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The Sermon We'll Hear Sunday Morning
Our little church has adopted different traditions from different streams of Christianity. We smudge ash on our foreheads at the beginning of Lent, pray the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem, we observe a Tenebrae-styled service, and, since we meet in the evenings, we pray the “Phos Hilaron.” Not to mention the fact that we borrow liberally from the Book of Common Prayer. The churches of the east and the west show up in our worship.
The Paschal Homily of St. John of Chrysostom, which dates to the 4th century, is a celebration of Christ’s victory over death, his mocking of the grave, and the forgiveness of our sins. It uses the Lenten Fast as a springboard to reveal just who God is good to.
I encourage you to read it ahead of time, so when you hear it Sunday morning, it will take deeper root. Also, practice shouting “It was embittered!” That will come in handy.
The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom - AKA, the Easter SermonText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedIf anyone is devout and a lover of God, let them enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.If anyone is a grateful servant, let them, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.
If anyone has wearied themselves in fasting, let them now receive recompense.
If anyone has labored from the first hour, let them today receive the just reward.
If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let them feast.
If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let them have no misgivings; for they shall suffer no loss.
If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let them draw near without hesitation.
If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let them not fear on account of tardiness.
For the Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first;
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first.
He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one He gives, and to the other He is gracious.
He both honors the work and praises the intention.
Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward.
O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy!
O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day
You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today!
The table is rich-laden: feast royally, all of you!
The calf is fatted: let no one go forth hungry!
Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness.
Let no one lament their poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn their transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free.
He that was taken by death has annihilated it!
He descended into Hades and took Hades captive!
He embittered it when it tasted His flesh! And anticipating this, Isaiah exclaimed:
"Hades 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 purged!
It was embittered, for it was despoiled!
It was embittered, for it was bound in chains!
It took a body and came upon God!
It took earth and encountered Ηeaven!
It took what it saw, but crumbled before what it had not seen!
O death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy 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 a tomb!
For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the first-fruits of them that have slept.
To Him be glory and might unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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By The Wheatland Mission
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Our little church has adopted different traditions from different streams of Christianity. We smudge ash on our foreheads at the beginning of Lent, pray the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem, we observe a Tenebrae-styled service, and, since we meet in the evenings, we pray the “Phos Hilaron.” Not to mention the fact that we borrow liberally from the Book of Common Prayer. The churches of the east and the west show up in our worship.
The Paschal Homily of St. John of Chrysostom, which dates to the 4th century, is a celebration of Christ’s victory over death, his mocking of the grave, and the forgiveness of our sins. It uses the Lenten Fast as a springboard to reveal just who God is good to.
I encourage you to read it ahead of time, so when you hear it Sunday morning, it will take deeper root. Also, practice shouting “It was embittered!” That will come in handy.
The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom - AKA, the Easter SermonText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedIf anyone is devout and a lover of God, let them enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.If anyone is a grateful servant, let them, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.
If anyone has wearied themselves in fasting, let them now receive recompense.
If anyone has labored from the first hour, let them today receive the just reward.
If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let them feast.
If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let them have no misgivings; for they shall suffer no loss.
If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let them draw near without hesitation.
If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let them not fear on account of tardiness.
For the Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first;
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first.
He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one He gives, and to the other He is gracious.
He both honors the work and praises the intention.
Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward.
O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy!
O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day
You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today!
The table is rich-laden: feast royally, all of you!
The calf is fatted: let no one go forth hungry!
Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness.
Let no one lament their poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn their transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free.
He that was taken by death has annihilated it!
He descended into Hades and took Hades captive!
He embittered it when it tasted His flesh! And anticipating this, Isaiah exclaimed:
"Hades 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 purged!
It was embittered, for it was despoiled!
It was embittered, for it was bound in chains!
It took a body and came upon God!
It took earth and encountered Ηeaven!
It took what it saw, but crumbled before what it had not seen!
O death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy 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 a tomb!
For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the first-fruits of them that have slept.
To Him be glory and might unto the ages of ages. Amen.