Paschal Epistle
In this day and age, there are two types of
tribulations which befall every one of us.
Tribulation for the sake of God and tribulation for the sake of the
world, and one cannot go through life without escaping them; either tribulation
for the sake of God or tribulation for the sake of the world. The latter is onerous and brings no reward,
while tribulation for the sake of God holds the promise of eternal life.
Scripture teaches us, an evening can bring
tears, while the morning may bring joy. An
evening can bring betrayal, tribulation, and despondency, while the morning may
bring a message from God, joy, and Peace.
The darkness passes and the sunshine bursts forth. The destroyer of Hell is interred one day,
and a new Adam arises the next day. What
is worse than death for a person? The
great martyr Job called it the queen of all horrors for a reason. Can a person wish for happiness on earth,
when his or her thoughts are overcome constantly by the inevitability of
death? When it lies in wait for a person
no matter where he or she goes, when the grave yawns before him or her, always
ready to pull him or her in? A person
can drive away thoughts of his or her demise and can try to distract oneself in
order to avoid thinking of this unwelcome guest, while it mocks him or her,
comes to visit, and tears away one dear friend or family member after another
without mercy or warning. But then
suddenly the words ring out: Christ is Risen! Death ceases to exist for a Christian! Death itself is slain. There is only sleep, repose, and eternal
peace in Christ, but no death! The
Sinless and Eternal One died on the Cross, while the mortals, having become one
with Him in His body and blood, become of one flesh and the mortals are made
living members of His Divine body - His Church - and He becomes its
master. And now the Holy Master has come
back from the dead. Is it possible that
the parts of the body remain dead? Is it
possible that He does not bring us back to life with Him? In the Resurrection of Christ - we are also
resurrected - as He is our Divine Master, He is the first to be reborn from the
dead.
The joyful news of the Ressurection of
Christ has been trumpeted for many centuries, and each time, the poor heart of
mankind, humble before God, bursts into flame as if from a electric spark and
is filled with such amazing wonder, that it forgets all manner of tribulations,
all the burdens and hardships of life and sings not the song of this world, but
celebrates the joy of the heavenly. Only
three words, but what gracefilled strength they possess! Where does this grace come from for us
mortals? What is unique about this
miraculous strength?
It is the eternal miracle of our Savior,
Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the
life-giving fruits of His redemptive suffering on the cross.
I congratulate all of the esteemed priests,
monastics and faithful members of our diocese with this grand and truly
glorious day - the Ressurection of Christ!
Christ is Risen!
Most Reverend Sofroniy
Bishop of
The Ressurection of Christ,