The First Day of Pascha:
Teaching 1
(The Feast of Pascha is a Celebration of Spiritual Joy For All)
By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko
Teaching 1
(The Feast of Pascha is a Celebration of Spiritual Joy For All)
By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko
Christ is Risen!
I. According to the rubrics of our Church, we must, brethren, read to you the now well-known discourse of our Holy Father John Chrysostom, which we now intend to do. But since this discourse in the Slavonic translation and the brevity of the expression of the thoughts contained in it may not be entirely understandable to many, we consider it useful to offer it in Russian and, moreover, to explain somewhat the thoughts contained in it, for the greater edification of all. We ask for your attention.
II. a) "If anyone be devout and love God," says Saint John Chrysostom, "let them enjoy this beautiful and bright celebration," that is, the glorious resurrection of Christ, which we celebrate today, in which the Lord has so wondrously demonstrated both His goodness towards the human race and His wisdom in redeeming it from eternal perdition, as well as His power over the enemies of our salvation.
b) “If anyone be a prudent servant,” who does not hide the talents given to him by God – time, strength and abilities – in vain in the ground, does not waste them only on earthly affairs and pleasures, but wisely uses them to serve the Lord and to acquire eternal blessedness, “let them rejoicing enter into the joy of their Lord,” let him be a participant in that spiritual joy which the Lord has prepared for His faithful servants, redeemed by the blood of the Savior (Matt. 25:21).
c) “If any have fasted” – whoever during the past fast did not remain idle, but labored diligently on the work of his salvation, “let them now receive their denarius” – he will partake in the grace-filled fruits of the resurrection of Christ, that reward which God promised to good workers (Matt. 10:10; 20:1-8).
d) “If any have labored from the first hour” - fulfilled the will of God from childhood, or from the time the Lord called him to His garden, i.e. to the Church of Christ, “let them today receive their just reward.”
e) “If any have come at the third hour” did not begin God’s work immediately, but left it for some time, “let them with thankfulness keep the feast” to God for his condescension to him.
f) “If any have arrive at the sixth hour,” came to God’s call even later, when half of his life had already passed, “let them have no misgivings; because they shall in nowise be deprived thereof” of those blessings that the risen Lord grants to all who wish to partake of them.
g) “If any have delayed until the ninth hour,” delayed even more and began to work on the work of God when the day of his life was already drawing to an end, “let them draw near, doubting nothing”: for now the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men (Titus 2:11).
h) "If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour" - even he who came out to the work of God very late, began to care for the salvation of his soul already in old age, "let them not fear their tardiness; for the Master is generous, accepting the last even as the first; He gives rest unto those who come at the eleventh hour, even as unto them who have labored from the first hour," giving everyone their due.
i) "And He shows mercy upon the last" out of indulgence, "and heals the first" rewarding him according to justice, "and to the one He gives" according to His goodness, "and upon the other He bestows gifts" what is deserved.
j) "And He both accepts the deeds" with joy, "and welcomes the intention" with love; "and honors the acts" as it should be, "and praises the offering."
III. "Wherefore, enter ye all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second" from the merciful Master!
“Ye rich and poor, dance together,” as children of one Father in heaven!
“Ye sober and ye heedless,” in the matter of your salvation, “honor the day” of universal celebration!
"Rejoice today, both ye who have fasted and ye who have disregarded the fast," when heaven and earth rejoice, and all creation celebrates!
"The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously." - "The calf" slain for our sakes, "is fatted; let no one go away hungry."
"Enjoy ye all the banquet of faith. Receive ye all the riches of goodness."
“Let no one bewail their poverty, for the common kingdom has been revealed," in which a rich inheritance has been prepared for believers.
“Let no one weep for their iniquities, for forgiveness has shown forth from the tomb” of the Savior to all sinners who desire to receive it.
"Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free," unless we again become enslaved to it by sins.
"He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it."
"By descending into Hades," the Son of God "made Hades captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh."
"And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hades, said he, was embittered, when it encountered You in the lower regions" (Isaiah 14:9).
"It was embittered, for it was abolished," - empty.
"It was embittered, for it was mocked" by the outcome of its struggle with the Savior.
"It was embittered, for it was slain," deprived of that which constituted its life and strength.
"It was embittered, for it was overthrown" from its throne and deprived of power over the human race.
"It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains," and can no longer act with the freedom and strength as before.
“It received a body, and met God face to face. It received earth, and encountered Heaven. It received that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.” Thus God has caught him with His wisdom!
"O Death, where is your sting? O Hades where is your victory?" (1 Cor. 15:55) Where is the sin with which you, death, have wounded men? Where, O Hades, is your triumph over the human race?
"Christ is risen, and you are overthrown," as a powerless enemy.
"Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen" - your servants, through whom you used to ensnare men.
"Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice," beholding the wondrous triumph of the Son of God and the salvation of men.
"Christ is risen, and life reigns" everywhere, even where before there was the region of death and decay.
"Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Cor. 15:20). He was the first to rise as the head, and then all His members will rise – those who believe in Him and have His life-giving Spirit in them (1 Cor. 15:21–23; Rom. 8:11).
"To Him be glory and dominion unto the ages of ages. Amen."
Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.