CHRIST IS RISEN!

If any be a devout lover of God, let him partake with gladness from this fair and radiant feast. If any be a faithful servant, let him enter rejoicing into the joy of his Lord. If any have wearied himself with fasting, let him now enjoy his reward. If any have laboured from the first hour, let him receive today his rightful due. If any have come after the third, let him celebrate the feast with thankfulness. If any have come after the sixth, let him not be in doubt, for he will suffer no loss. If any have delayed until the ninth, let him not hesitate but draw near. If any have arrived only at the eleventh, let him not be afraid because he comes so late.

For the Master is generous and accepts the last even as the first. He gives rest to him who comes at the eleventh hour in the same was as him who has laboured from the first. He accepts the deed, and commends the intention.

Enter then, all of you, into the joy of our Lord. First and last, receive alike your reward. Rich and poor, dance together. You who fasted and you who have not fasted, rejoice together. The table is fully laden: let all enjoy it. The calf is fatted: let none go away hungry.

Let none lament his poverty; for the universal Kingdom is revealed. Let none bewail his transgressions; for the light of forgiveness has risen from the tomb. Let none fear death; for death of the Saviour has set us free.

He has destroyed death by undergoing death. He has despoiled hell by descending into hell. He vexed it even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he cried: Hell was filled with bitterness when it met Thee face to face below; filled with bitterness, for it was brought to nothing; filled with bitterness, for it was mocked; filled with bitterness, for it was overthrown; filled with bitterness, for it was put in chains. Hell received a body, and encountered God. It received earth, and confronted heaven. O death, where is your sting? O hell, where is your victory?

Christ is risen! And you, o death, are annihilated! Christ is risen! And the evil ones are cast down! Christ is risen! And the angels rejoice! Christ is risen! And life is liberated! Christ is risen! And the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power, now and forever, and from all ages to all ages. Amen!

Not here..not yet...this is where’ we're at...

There's a stillness .... a hush waffling in the air tonight.
Streets are relatively quiet and the noise of busyness almost unheard.
As though the world awaits a special moment in time....

You layed low in the grave, sight unseen, mourners full of tears and heartache
left your tomb that day...asking questions..” if He really was the King why did this happen,
how could it happen...NO it just can't be”.....

Confused and hurt they stumbled down the dusty road they once enjoyed your company with,
bringing them time and again..joy and gladness....and such great hopes.
But here they are and all seems so lost.....”this just could not be.. or did we believe a lie?” they mummer.

Hearts burn and ache with the idea this might be true...”but it's impossible....
We heard him for ourselves...we walked with him..we saw his miracles..he spoke to
our hearts, read our minds before we could speak... who can do this were God not with Him?” they shouted.

Yet they give way once more to despair...they saw you suffer and die on that old rugged cross that day...
They heard the agony of your voice cry out..”My God My God why have you forsaken me” as the sound
echoed throughout the hills with groans never heard before.....and their hearts became numb...
How could they resolve the confusion and utter despair of these moments and all those to follow?

Questions burned through them like unquenchable heat....as one layered upon another without relief.
“Didn't he say his kingdom would come?....Didn't he say my peace I give to you?...or did we just hear the wind
as though without form and void.
What manner of man was this we believed in whom now lays in the darkness of a grave?
Our friend, our brother, our KING????..Who is he..who was he????...Why???

Who could really imagine Lord what they suffered at those moments....did they recall
your words that your Kingdom was not of this world...or that I go to prepare a place for you?....
How did they bare this great burden of heart and mind when they had invested all that they were in you?
They were after all just men going about another day when you found them......

CW.

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