Be a preacher of God’s goodness, for God rules over you, unworthy one, since you owe much to Him, yet His retribution is not visible on you, and for the small deeds you have performed, He rewards you greatly. Do not call God only truthful towards you, because His justice is not recognized in your actions. Although David calls Him truthful and just, His Son has revealed to us that He is more benevolent and full of goodness (God is Love and only Love – V.A.). For He says, ‘He is good’ to the wicked and the unrighteous… Where then is God’s truth? – We are sinners, and Christ died for us! If He is so merciful, let us believe that He does not change…
Never let us think this injustice, that we could call God unmerciful! God’s nature does not change, unlike the dead… Fear God out of love for Him, not the fearsome name given to Him. Love Him as you are obliged to love Him, not for what He will give you in the future, but for what we have received in the present, and for this one world He has created for us. For who is capable of repaying Him? Where is our repayment to Him in our deeds? Who convinced Him to first bring us into existence? Who pleads for us when we do not remember Him? When we did not yet exist, who aroused this body of ours to life? And also: from where does the thought of knowledge fall into dust? Oh, what strange divine mercy! Oh, what wonderful grace of God and our Creator! What power that extends to everything! What boundless goodness, by which He in us, sinners, again brings our being to renewal! Who has the strength to glorify Him? He raises the violator of His commandments and the blasphemer, renews foolish dust, makes it intelligent and articulate, scattered dust and unfeeling, scattered feelings makes by nature reasonable and capable of thinking! The sinner is unable to imagine the grace of his own resurrection (which has already occurred, completed! – V.A.). Where is Gehenna that could disturb us? Where are the torments that diversely frighten us and overcome the joy of His love? And what is Gehenna compared to the grace of His resurrection when He will raise us from hell, make that which is perishable clothe in imperishability, and raise the fallen into hell in glory?
…Come, prudent ones, and wonder. Who, having a wise and marvelous mind, is worthy to delight in the mercy of our Creator? or say what is the recompense for sinners? but instead of just retribution He repays them with resurrection; and instead of bodies that scorned His law, He clothes them in the perfect glory of imperishability. This mercy – to resurrect us after we have sinned, is greater than the mercy – to bring us into being when we did not yet exist. Glory, Lord, to Your boundless grace! Behold, Lord, the waves of Your grace have silenced me, and there is no thought left in me to thank You! How with our lips do we confess to You, good King, who loves our life? Glory to You for these two worlds, which You created for our growth (learning – V.A.) and for enjoying everything created by You, lifting us to the knowledge of Your glory, – glory to You from now and forever! Amen.
Our holy father John Chrysostom, EXPOSITORY WORD on the holy and light-bearing day of the glorious and salvific resurrection of Christ our God.
If anyone is pious and loves God, let him enjoy this bright festival. If anyone is a wise servant, let him enter rejoicing into the joy of his Lord. If anyone has labored, fasting, let him now receive his reward. If anyone has worked from the first hour, let him receive now his just pay. If anyone has come after the third hour, giving thanks, let him celebrate. If anyone appeared after the sixth hour, let him not be distressed, for he has lost nothing. If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let him appear without any doubt, fearing nothing. If anyone arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be troubled by his lateness, for the generous Master also accepts the last like the first; He comforts the one who comes at the eleventh hour, as well as the one who has worked from the first: He pities the last and cares for the first; He gives to this one and bestows to that one. And He accepts deeds, greets intentions, honors actions, and praises thoughts.
Therefore, enter all into the joy of your Lord: both the first and the last, receive the reward. Rich and poor, celebrate together!
Restrained and lazy, honor the day! Those who fasted, and those who did not, – rejoice today! The table is ready: feast everyone! Fatted calf, let no one leave hungry, all partake of the abundance of goodness! Let no one weep for poverty, for the common Kingdom has appeared. Let no one lament over sins: for forgiveness has shone from the tomb! Let no one fear death, for death has been conquered by the Savior’s death; seized by it – He overcame it. Descending into hell – He captivated hell, upset it when it tried His flesh. This Isaiah foresaw, crying out: hell was upset, encountering You in the depths. It was upset, for it was destroyed; it was upset, for it was despised; it was upset, for death was inflicted on it; it was upset, for it was overthrown; it was upset, for it was bound. It took a body and found God; it took the earth and met heaven; it took what it saw, and fell through what it did not see. Where is your sting, O death? Where is your victory, O hell? Christ has risen – and you are overthrown! Christ has risen – and demons have fallen! Christ has risen – and angels rejoice! Christ has risen – and life endures! Christ has risen – and there are no dead in the grave!
Christ, who rose from the dead, became the firstborn of the dead.
To Him be glory and power for ages of ages. Amen.