Posted on by atfurse

All Saints: Living the Beatitudes

I have an important message for you all this morning: God has a plan for your life! Now, you may well have heard these words before, possibly from someone preaching a sermon, but they contain a profound truth. They are found in the Bible, in words that God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Oherwydd myfi sy’n gwybod fy mwriadau a drefnaf ar eich cyfer, medd yr Arglwydd, bwriadau o heddwch nid niwed, i roi ichwi ddyfodol gobeithiol. (Jer 29:11)

It can be hard to hold onto such a promise, especially when times are difficult and the outlook is bleak. We need to ask ourselves the question, ‘Do we trust God?’ If the answer is ‘Yes’ then, whatever difficulties or hardships may come our way, we know that our future is in safe hands.

Fundamentally, the point of being a Christian is to reside in Heaven. Such a destination is possible because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, out of love. This is the plan God has for our life, and this is why Jesus became man, lived, died, and rose from the dead. God shows us both how to live, and what He desires for us. We can have faith, and put our trust in the God who loves us, in the clear hope that, after our earthly life is over, we may enjoy eternity with God and the Saints in Heaven. Most of all, in this hope, we can live earthly lives of love, loving both God and each other, foreshadowing the eternal joys of Heaven. 

In our current culture we are not used to hearing such a message. There is a tendency to think that holiness is for other people, certainly not for us. But God wants each and every one of us to become a saint. He wants us to live in a world full of people trying to be saints. The Church is ‘a school for saints’ (which is peopled by sinners), in which Christians try to live out their faith, cooperating with the grace of God. We do this when we let Christ live in us, so that we can say with the Apostle Paul:

‘It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.’

‘a mwyach, nid myfi sy’n byw, ond Crist sy’n byw ynof fi.’ (Gal 2:20)

There is a paradox at work here. For when we truly let Christ live in us, we do not lose ourselves, but instead we discover who we really are. This enables us to become the people God wants us to be; the people we were created to be. As Jesus says in Matthew’s Gospel:

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Oherwydd pwy bynnag a fyn gadw ei fywyd, fe’i cyll, ond pwy bynnag a gyll ei fywyd er fy mwyn i, fe’i caiff. (Mt 16:25)

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints. On this day, in the eighth century ad, Pope Gregory III dedicated a chapel to All Saints in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and now there are many Churches with this dedication. It is a good thing to celebrate the fact that Heaven is full of saints. They are the Church Triumphant, who spend eternity praising God and praying for us. Just as we pray for our friends here on earth, it stands to reason that our friends in Heaven pray for us as well. It is reassuring to understand that we are not alone in our quest to reach Heaven, and to know that those who are already there long for us to join them. 

If Heaven is our goal, how then should we live our lives on earth? Thankfully today’s Gospel gives us a template to follow, an example of what a Christian life looks like. 

We constantly hear how the world around us values success and confidence, and looks up to the rich, and the powerful. In contrast to this, Jesus says to the gathered crowd:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

“Gwyn eu byd y rhai sy’n dlodion yn yr ysbryd, oherwydd eiddynt hwy yw teyrnas nefoedd.” (Mt 5:3)

‘Poor in spirit’ is not a term we are used to using today, but it means the exact opposite of pride. Jesus places humility as key to living a Christian life: knowing who we are, and our need for God. Only if we rely upon God, and not ourselves, and ask Him to work through us, can we truly live out the Christian life. 

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

“Gwyn eu byd y rhai sy’n galaru, oherwydd cânt hwy eu cysuro.” (Mt 5:4)

We mourn those we love, those whom we see no longer in this life. We do so because we love them, we miss them, we want to see them, and hold them, and talk to them. Our parting, while temporary, is still very painful. Thankfully the Kingdom of God, which Christ comes to bring, is a place of healing and comfort with the promise of eternal life. 

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

“Gwyn eu byd y rhai addfwyn, oherwydd cânt hwy etifeddu’r ddaear.” (Mt 5:5)

Gentle people are not weak: they know how to use their strength, and how not to use it. As Jesus will later say in Matthew’s Gospel: ‘Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’ ‘Cymerwch fy iau arnoch a dysgwch gennyf, oherwydd addfwyn ydwyf a gostyngedig o galon, ac fe gewch orffwystra i’ch eneidiau.’ (Mt 11:29). This is how God wants us to live as human beings. Christ is the example of gentleness we must follow. Once again, God’s vision of the future turns human expectations upside down. 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

“Gwyn eu byd y rhai sy’n newynu a sychedu am gyfiawnder, oherwydd cânt hwy eu digon.” (Mt 5:6)

Should we be devoted to God? Absolutely! Should we pray that His will is done on earth as it is in Heaven? Definitely! Jesus taught us to pray this way. Clearly God wants to see our world transformed and has invited us to help in the process; and doing so gives us fulfilment.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

“Gwyn eu byd y rhai trugarog, oherwydd cânt hwy dderbyn trugaredd.” (Mt 5:7)

We see what God’s mercy looks like in Christ’s death for us on the Cross. In following Christ’s example, we both ask for forgiveness for our own sins, and forgive those who sin against us. This forgiveness can transform us and the world around us, and it is how the healing and reconciliation of God’s Kingdom functions. 

