Photo: A.Goryainov / Monastery.ru
Christ is Risen!
The feast of the bright Resurrection of Christ is a feast of joy. And although it lasts for forty days, it seems we can’t fully feel all of this joy and hold it in our hearts and souls.
The first word of the Risen Christ was, “Rejoice!”
On these holy days, the Church calls all the faithful to rejoice and exult: “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!”
With a frequent call to joy, the Church wants to rouse us from sleep, to deliver us from the hustle and bustle at least for a time and bring us into communion with this bright celebration.
The feeling of joy exceeds all our feelings.
Joy is the feeling of a successful, victorious completion of any good deed and any effort. Joy is the triumph of truth. Joy is the symbol of all that is holy and perfect.
How many rich gifts the Lord gives us throughout our lives! And all of this is a subject and reason for joy: joy in youth, joy in wise and pure old age, joy in strength, joy in beauty, joy in successful work and study, joy in family life, joy even in the solitary life, joy from doing good deeds; joy when we forgive those who offend us; joy in prayer, joy from going to God’s church, joy from meeting people; joy from the shining sun; joy that we are alive!
Earthly joys are but a glimmer, a foretaste of the true eternal Divine joy. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him (1 Cor. 2:9). This is why the first word from the Risen Lord was “Rejoice.” This is why the archangel, in bringing the Good News to the world, addressed the Virgin Mary with, “Rejoice!” This is why the holy Apostle Paul reminds us: Rejoice in the Lord. Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice (Phil. 3:1, 4:4). This is why the joy of the Risen Lord Jesus was carried all over the world by the holy Apostles, who gave their lives for it.
This is why the holy martyrs and ascetics triumphantly completed their journey with this joy. This is why Christians are filled with a feeling of joy and happiness incomprehensible to the outside world, which astonishes those who haven’t tasted the goodness of God and haven’t known the joy of the Lord.
The holy Church is full of joy in the Lord and generously gives it to all who desire it. We partake of special joy during the days of Holy Pascha. It is poured out in celebration, in spiritual exultation, in the exchange of the kiss of peace. So it will always be. This is testimony that the Risen Lord, the Source of that joy, is always with us!
The joy of the Resurrection affirms our faith that Christ is truly risen, and that we too, following His example, will rise to eternal life. Amen.
