Paschal Vespers 2013 - Fr. Michael Margitich

Unlike any other feast day of the Church, the

celebration of Pascha continues in an uninterrupted

fashion for more, to be precise, for 40 days.

Until when? Ascension Day. It is unlike any other

feast day because... Pascha is the beginning.

It is the center. It is, in fact, the crown of

the liturgical year. In a word, we could say

it is the epicenter of all our liturgical functions.

Furthermore, it is the foundation of the Church.

the resurrection, there would be no proclamation

of Christ is risen. There would be no Christian

faith. There would be no New Testament. So overwhelmingly

important is this glorious and radiant feast

day that we continue to greet one another with

that wonderful salutation. Christ is risen. He

is risen. This feast brings unparalleled joy.

Even unrestrained and unabashed joy. Because

we declare and we chant and we sing. This is

the chosen and holy day. The day of the Lord.

The feast of feasts. And on this day, we say

we bless Christ forevermore. Why then, why then

this joy? Because Christ's resurrection is the

historical declaration that Christ overcame the

power of sin and more. specifically and importantly

the power of death. What greater news is there

to stand before this congregation or any other

people in the world and say salvation has come

and it is a reality, a present reality. The message

of Pascha as it unfolds in the pages of the New

Testament declares as was so poignantly and insightfully

mentioned in Father Lawrence's homily on Good

Friday in his message of the three crosses. What

did it mean? But that our world is in the hands

of God and not in some uncaring, unpleasant,

impersonal, Or indifferent power. Never forget.

Never. The last word. The last event of Christ.

Was not on the cross. If Christ offered nothing

but the cross. We would not be here. We would

not have a Christian religion. If Christ remained

in the grave. Then life. As some cynics tell

us today. Ends with death. And the ultimate value.

Of everything is nothing. Nor the Christian.

Doctrine. And faith is that. crucifixion did

not end his life pasta to use a rather earthly

expression is a sneak preview into the joy of

eternity it is a sneak preview of what is to

come Why this joy? Why this glorious celebration?

Because it is a resurrection. Our resurrection.

And that's the message. Because Christ resurrected,

he has given us the absolute. Assurance that

we too shall resurrect. His resurrection. Destroys.

Any doubt we might have. Regarding our future

life. His resurrection. Has overcome the forces

of evil. Of darkness. And thus he is the sovereign

over all history. The victorious Lord of life

and death. Pascha, my dear people, furthermore

inaugurates what the fathers of the church continually

preach. Something comparable to what God has

done As described in the first chapters of the

Old Testament. There is a new creation. A new

age has dawned. Because Christ has given us eternal

life. And this is not a wishful or sentimental

hope. But again and again I say to you it's a

present reality. And this is what St. Paul implied

when he wrote to the Christians at Philippi.

When he spoke this, knowing Christ, knowing Christ

and the power of his resurrection. So do away

with doubt and fear and uncertainty and unsureness.

With our Lord's rising from the tomb, the uncreated

light appears in all of its supernatural glory.

And our world is touched by the divine likeness.

Because in his resurrection, he renews all nature.

Furthermore, And it's endless, my people, endless.

The fathers of the church teach that Pascha is

the eighth day, meaning the never -ending day

of the kingdom. Pascha celebrates the death of

death and the beginning of eternal life. As we

heard last night and again today in our magnificent

hymnology, Pascha has opened the gates of paradise

for us. Every scar. Every hurt. Every tear. Every

sorrow. Every disappointment will be no more.

For we will live in a new age. And this is the

central message of the gospel. Yet. Again, I

say there is infinitely more. There's also the

theme of light. We sing, let us purify our senses.

And listen to this carefully. And we shall see

Christ shining in the unapproachable light of

his resurrection. That's an absolute assurance.

In last night's gospel, The evangelist John tells

us that Christ is the light of the world. He

enlightens and illumines all mankind. And more,

there is the theme of joy. Literally, it permeates

every hymn that was sung and we will continue

to sing for 40 days. Today, Christ comes from

the tomb and fills the women with joy saying,

proclaim the glad tidings to the apostles. Yet,

this is the day which the Lord has made. Let

us rejoice and be glad in it and let us embrace

each other. And in the words of St. Gregory,

and I will... even though I hesitate to do so.

Let us dwell upon the wonder of this mystery

that we may understand why Christ died. He came

down that we might rise up. He was tempted that

we might learn to overcome. He was despised that

we might be loved and be given honor. He died

that he might save us from death. He ascended

into heaven that we may be lifted up to him.

Because of Christ's resurrection, let us rejoice

and let us be glad in it. Let us be illumined

by the feast day and let us embrace each other.

And even those who hate us, let us sing. Let

us sing.