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

“Gwyn eu byd y rhai pur eu calon, oherwydd cânt hwy weld Duw.” (Mt 5:8)

To be pure in heart is to want what God wants: to align our will with the will of God. It is to be saintly, and thus have the promise of Heaven, which is less of a place or a time, and much more a relationship. To see God is know Him, and to know His love for us. This is the very thing that Christ comes to restore to humanity, and it is our hope. 

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” 

“Gwyn eu byd y tangnefeddwyr, oherwydd cânt hwy eu galw’n feibion i Dduw.”(Mt 5:9)

First and foremost, we know that Christ is the Son of God because He made ‘peace by the blood of his cross’ ‘ar ôl gwneud heddwch trwy ei waed ar y groes’ (Col 1:20). We too are called to follow Christ’s example to take up our Cross, and work for peace. We are called to strive for peace in our own hearts and lives, in our families and communities, and in our world.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

“Gwyn eu byd y rhai a erlidiwyd yn achos cyfiawnder, oherwydd eiddynt hwy yw teyrnas nefoedd. Gwyn eich byd pan fydd pobl yn eich gwaradwyddo a’ch erlid, ac yn dweud pob math o ddrygair celwyddog yn eich erbyn, o’m hachos i.” (Mt 5:10-11)

Following Jesus will not, by default, make us popular. Often people’s response is quite the opposite. If, however, we want to see God’s Kingdom as a reality in this life and the next, then we must be prepared to be shunned, or even ridiculed by others. To follow Christ is to take up the Cross, and to expect persecution. But we are not alone in this. Christ has gone before us, showing us that the story does not end with Death on a Cross, but with the glory of the Resurrection and Eternal life. 

If we want to become saints, then we have to be like Christ. We have to share in His suffering and death, and we have to be prepared to be rejected by the world. We may not face imprisonment, torture and death in this country, but many Christians around the world do. However, we may be scorned, ignored, or criticised. What do we do in such circumstances? We are called to be loving, generous, and forgiving, because that is what Jesus has shown us. We can be different to the world around us because we belong to a new community — the Kingdom — a community of faith, built on our relationship with Jesus Christ, who came to save humanity from itself. Our Lord came so that we might have life in all its fullness.This is what the Beatitudes mean. By living the life of God’s Kingdom in this place and at this time, we can live the life of Heaven (here and now) on earth. This is what God wants us to do. It is the way Jesus has showed us how to live. It is what the Saints have done before us.

So, on this feast of All Saints, let us be filled with faith and joy, and let us be ready to conform our lives to God’s will. May we live the life of the Kingdom together, and encourage others, so that all may join the choirs of Heaven to sing the praise of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, Duw Dad, Duw y Mab, a Duw yr Ysbryd Glân. To whom be ascribed all glory, dominion and power, now and forever. Amen

James Tissot, The Sermon on the Mount, Brooklyn Museum
Posted on by atfurse

Holy Cross Day

One of the important aspects of the liturgical life of the Church relates to the celebration of Saints’ Days in the Calendar. You might be aware that the 29th September is Michaelmas, but most people do not know why the feast is celebrated on that day. The date refers to the dedication of a church in Rome under St Michael’s patronage, which was dedicated on that day in the fifth century. Likewise, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the site of Our Lord’s Crucifixion and Resurrection, was built under orders from the Roman Emperor Constantine and dedicated on the 13th September 335ad. On the following day, the 14th September, the True Cross, which his mother, St Helena, had discovered in 326AD, was brought out for the Christian faithful to venerate. The feast day also commemorates the exaltation of the Holy Cross in Constantinople in 629AD, when the True Cross was returned by the Persians, who had taken it during the sack of Jerusalem some fifteen years earlier. 

That is why we celebrate the Holy Cross today. But what are we celebrating? The Cross of Christ. The fact that God loves humanity enough to suffer and die for us, to take away our sins, and to offer us eternal life with God forever. This is the central truth of our faith, a life-changing reality which affects both this life and the next. The Holy Cross changes the world. We are freed and saved by the Cross.

In this morning’s Gospel, Our Lord is explaining His mission to Nicodemus:

“Ac fel y dyrchafodd Moses y sarff yn yr anialwch, felly y mae’n rhaid i Fab y Dyn gael ei ddyrchafu, er mwyn i bob un sy’n credu gael bywyd tragwyddol ynddo ef.”

‘And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.’ (Jn 3:14-15)

Jesus is drawing a parallel between His death and a significant event in the Exodus story, which is this morning’s Old Testament reading. Once again the people of Israel are complaining about the food and conditions on their journey: 

“Pam y daethoch â ni o’r Aifft i farw yn yr anialwch? Nid oes yma na bwyd na diod, ac y mae’n gas gennym y bwyd gwael hwn.”

‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.’ (Num 21:5)

The Israelites are rejecting the manna, bread given from Heaven, a gift from God. In response, God sends snakes which kill them. This causes the people to realise their sin, and repent. They ask Moses to intercede for them with the Almighty, and Moses is instructed to do the following:

“Gwna sarff a’i gosod ar bolyn, a bydd pawb a frathwyd, o edrych arni, yn cael byw.”

‘Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.’ (Num 21:8)

God does not take the serpents away, but He does give healing, and life. The Exodus story points to Christ, the Saviour and giver of life. In the Gospel, Jesus is explaining the Crucifixion to Nicodemus, to help him begin to understand how God is giving life to humanity. Our Lord points out what causes death, and what will now bring life. 

Just as the serpent in the desert brought healing to the people of Israel, so now the Cross is our only hope. The sacrifice of God for humanity is a free gift of infinite value. God gives salvation to us, and to all the world, for one simple reason: because He loves us, and desires that we might become more lovely, more like Him. God sends His Son into the world not to condemn it, but so that the world might be saved through Him. This is an unselfish act of generosity, of grace, by our Maker so that we might be saved from sin and death, from ourselves, and so that we can share new life in Him.

‘Do, carodd Duw y byd gymaint nes iddo roi ei unig Fab, er mwyn i bob un sy’n credu ynddo ef beidio â mynd i ddistryw ond cael bywyd tragwyddol. Oherwydd nid i gondemnio’r byd yr anfonodd Duw ei Fab i’r byd, ond er mwyn i’r byd gael ei achub trwyddo ef.’

‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.’ (Jn 3:16-17)

These few words spoken by Jesus to Nicodemus, recorded in John’s Gospel, encapsulate what we believe as Christians, and why we believe these things. Strengthened through prayer, our study of the Bible, nourished by Our Lord’s Body and Blood, may we live out our beliefs, forgiven and forgiving, preparing to be caught up forever in the love of God. Christ liberates us from sin and death. He saves us so that we may enjoy eternal life with God. Our response to such generosity should be thankfulness: that we are loved by God, and saved by Him.

Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross is the same sacrifice which we see here this morning, which we can taste and touch. Bread and Wine, The Body and Blood of Our Lord which we can eat and drink, so that our lives and our souls can be transformed to live Christ’s risen life. We treat these elements with the uttermost reverence because they are God, given for us. They transform us to live as children of the Holy Spirit, freed from the shackles of this world. They strengthen us to live for God, to live as He wants us to, as His new creation. On a hundred thousand successive Sundays Christians have participated in this sacrifice, in memory of Him, to make the holy people of God. We likewise do this to make us holy: so that everything which we say, or think, or do, may be for God’s praise and glory.

Let us, therefore, give thanks for the fact that God loves us. Let us cling to the Cross, and let us sing the praises of God, Duw Dad, Duw y Mab, a Duw yr Ysbryd Glân. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I’r hwn y priodoler pob gogoniant, arglwyddiaeth, a gallu, yn awr, ac yn oes oesoedd. To whom be ascribed all glory, dominion and power, now and forever. Amen

Diego Velazquez Christ Crucified (Museo del Prado, Madrid)
Posted on by atfurse

Trinity VIII: Trust

These are certainly interesting times in which to live. But as Our Lord says in this morning’s Gospel, ‘Paid ag ofni’ ‘Do not be afraid’ (Lk 12:32) We can put our trust in one who will not abandon us, the God who loves us.

In this morning’s second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, we hear words addressed to a community of believers facing persecution. They are tempted not to believe in Jesus, and instead to revert to their former Jewish faith. The author has explained that Christ is our great High Priest, and that His Sacrifice has atoned for our sins. In the passage we hear an overview of salvation history from the creation of the universe to the time of the patriarchs. Just as the people of Israel sought to return from their exile in Egypt, we too seek our eternal homeland: Heaven. We ‘desire a better country, that is a heavenly one’, and we trust that our real homeland is in Heaven with God. This is the end of our journey of faith; a better place, where the worries of this world are cast aside.

In today’s Gospel Jesus comforts his followers.We are reminded that the Church began small with only a few people. Two thousand years later it is a huge community. We may feel that we are only a tiny part of the whole, that we are not big enough, and that is ok. When the Church began it was fragile and faithful, a flock uncertain of what the future would hold. But God loved the early Christians, just as He loves us, and longs to see us flourish. God gives us the Kingdom, a realm where He is in charge, and we can live lives of freedom, love, and fulfilment. God’s kingdom is a place of generosity, where gifts are shared. It looks radically different to the world around us, where wealth, status, power, and possessions matter, and are seen to give people value. But these are, in Luke’s words, ‘purses that wear out.’ In the kingdom of God, on the other hand, all of humanity has infinite value and dignity. This is because we are all made in the image and likeness of God. This is what gives us value, and not any other reason. God pours out His Grace upon the church freely, out of love, so that humanity might flourish, and have life in all its fulness.

Christians have the sure hope of Heaven, of sharing in the divine nature, together, with the saints. To be united with love itself. The love that created all that is. The love which redeemed us through the Suffering, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. That is why the second part of our Gospel reading this morning tells us to be prepared and ready for Our Lord’s Return.

