He is risen indeed!
Is there anyone here who is a true lover of God? Then come, enjoy this resplendent and most radiant Feast! Anyone here who is a faithful servant? Come, enter joyfully into the joy of your Lord! Any weary with fasting? Receive now your recompense! Anyone who toiled from the first hour? Receive then your due reward. Did you come after the third hour? With gratitude, come, join in the Feast! And if after the sixth hour? Doubt not! for you’ll suffer no loss. And if any delayed till the ninth hour, do not hold back, but draw near. And what if only at the eleventh hour? Fear not because of your delay! For the Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first, and gives rest to the one who comes at the eleventh hour as He does to one that toiled from the first. To this one He gives, upon the other He bestows; He accepts the deed, as He welcomes the effort; honours the achievement, and commends the intention. Enter then, all of you, into the joy of our Lord! First and last alike receive your reward! Rich and poor, come, dance together! Sober and sluggish, celebrate the day! You that fasted, and you that didn’t, rejoice today for the Table is full laden! Feast royally, for the calf is a "fatted one". So let none go hungry. Partake, all of you, of the cup of faith. Relish the full riches of His goodness! Let no one lament his poverty, for the universal kingdom is revealed. Let no one bewail his frequent faults, for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Saviour’s death has set us free. He destroyed death by undergoing it; despoiled Hell by descending into it. He set it in a rage even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he cried, “You, O Hell, were embittered when you met Him face to face below!” — embittered, for it was brought to naught! — embittered, for it was mocked! — embittered, for it was overthrown! — embittered, for it was put in chains! Hell took hold of a corpse, and stumbled upon God instead. It took hold of earth, and encountered Heaven. It took hold of what it saw, and was felled by what it could not see. O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory? Christ is Risen! and you, O Death, are crushed! Christ is Risen! and the demons are defeated! Christ is Risen! and the angels sing for joy! Christ is Risen! and life has been set free! Christ is Risen! and the tomb is emptied of its dead! Christ, risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of all who fell asleep in death. To Him be the glory and the power unto the ages of the ages. Amen!
(The Catechetical Sermon of St. John Chrysostom, c.347-407, read during Matins of Easter)
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