"Jesus met them, saying, 'Rejoice!'"

"Thus then they went to announce to His disciples, and behold!, Jesus met them, saying, 'Rejoice!'"--Mt 28:9

What Paschal message could be more fitting than Christ's own: "Rejoice!" He told the myrrhbearers.  "Rejoice, for I am risen!  Rejoice, for salvation has come!  Rejoice, for death has been trampled!  Rejoice, for the long-suffering just are freed from Hades!  Rejoice, for his grip on you is broken!  Rejoice, for Heaven is open for you!  Rejoice, for the earth rejoices!  Rejoice, for the heavenly rejoice with the earthly!  Rejoice, for all creation exclaims the most joyous and glorious hymn: 'Christ is risen from the dead, by death He trampled death, and to those in the tombs He granted life!'"  What more is there to say today, as we celebrate Pascha anew.  What Gabriel said truthfully and Judas twisted in his betrayal as been brought aright again by Christ, as He brings alright all that is fallen and straightens all that is twisted.  That great Gospel message now resounds in all its fullness: "Rejoice!"  Recalling the words of Ilias the Presbyter, "He who does not rejoice lacks hope," let us exhort one another as did St. Barsanuphius his brethren, "Rejoice in the Lord, my brother!"  For now is the greatest time to rejoice, for Christ our Pasch has been sacrificed, and yet He has been gloriously raised.  I can say nothing more of this glorious time than that one single word: "Rejoice!"  And let us rejoice for all the days of Pascha, the joyful counterpart to the Fast, being instructed by Yovhan Mandakuni as he contrasts the Fast to the Feast:

"Now these forty days [pertain to] the suffering associated with the Lord's crucifixion, and the other forty [pertain to] the Lord's resurrection unto life. These forty [pertain to] the vinegar and the gall of the Lord's suffering, and the other forty [pertain to] to the honeycomb and the broiled fish of the Lord's resurrection. These forty [pertain to] the sealed tomb under the soldiers' watch, and the other forty [pertain to] the angels' giving the good news of the Lord's resurrection to the [three] Marys. These forty are for Peter's tears for denying the Lord during His suffering, and the other forty for the threefold affirmation of Peter's love for the Lord. These forty are for Paul's dying daily for the Lord's sake, and the other forty for Paul's being crowned by the Lord. These forty are for the disciples' sorrow over the suffering of the Lord, and the other forty for the disciples' joy over the Lord's resurrection. These forty are for Mary's sorrow over the Lord's crucifixion, and the other forty for Mary's joy over the Lord's glorious rising to heaven at [the time of] the resurrection. These forty are to strengthen for good deeds, and the other forty to lead to the rewards. These forty are a means to repentance, and the other forty a guarantee of forgiveness. These forty are for the atonement of transgressions, and the other forty for having sins forgiven. These forty are to plead with God, and the other forty for the peace of reconciliation. These forty are for the reduction of wrath, and the other forty for the passing away of anger. These forty are an opportunity for propitiation, and the other forty to obtain mercy. These forty are for grief and sorrow, and the other forty for love and peace. These forty are for weeping and tears, and the other forty for joy and rejoicing. These forty are for plating the seed with pain and sorrow, and the other forty for reaping with glory and praise. These forty are for an opportunity for works, and the other forty for the showers of blessing. These forty are to teach good deeds, and the other forty for the distribution of good gifts. These forty are to set sail for profit, and the other forty for the port of peace. These forty are an instrument for righteousness, the other forty for the Kingdom with open gates. These forty mark the beginning of repentance, and the other forty perfect righteousness."

After all this, let us simply ceaselessly repeat the Paschal greeting of Christ: "Rejoice!  Christ is risen!"

Nota Bene: The quote from Ilias the Presbyter is from his A Gnomic Anthology §II.87, as found in volume III of The Philokalia compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Makarios of Corinth, translated and edited by G.E.H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard, and Bishop Kallistos Ware (London: Faber and Faber Limited, 1984).  The quote from St. Barsanuphius is a common one, but particularly found in his Letter 16, as found in volume 1 of The Letters of Sts. Barsanuphius and John, translated by John Chryssavgis, volume 113 of the series The Fathers of the Church: A New Translation (Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 2006).  The quote from Yovhan Mandakuni, Catholicos of Armenia from 478 to 490, is from the section "On Love and Sanctity Whereby Creatures Prosper" from his Encyclical on the Forty Days of Lent, as quoted in "Mandakuni's 'Encyclical' on fasting" by Abraham Terian, found in Worship Traditions in Armenia and the Neighboring Christian East: An International Symposium in Honor of the 40th Annivesary of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, edited by Roberta R. Ervine, volume 3 of the AVANT series (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press and New Rochelle, NY: St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, 2006).

 

Text ©2014 Brandon P. Otto.  Licensed via CC BY-NC.  Feel free to redistribute non-commercially, as long as credit is given to the author.