Jesus, having ascended to the right hand of God the Father in Heaven, will return, as our Saviour and as Judge of all. Should we be afraid? Jesus tells us constantly not to be afraid. There is a choice for the hereafter: Heaven or Hell. It is up to us: what we believe and how we live our lives. The central message in the proclamation of the Kingdom is ‘Repent and Believe’. We can choose to turn away from sin, to turn to God, believe in Him, and live our lives accordingly. Or we can choose not to. We have a greater choice to make, which lasts for ever. Do we trust in a God who loves us so much that His Only Son died for us. Do we gather at this altar and receive the Eucharist so that we may be transformed by Him?

If we do these things, we open ourselves to living the Christian Life. The faith of our hearts affects who we are and what we do. We can be filled with joy as we await a judge who comes in mercy and love. The one who heals our wounds, and restores in us the image of the God who not only created us but all that exists. Our Christian faith leads us to action, which can transform the world around us, so that God’s kingdom becomes a reality, here and now. For where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. What greater treasure is there than eternal life in Heaven with God? This is offered to us freely. Nothing this world proffers comes close. It is all fleeting: wealth, power, privilege, do not last. But we can trust in the eternal promise of a God who loves us, and we can be ready to greet Him, when he comes again. Through the power of Christ’s sacrificial Death we have the hope of Heaven and the assurance of sins forgiven. This is GOOD NEWS. It helps us see the vanity of the world for what it is.

We all need to be ready for Jesus, when He comes. We do not know when this will be, but we are told that it will be at a time when we do not expect. Also Jesus will not come as we might expect. Instead of appearing as a judge, as someone powerful, Jesus reconfigures our understanding of power and authority. Rather than being someone who expects to be served, Jesus will come again to continue to serve. God, the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of all creation, will come and put on an apron and care for us. This image defies our expectation and understanding. It gives us a foretaste of the glory that is to come, where we will be transfigured like Our Lord, and experience the fulness of God’s kingdom.

However, for this to take place we need to be careful, and we need to be vigilant. Just because we do not know when Jesus will return does not mean that we can take things easy. Nor can we afford to be lax or lazy, and negligent in the way we treat others. That would be to go against the message of the Gospel. We need to both think and act as though Jesus will return NO —, during this very Eucharist — to judge and serve us. As we will welcome His Eucharistic presence with open hands and open hearts, so all of our lives should be open and welcoming to Him. We need to prefer Jesus and His Kingdom to anything else. For where our treasure is, there will our heart be also. We can have no excuse for not choosing Jesus and His message of the Kingdom over the cares and concerns of this world.

What we believe and how we act together are a sign and symbol of our relationship with God and one another. So then, let us continue to live lives together which proclaim the Gospel in word and deed, so that when Our Lord comes He may find us ready and doing his will, and singing the praise of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, to whom be ascribed as is most right and just all might, majesty, glory, dominion, and power, now and forever.

Posted on by atfurse

Remembrance Sunday 2024

When I was at school we had an educational trip to Normandy and stayed at Arramanches. The hotel was near the beach which formed a section of ‘Gold Beach’, part of the Normandy Landings. One of the temporary Mulberry Harbours, built by the Allies could still be seen in the sea. A highlight of the trip was a visit to Bayeux, both to see the tapestry and also to visit the British Military Cemetery. Bayeux War Cemetery contains the graves of nearly five thousand British and Commonwealth soldiers who died on the beaches of Normandy, some eighty years ago. There is something deeply profound and moving about being confronted with the scale of death and sacrifice made during the Normandy Campaign and in other theatres of war. It makes us realise that the freedom, peace, and security we now enjoy comes at a huge cost.

Today we give our thanks to Almighty God for all who have served and died for our country, and also for the peace in which we currently live. We give thanks for those who continue to serve and protect us, putting their lives on the line to keep us safe. We also give thanks for the work of the Royal British Legion, who, for over a hundred years, have raised money to support veterans, and to keep alive the memory of those who died. We wish them continued success in their important work.

As we recall the sacrifice made by people from the villages in which we live, from this country, and from all over the world, our remembrance must be an active one which has an effect on our lives. We remember the generosity of those who gave their lives to ensure that we can live free from warfare and suffering. Such generosity must leave a mark on our lives, and help us to learn from the mistakes of the past, and do all that we can to prevent them from being repeated in the future.

The concept of peace is not simply the absence of war, but rather the right ordering of the world around us. It means living the way God wants us to live. That stands for living in harmony, and love, one with another, and forgiving each other. In this morning’s reading from Matthew’s Gospel, Our Lord says:

‘Gwyn eu byd y tangnefeddwyr: oherwydd cânt hwy eu galw’n feibion Duw’

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God’ (Mt 5:9)

Peacemaking is costly and difficult. That is because it is rooted in sacrifice and forgiveness. However, there is no other way to bring about the peace for which we long. The greatest example we have of such forgiveness and sacrifice is the Cross. Here Jesus demonstrates to humanity how much we are loved by God, and the lengths to which the Son of God is prepared to go to show the world love, and to reconcile people both to God and to each other. 

