonderful salutation. Christ is risen. He
is risen. This feast brings unparalleled joy.
Even unrestrained and unabashed joy. Because
we declare and we chant and we sing. This is
the chosen and holy day. The day of the Lord.
The feast of feasts. And on this day, we say
we bless Christ forevermore. Why then, why then
this joy? Because Christ's resurrection is the
historical declaration that Christ overcame the
power of sin and more. specifically and importantly
the power of death. What greater news is there
to stand before this congregation or any other
people in the world and say salvation has come
and it is a reality, a present reality. The message
of Pascha as it unfolds in the pages of the New
Testament declares as was so poignantly and insightfully
mentioned in Father Lawrence's homily on Good
Friday in his message of the three crosses. What
did it mean? But that our world is in the hands
of God and not in some uncaring, unpleasant,
impersonal, Or indifferent power. Never forget.
Never. The last word. The last event of Christ.
Was not on the cross. If Christ offered nothing
but the cross. We would not be here. We would
not have a Christian religion. If Christ remained
in the grave. Then life. As some cynics tell
us today. Ends with death. And the ultimate value.
Of everything is nothing. Nor the Christian.
Doctrine. And faith is that. crucifixion did
not end his life pasta to use a rather earthly
expression is a sneak preview into the joy of
eternity it is a sneak preview of what is to
come Why this joy? Why this glorious celebration?
Because it is a resurrection. Our resurrection.
And that's the message. Because Christ resurrected,
he has given us the absolute. Assurance that
we too shall resurrect. His resurrection. Destroys.
Any doubt we might have. Regarding our future
life. His resurrection. Has overcome the forces
of evil. Of darkness. And thus he is the sovereign
over all history. The victorious Lord of life
and death. Pascha, my dear people, furthermore
inaugurates what the fathers of the church continually
preach. Something comparable to what God has
done As described in the first chapters of the
Old Testament. There is a new creation. A new
age has dawned. Because Christ has given us eternal
life. And this is not a wishful or sentimental
hope. But again and again I say to you it's a
present reality. And this is what St. Paul implied
when he wrote to the Christians at Philippi.
When he spoke this, knowing Christ, knowing Christ
and the power of his resurrection. So do away
with doubt and fear and uncertainty and unsureness.
With our Lord's rising from the tomb, the uncreated
light appears in all of its supernatural glory.
And our world is touched by the divine likeness.
Because in his resurrection, he renews all nature.
Furthermore, And it's endless, my people, endless.
The fathers of the church teach that Pascha is
the eighth day, meaning the never -ending day
of the kingdom. Pascha celebrates the death of
death and the beginning of eternal life. As we
heard last night and again today in our magnificent
hymnology, Pascha has opened the gates of paradise
for us. Every scar. Every hurt. Every tear. Every
sorrow. Every disappointment will be no more.
For we will live in a new age. And this is the
central message of the gospel. Yet. Again, I
say there is infinitely more. There's also the
theme of light. We sing, let us purify our senses.
And listen to this carefully. And we shall see
Christ shining in the unapproachable light of
his resurrection. That's an absolute assurance.
In last night's gospel, The evangelist John tells
us that Christ is the light of the world. He
enlightens and illumines all mankind. And more,
there is the theme of joy. Literally, it permeates
every hymn that was sung and we will continue
to sing for 40 days. Today, Christ comes from
the tomb and fills the women with joy saying,
proclaim the glad tidings to the apostles. Yet,
this is the day which the Lord has made. Let
us rejoice and be glad in it and let us embrace
each other. And in the words of St. Gregory,
and I will... even though I hesitate to do so.
Let us dwell upon the wonder of this mystery
that we may understand why Christ died. He came
down that we might rise up. He was tempted that
we might learn to overcome. He was despised that
we might be loved and be given honor. He died
that he might save us from death. He ascended
into heaven that we may be lifted up to him.
Because of Christ's resurrection, let us rejoice
and let us be glad in it. Let us be illumined
by the feast day and let us embrace each other.
And even those who hate us, let us sing. Let
us sing.