“Christ is risen from the dead, trampling on death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life”.
Troparion, tone V
From the Holy Gospel according to the Apostle and Evangelist Saint John (Jn 1: 1-17)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Reflection
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
CHRISTOS ANESTI!
Yes, Christ is truly risen today and there is no body in the tomb.
Rejoice and rejoice therefore, for we have been delivered from the chains that bound us to the old Tyranny of sin. And for this reason, on this beautiful and luminous solemnity, Mother Church invites us to meditate on the prologue of the Holy Gospel of Saint John which is precisely a proclamation of joy and joy!
God becomes man, and through the work of the Holy Spirit he is incarnated in the womb of the Virgin Mary and walks with us.
However, though he was a man, his divine nature did not remove him from the clutches of death:
"Although he was in the condition of God, he did not consider it a privilege to be like God, but emptied himself by assuming a condition of servant, becoming like men. From the aspect recognized as a man, he humbled himself making himself obedient until death and death on a cross. This is why God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee bends in the heavens, on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue proclaims: Jesus Christ is Lord! to the glory of God the Father".
(Phil 2: 6-11)
Dear friends, I share with you the thought of St Maximus of Turin (Sermons 53,4) in this regard:
“On this holy day we must all rejoice. Let no one escape the common gladness for the remorse of sins, let no one turn away from community supplications for the weight of crimes! No matter how sinful he may be, on this day he must not despair of indulgence; for there is for his comfort an illustrious precedent; if a thief deserved paradise, would a Christian not deserve forgiveness? And if the Lord forgives that from the cross, much more will he forgive these in the resurrection, and, if in the humiliation of the passion he gave so much to those who confessed as sinners, how much will he give to those who plead in the glorious day of the resurrection? As you well know, one is more willing to grant favors on the happy day of triumph than in imprisonment and punishment".
Beloved brothers, we who have been redeemed by the Lord, and who have been called by him, cannot stand still, on our journey of faith, doing nothing.
If we are Christians, our mission is to bring to all the joy of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ and to be called by him "sons":
"When the fullness of time came, God sent his Son, born of woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And that you are children is proved by the fact that God sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, who cries out: «Abba! Father!». So, you are no longer a slave, but a son and, if a son, you are also heir by the grace of God".
(Gal 4: 4-7)
And I, therefore, urge you: proclaim the word, insist at the right time and harass, try to convince, reproach, exhort with all patience and doctrine. Be prudent in everything, endure hardships, do works of evangelization and fulfill your ministry.
Without ever forgetting that:
"He who was manifested in the flesh was justified in the Spirit,
appeared to the angels,
was preached to the nations,
was believed in the world,
was taken up in glory."
(1Tm 3:16)
Dear brothers, for this beautiful solemnity, many of you have prepared fabulous lunches and you will be surrounded by the affection of the people who love you. However, my thoughts turn to those who, despite having family members, are forced to celebrate this Holy Easter alone.
I am referring to those who are in prison, who are bedridden in hospitals or who live in nursing homes and those who have simply been abandoned and forgotten by their families.
May my message of joy alleviate your sufferings and give you the strength, the least but necessary, to continue to entrust yourselves to Divine Providence without ever losing Faith and Hope.
Beloved brothers, today Christ rises from the dead and we have been forgiven. Forgiven, we are again recreated in the image and likeness of God. Here is the new creation today: the New Covenant.
During our life, we often make mistakes: we are wrong to do something during work, we are wrong to behave with friends or with our parents, we are wrong to relate to others because we are full of our ego, often we are wrong because we simply decide to follow and take completely wrong paths.
But beyond all the errors, voluntary and involuntary, that we have made in our life, God today offers us his forgiveness: he gives us a second chance. A possibility that is also a responsibility.
This second possibility, for my part, I experienced many years ago when I was still part of the Catholic Church. And this memory is still vivid in my head just like it happened yesterday.
I was in Modena on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi and together with my father I went to Mass in the Church of San Pietro and, following the celebration, we followed the Eucharistic procession through the streets of the historic center.
Once I arrived in the churchyard of the Duomo, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo and San Geminiano, I knelt. In silence I prayed ardently that the Lord erased all my sins making me born again as a new creature.
At a certain point in my prayer, I heard distinctly this voice that told me: "Go! I have forgiven you!". After having understood what had just happened, I burst into a silent weeping even almost liberating and I thanked the Lord for the grace he has granted me.
Dear Brothers, you, see? We are all offered salvation. We are all forgiven of our mistakes. Whatever situation you are in, enjoy today! Rejoice and never tire of entrusting yourselves, with all your strength, to Him who today has become the first fruits of the sleepers.
I conclude my reflection with the homily of Saint John Chrysostom:
"If one is pious and a friend of God, rejoice in this beautiful and luminous feast!
If you are a grateful servant, enter joyfully into the joy of your Lord. If you have suffered to fast, enjoy your reward now.
If from the first hour you worked, receive today the due due.
If one has arrived after the third hour, make merry, grateful.
If he arrived after the sixth hour, do not doubt, he will not lose anything.
If you’re late until the ninth, come forward without hesitation.
If he has arrived only at the eleventh, fear not for delay; for the Master is generous and receives the last as the first.
He gives rest to the worker of the eleventh as to that of the hour before, has mercy of the last, and approves the first, gives to these and gives grace to that other; accepts the works and cherishes the will, honors the action and praises the intention.
All of you, therefore, enter the joy of our Lord: both of you, enjoy your wages!
Rich and poor, dance in chorus together! Abstinent and lazy, honor this day!
You who have fasted, and you who have not fasted, rejoice today: the table is full, delight all; the calf is abundant, no one goes hungry; all enjoy the banquet of faith, all taste the richness of gentleness, no one laments poverty: For the kingdom that unites us has appeared.
Let no one weep for sins: indeed, forgiveness arose from the grave. No one fears death: in fact, the death of the Lord has freed us; He has turned it off, who has been restrained from it; He has plundered Hell, He who came down to Hell; He has embittered him, when he tasted of his flesh.
Isaiah foresaw it, and exclaimed: Hell was embittered, meeting you down there. Embittered, and indeed was annihilated. Embittered, and indeed was deceived. Embittered, and indeed was killed. Embittered, and indeed was destroyed. Embittered, and indeed was chained.
He took a body and stood before God. He took the earth and met heaven. He took what he saw and fell for what he did not see. Where is thy sting, O Death? Where is thy victory, O Hell?
Christ is risen, and you have fallen! Christ is risen, and demons have fallen! Christ is risen, and the Angels rejoice! Christ is risen, and life triumphs! Christ is risen, and there is no one more dead in the tomb! Christ, in fact, woke up from the dead and became the first fruits of the sleepers. Glory and power to Him forever and ever. Amen."
Holy Easter to all of you!
And just remember...
"If Christ is not risen, then empty is our preaching, empty also your faith... and you are still in your sins"
(1 Cor 15:14.17)
Archdeacon Michele Alberto Del Duca
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