The story does not end there. Jesus’ Death is followed by His Resurrection, on Easter Day, Sul y Pasg. Christ offers humanity the gift of eternal life, so that in Him our lives are changed and not ended. Christians believe that our earthly life is a prelude to our hope of eternity in Heaven, in the close presence of God.

This is how we should understand our life on earth: as a preparation for the life to come. When we listen to Christ’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, we find in Our Lord’s words a template for how we should live, as people of love and generosity. Such a lifestyle is consistent with the vision of the prophet Isaiah. He looks forward to a time when the wolf will lay with the lamb, and when swords will be beaten into ploughshares. God is ultimately responsible for such things, but we have our part to play as well — helping to make the Kingdom of God a reality. God’s Kingdom is a place of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. A place where wounds are healed, and humanity is restored by Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Who offered Himself so that we might live, and enjoy life in all its fulness.

My brothers and sisters, we are all called to cooperate with God and with each other, so that our lives are characterised by the love and service we see in Christ. This same love and service is shown by those who gave their lives so that we might enjoy the peace and freedom for which they longed. We are grateful, and we gather to remember them, and the peace which they won at so great a cost. We take time to reflect upon their example and dedicate ourselves to continuing what they started — bringing comfort to those who mourn, and striving for a world characterised by justice and peace. We do so together, knowing that our efforts honour the injured and the fallen. 

Therefore, let all of us gathered here today follow Jesus to the Cross and beyond. Let us live out God’s love, mercy, and service in our own lives. Let us take care of each other, and honour the memory of those who have gone before us.

We will remember them.

Ni â’u cofiwn hwy. 

Posted on by atfurse

Trinity I

THE novel by Robert Llewellyn —‘How green was my valley’ — reached millions through its 1941 film adaptation by John Ford. Telling the story of a family in a South Wales mining community, it criticises the unjust labour practises of the early twentieth century. Earlier in 1887 the historian Lord Acton wrote to the Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Cambridge, saying that, ‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ While this maxim now tends to be applied generally, it was originally a comment on religious institutions in general, and the medieval Papacy in particular. The truth of this statement is a reflection on our fallen human nature.

In the Gospels we often see Our Lord come into conflict with the Scribes, Priests, and Pharisees. These religious leaders are depicted as being more concerned with power and prestige than with the worship of Almighty God. If Religion is important then there will be a status attached to its ministers. They, therefore, have a responsibility to use this status for good, and to bring people closer to God.

In today’s Gospel it is the Sabbath, a day of rest. Jesus and His disciples are travelling, and the Pharisees notice that some of them have plucked ears of corn to eat. The Pharisees ask Our Lord:

‘Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?’

‘Edrych, pam y maent yn gwneud peth sy’n groes i’r Gyfraith ar y Saboth?’  (Mk 2:24)

Jews are forbidden from doing any work on Sabbath, and the harvesting of grain, no matter how little, counts as work. This appears to be a clear-cut case, but Jesus replies as follows:

‘Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?’

‘Onid ydych chwi erioed wedi darllen beth a wnaeth Dafydd, pan oedd mewn angen, ac eisiau bwyd arno ef a’r rhai oedd gydag ef? Sut yr aeth i mewn i dŷ Dduw, yn amser Abiathar yr archoffeiriad, a bwyta’r torthau cysegredig nad yw’n gyfreithlon i neb eu bwyta ond yr offeiriaid; ac fe’u rhoddodd hefyd i’r rhai oedd gydag ef?’ (Mk 2:25-26)

This story is recounted in 1Samuel 21:1-7. By referring to it Our Lord is making the point that if David’s actions were acceptable, then why is such a fuss being made about the disciples plucking a few ears of corn. Jesus underlines this by pointing out that:

‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath’

‘Y Saboth a wnaethpwyd er mwyn dyn, ac nid dyn er mwyn y Saboth’ (Mk 2:27)

The legalism of the Pharisees has led them to forget what the Sabbath is really about: rest. The point of having a Sabbath is to ensure that people have a day of rest. Instead this day has become bound up with rules and observances which neither honour God, nor encourage humanity to rest. 

Jesus and His disciples arrive at a synagogue where there is a man with a withered hand. Clearly this is another opportunity for the legalism of the Pharisees to come to the fore.

‘And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.’

‘Ac yr oeddent â’u llygaid arno i weld a fyddai’n iacháu’r dyn ar y Saboth, er mwyn cael cyhuddiad i’w ddwyn yn ei erbyn.’ (Mk 3:2)

Rather than rejoicing that God has performed a miracle, and that a man with a disability has been healed, all the Pharisees can see is an opportunity to complain about rule-breaking, and to bring an accusation against Jesus. Our Lord calls the man to Him, and says to the Pharisees:

‘Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?’

‘A yw’n gyfreithlon gwneud da ar y Saboth, ynteu gwneud drwg, achub bywyd, ynteu lladd?’ (Mk3:4)

They give no reply because they know that in order to save a life one may break every rule regarding the observance of the Sabbath. Jesus’ knowledge and interpretation of Jewish Scripture and Law is superior to theirs. Our Lord then asks the man to stretch out his hand, and he is miraculously healed. No law has been broken. Instead someone who was suffering, and who was probably shunned and made an outcast in society, has been cured and brought back into the fold of the community. God’s power to heal and restore humanity has been displayed. The Kingdom of God has been announced in deed.  

