Christ is Risen

Christ is risen from the dead

Trampling down death by death

and on those in the grave

Bestowing life.

This Paschal troparion (Easter hymn) is chanted in successions of three between the Psalm readings in the Eastern tradition.  It is used from the Easter celebration until the Resurrection forty days later.

The Church has celebrated the season of Easter for 50 days, from Easter Sunday until Pentecost, since the 3rd century.  (Take that Lent!)  The first week is celebrated as one continuous Easter day, in which the newly baptized wore their baptismal garb and celebrated their new life in Christ.  The joy of the risen Lord permeates the Church!  Old Testament readings are replaced by the Acts of the Apostles, which remind us of the earliest days of the Church and the spreading of the faith.  

The Eastern Church has a beautiful tradition of reading the Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom each year.  St. John Chrysostom is an early Church Father and Doctor of the Church, who was called "the golden tongue" because of his eloquent gift of speaking.  He became Archbishop of Constantinople in 397.

In his sermon, Chrysostom relates the ecstasy of Easter with the rewards given to the laborers in the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Mt 20:1-16.)  Of course Chrysostom would pick this one out of all the parables.  This one always drove me crazy!  Yes, it seems unfair to the workers who labored all day and got paid the same amount as the ones who worked only an hour.  Yet, it is true that the laborers agreed on the wage they worked for and they did receive it.  That seems to fit the bill for fairness.  

Then the landowner cuts into the very root of the problem when he asks if the laborers are "envious because he is generous."  Yikes!  Well, when it comes down to it, yes.  The workers who came last should be last in line by our standards.  They should receive less despite the fact that they could not find work.  It was the good fortune of the earliest workers that they were found by the landowner first (notice that they did not come to him seeking employment.)  Yet, the parable concludes with "the last shall be first, and the first shall be last."  Whhhaaat?

Not cool, right?  Our first question is, then why in the world would I want to be first?  Why should I labor at all when I can sit around and wait until the very last second?    

This might be a good tactic if we were talking about worldly things such as household chores, but we are not.  We are talking about salvation.  The parable begins by comparing the scenario to the Kingdom of Heaven.  Those Christians who were given the knowledge of truth early on, and spent their lives laboring to spread it, should consider themselves blessed and be thankful.  However, those Christians who were lukewarm or ignorant, and were saved near the end of their earthly life, are that much more thankful and aware of the generosity of God.  In the same way that a near death experience can awaken a person to the joy of their new lease on life, the late laborers who do not earn the wage they were given are in awe of the generosity.

Woe to the early laborers who grow weary laboring and begin to forget their gift, despising the generosity of the One who has given.  For there are those who never accept the invitation to labor at all, and there are those who leave the vineyard because of their envy.  

Therefore, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice" (Ph 4:4) because your brothers and sisters have entered our family this day, "this brother of your was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found" (Lk 15:32.)      

An Easter Sermon from St. John Chrysostom

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Is there anyone who is a grateful servant? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages! If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward; If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast! And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too. And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first. To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! First and last alike receive your reward; rich and poor, rejoice together! Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith. Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaias foretold this when he said, "You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.

It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, O death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!