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Great Lent, Holy Week, Pascha and Bright Week are memorable, holy, and life-giving days. They are as yeast in a lump of dough-raising up every aspect of our lives throughout the year. Orthodox Christians live from Pascha to Pascha, regenerated and illumined by the intense blessings received. Pascha is an internal rejuvenation!
What gifts did you receive through your fasting and prayers over Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha?
- Did you read anything that renewed your understanding and determination? Were you blessed in realizing the way to think about some struggle and helped in practicing "unseen warfare?" Did you read or hear any inspiring sermons or spiritual talks that gave you greater zeal? I hope you "arrest" the grace of these inspirations by recording them. St. John of Kronstadt used this technique to study his life in Christ-the movements of his soul and the illuminations given to him by the Lord. We benefit tremendously by his record, and you will benefit from yours also.
- Let the focus of celebrating the feast be a spiritual one. Festive food is a beautiful part of our celebration, but it can take over. Feasting is not the same as overindulging. Continue the feast but maintain control by remaining constant in your spiritual practices.
- Pascha is not meant to be merely a peak experience or a one day event. The evil one tries to steal away a moment and wound us, but the Good Samaritan, our Lord, is there to pour wine and oil into our wounds. You can even struggle during the Paschal service but that does not change the reality of the Resurrection; furthermore, there is also Bright Week and every Sunday Resurrection to renew us again and again!
- Bright Week services extend the joy of Pascha by reviewing and renewing our attention towards the Paschal grace. We will be having beautiful festive services throughout the week. Check our webpage, www.hrocboston.com, for the schedule and any updates.
Let the victory of Christ be your hope and foundation for how you live from this very moment. He has taken the sting out of death. He has illumined our hearts with joy. He has forgiven our sins and continues to forgive those who repent. As we practice humility and repentance we can be reassured as He said: I will be with you always, even unto the end of the age.
With love in the Risen Lord,
Fr. Patrick
Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom
If any man be devout and loveth 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 laboured long in fasting,
Let him how 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 therefore.
If any have delayed until the ninth hour,
Let him draw near, fearing nothing.
And 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 honour,
Will accept the last even as the first.
He giveth rest unto him who cometh at the eleventh hour,
Even as unto him who hath wrought from the first hour.
And He showeth mercy upon the last,
And careth for the first;
And to the one He giveth,
And upon the other He bestoweth gifts.
And He both accepteth the deeds,
And welcometh the intention,
And honoureth the acts and praises the offering.
Wherefore, enter ye all into the joy of your Lord;
Receive your reward,
Both the first, and likewise the second.
You rich and poor together, hold high festival!
You sober and you heedless, honour 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 Saviour'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 thy sting?
O Hell, 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 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.