The response of the religious authorities is telling. Do they rejoice at this miracle? The answer is definitely no.

‘The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.’

‘Ac fe aeth y Phariseaid allan ar eu hunion a chynllwyn â’r Herodianiaid yn ei erbyn, sut i’w ladd.’ (Mk 3:6)

The Pharisees have formed an alliance with a priestly party, keen on political independence. Both sides share a common aim — to get rid of Jesus. This is because He represents a threat to their power. Our Lord’s words and actions are understood by the Pharisees as an assault on their privileged position, with their innate goodness being ignored. From the start of His public ministry, Christ faces opposition from people who want Him dead. They think that they can destroy Jesus, and that will be the end of the matter, whereas it will only be the beginning. Our Lord will die on a Cross, but will be raised to new life at Easter. Calvary and the Empty Tomb are the salvation of humanity, part of God’s plan.

As Christians we gather on the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, to celebrate Christ’s Death and Resurrection. By means of the Eucharist, we do that which Jesus commanded us to do until He comes again. For one hundred thousand successive Sundays the faithful have gathered to share in Holy Communion, because it matters, it is important. We are fed with the Bread of Angels, with the Body and Blood of Christ, so that we may be healed and given a foretaste of Heaven.

So, my brothers and sisters, let us rejoice in the healing salvation of Christ. Let us proclaim the Good News, so that all people may come to know, and love, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To whom be ascribed all glory, dominion, and power, now and forever. Amen.

James Tissot – The Man with a withered hand (Brooklyn Museum)
Tissot: The Disciples Eat Wheat on the Sabbath (Brooklyn Museum)
Posted on by atfurse

Trinity Sunday 2024: Transformed by God’s Love: Exploring the Trinitarian Faith and Sacramental Life

WE are all extremely fortunate to live in North Pembrokeshire for many reasons, and especially because we are close to so many hills. Mountains and hills take a lot of effort to climb, but once you have ascended, you can see for miles around. Hilltops are special places, and today’s Gospel takes place on one. Also, many other important and significant moments in Matthew’s Gospel take place on mountains including the Temptation, the Sermon on the Mount, the Transfiguration, and the Crucifixion. Our Lord also speaks His final words before his Ascension on a hilltop. 

Last Sunday we celebrated Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church: a revelation of who God is, and how much God loves us, His people. This week we continue to meditate upon God’s love. This love forms a relationship so intimate that God is closer to us than we are to ourselves — that is something quite hard to get our heads around! Above all, God’s love is something to be experienced, rather than understood. Through this experience God transforms us, so that we can experience that love more fully, and finally enjoy it for eternity, in Heaven.

In today’s Gospel Jesus’ disciples have been told to go to Galilee, to a particular mountain, to meet the Risen Lord. They are obedient, and head north from Jerusalem. When the disciples arrive at the mountain, they see Our Lord and bow down and worship Him — just like the Wise Men did at His birth. Some of the apostles, however, doubt. They have not yet fully grasped the reality of the situation: the fact that Jesus has risen from the dead, is preparing to ascend to His Father, and send the Holy Spirit. Before His Ascension, Jesus comes to them, and speaks to them saying:

‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’

‘Rhoddwyd i mi, bob awdurdod yn y nef ac ar y ddaear’ (Mt 28:18)

This, at one level, is a grand claim to make. But, it is the fulfilment of a prophecy about the Son of Man made by the prophet Daniel:

‘And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.’

‘Rhoddwyd iddo arglwyddiaeth a gogoniant a brenhiniaeth, i’r holl bobloedd o bob cenedl ac iaith ei wasanaethu. Yr oedd ei arglwyddiaeth yn dragwyddol a digyfnewid, ac ni ddinistrir ei frenhiniaeth.’ (Dan 7:14)

Jesus is true God and true man. He fulfils the prophecies of scripture. He also has authority, which He shares with His Church, empowering it to act in His name.

Our Risen Lord tells the disciples to ‘Go therefore’ ‘Ewch, gan hynny’ (Mt 28:19). They are not to stay put, but are called to be active in the world. The Church is given a mission to: ‘make disciples of all nations’ ‘gwnewch ddisgyblion o’r holl genhedloedd’ (Mt 28:19). The disciples, having been taught by Jesus, are empowered to teach the faith to others. The Church has a universal mission. No-one is to be excluded or left out. As well as being proclaimers of the faith, the apostles are also instructed to baptize new converts:

‘baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’

‘gan eu bedyddio hwy yn enw’r Tad a’r Mab a’r Ysbryd Glân’ (Mt 28:19)

This small detail is important. It matters. From the very beginning, the Christian Faith is a Trinitarian Faith. We believe in One God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three persons, bound together in love, who invite the world to be in a relationship with Them.

Our Eucharist this morning began, ‘Yn enw’r Tad, a’r Mab, a’r Ysbryd Glân, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’, because this is the God whom we worship. We express our belief in the words that we use, and also in our actions. Our deeds show in a physical way what we believe. As Christians, we are called to live out the faith of our baptism in our lives. God, who is love, has shown that love to the world through His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the sending of the Holy Spirit. To be a Christian is to have encountered that love, and been changed by it. We are changed in our baptism, when we are born again to new life in Christ. Also, we are changed each and every time we receive Holy Communion. By God’s grace, Communion, whether physical or spiritual, transforms us. Through this Sacrament we are united with Christ, so that we may become what He is, and share in the love which is the life of God.

Before Our Lord leaves His disciples He makes them a promise:

‘And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

‘Ac yn awr, yr wyf fi gyda chwi bob amser hyd ddiwedd amser.’ (Mt 28:20)

We are not alone. Christ is with us. He hears our prayers, and speaks to us in Scripture. This is very comforting to know. Jesus is with us in three ways. Firstly, through the sending of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, by being in the Church, which is His Body, and of which He is the Head. And thirdly, in the Sacraments which are outward signs of inward spiritual Grace. All these things are freely given to transform us into children of God. These blessings allow us, and all Christians, to share in the very life of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To whom be ascribed all, glory, dominion, and power, now and forever. Amen.

Posted on by atfurse

The Second Sunday of Easter

This morning we welcome baby Alice into the Christian community. This is an important day for her, as well as her family, and for all of us present here today.

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus was baptised by John in the River Jordan. Today I will use the blessed water in the font and holy oil. The font is placed near the door of the church because baptism is the way that we enter the Church and become a member of the Christian community.

Today’s reading from the First Letter of John speaks of loving the children of God (plant Duw) and of keeping God’s commandments. M____ and C_____ are following God’s commandments by bringing their daughter Alice to be baptised, and we are all here to support them in their actions.

The Gospel for today records the risen Jesus appearing to the disciples. Peter and John have already witnessed the empty tomb, Mary Magdalen has even talked with the Risen Christ. However, the disciples are afraid. Their Teacher has gone from being hailed as the Messiah and King, to being crucified. Christ’s followers are all scared for their lives, lest a mob come and attack them. Some of their number are saying that the tomb is empty, and that Jesus has risen. Then, suddenly, the risen Lord is there among them saying: 

“Peace be with you!” 

‘Tangnefedd i chwi!’ (John 20: 19)

In a situation of heightened emotion, Our Lord’s gift is peace. God’s peace is not just the absence of noise or violence (heddwch) but something richer and deeper. This is the ‘Peace which passeth all understanding’ ‘Tangnefedd sydd uchlaw pob deall’, something given to us by God to transform our lives. Next, Jesus breathes on His disciples giving them the Holy Spirit and the power to forgive sins. Christ’s followers are equipped for the work of proclamation and reconciliation. This is what Jesus came to do, and He commits the Church to continue His mission and His saving work. To help His followers, Christ gives them (and us) the Holy Spirit, God’s free gift to His people, a sign of His generous love.

When Jesus appears to the disciples, one of them is absent. Thomas is not there — maybe he has been to get them all some food. When Thomas returns and hears what has happened, he feels somewhat left out. He is unsure and wants to have physical proof of Jesus’ Resurrection before he is able to fully believe:

“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

“Os na welaf ôl yr hoelion yn ei ddwylo, a rhoi fy mys yn ôl yr hoelion, a’m llaw yn ei ystlys, ni chredaf fi byth.” (John 20: 6-7)

These are the words of someone who longs to experience the reality of the Resurrection. Like the other disciples, Thomas has been on something of an emotional rollercoaster. It is understandable that he wants to be certain, to experience with his own eyes and hands that Jesus is alive.

A week later, Jesus comes to the disciples again, and says to them: 

“Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

“Tangnefedd i chwi!” Yna meddai wrth Thomas, “Estyn dy fys yma. Edrych ar fy nwylo. Estyn dy law a’i rhoi yn fy ystlys. A phaid â bod yn anghredadun, bydd yn gredadun.” (Jn 20:26-27)

Jesus gives Thomas what he wants: the opportunity to experience the reality of the Resurrection and to touch the wounds of love and mercy. This leads Thomas to reply to Jesus:

“My Lord and my God!”

“Fy Arglwydd a’m Duw!” (Jn 20:28)

Thomas no longer doubts. Instead he confesses that Jesus is God, and the Lord of his life. This is a profound and concise statement of faith, declaring both who Jesus is, and what He has done. Thomas has journeyed from doubt and despair to true faith. Doubt is the starting point, but it is not the end of the journey. St Thomas should not be known as ‘Doubting Thomas’, but rather as ‘Believing Thomas’, as this is what he becomes. Thomas’ belief changes his life, and leads him to take the Gospel to be proclaimed far and wide. He travels as far as India, founding Christian communities which have endured for two thousand years. Such faith is our inheritance, and in it we are blessed, as those who have not seen, but yet believe. We too are called to be like Thomas, and to share the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection with the world. 

At its heart today’s Gospel should be understood as something to encourage us in our life of faith:

‘but these [things] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.’

‘Ond y mae’r rhain wedi eu cofnodi er mwyn i chwi gredu mai Iesu yw’r Meseia, Mab Duw, ac er mwyn i chwi trwy gredu gael bywyd yn ei enw ef.’ (Jn 20:31)

Belief in Jesus leads to New Life. This underlines the Christian understanding of baptism. Through baptism we share in Jesus’ Death and Resurrection, and are given new life. This new life is eternal life with Christ, and in Christ.

At the Easter Vigil, last week, we renewed our baptismal promises to remind ourselves of what Our Lord has done for us. What Jesus has done for you, and for me, and for every Christian over the past two thousand years. In our Baptism we are united with Christ and made brothers and sisters. We become part of a new family which we call the Church. This new family is called to live in a new way. This is made clear in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Here we see people of faith being loving and generous, caring for each other. We pray that we may be inspired by their example, and live out the faith of our baptism throughout our lives. 

Next to the font is our wonderful Easter Garden, which includes the Empty Tomb, the site of Jesus Resurrection.It is important to take our time over our celebration of Easter. We need time to allow the reality of what we commemorate to sink in. Something this wonderful, this world-changing, needs to be pondered, and shared. We gather today to do what the disciples did, and are filled with joy at Our Lord’s Resurrection from the dead. Through Christ’s Resurrection we are changed, transformed, and filled with God’s love. In the same way Alice will shortly be changed, transformed and filled with God’s love. Easter is a traditional time for baptism, and as a Christian community we welcome Alice and pray for her, and for her family. Today, and every day, we give thanks and praise to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To whom be ascribed all, glory, dominion, and power, now and forever. Amen.

Tissot: L’Incredulité de Saint Thomas, (Brooklyn Museum)
Posted on by atfurse

Easter 2024

It is early in the morning and a woman sits in the darkness. Her beloved teacher, whom she has followed and supported for years was placed in a tomb a few days before, after having being executed for political and religious reasons. The sun has not yet risen, and as she sits, she cries. A week ago He was being hailed as the Messiah, God’s anointed, the Davidic king come to set His people free. Yet within a few days, the same people who cried ‘Hosanna’ were shouting ‘Crucify him!’ ‘Crucify him!’. So she goes, to be near her Lord, to be close to him. And as she goes, she notices something: the stone has been rolled away. It took several people to roll it there on Friday afternoon. What is going on? Mary Magdalen runs to tell Peter and John:

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 

‘Y maent wedi cymryd yr Arglwydd allan o’r bedd, ac ni wyddom lle y maent wedi ei roi i orwedd’ (John 20: 2)

Mary assumes, understandably, that grave-robbers have been at work. Or that the Jewish or Roman authorities, worried that this troublemaker might be a focus for dissent, have got rid of Him. To do so makes sense in political terms, but something greater has happened. Peter and John come running towards the tomb. John arrives first, peers inside the tomb, but stays outside. 

‘Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.’

‘Yna daeth Simon Pedr ar ei ôl, a mynd i mewn i’r bedd. Gwelodd y llieiniau yn gorwedd yno, a hefyd y cadach oedd wedi bod am ei ben ef; nid oedd hwn yn gorwedd gyda’r llieiniau, ond ar wahân, wedi ei blygu ynghyd’ (John 20: 6-7)

What happens is a gradual process. Bit by bit, the followers of Jesus come to experience and understand this incredible and amazing event. 

Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.’

‘Yna aeth y disgybl arall, y cyntaf i ddod at y bedd, yntau i mewn. Gwelodd ac fe gredodd. Oherwydd nid oeddent eto wedi deall yr hyn a ddwed yr Ysgrythur, fod yn rhaid iddo atgyfodi oddi wyth y meirw. Yna aeth y disgyblion adref yn eu holau.’ (John 20: 8-10)

A few days ago the disciples saw their Lord and Teacher killed and buried, but now the tomb is empty. The cloths that were wrapped around Jesus are there, but there is no body. John, the disciple Jesus loved, understands and believes. Peter does not yet understand or believe. Clearly it is all too much for Mary Magdalen who stays by the tomb, weeping. When the angels ask her why she is crying she replies:

“They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

“Y maent wedi cymryd fy Arglwydd i ffwrdd, ac ni wn i lle y maent wedi ei roi i orwedd.” (John 20: 13)

Mary’s words are understandable, she is filled with grief and sadness. She is bereft and confused. At this point, Mary Magdalen encounters the Risen Christ:

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

‘“Wraig,” meddai Iesu wrhti, “pam yr wyt ti’n wylo? Pwy yr wyt yn ei geisio?” Gan feddwl mai’r garddwr ydoedd, dywedodd hithau wrtho, “Os mai ti, Syr, a’i cymerodd ef, dywed wrthyf lle y rhoddaist ef i orwedd, ac fe’i cymeraf fi ef i’m gofal.”’ (John 20: 15)

Mary supposes that Jesus is the gardener, the person employed to look after the cemetery. She does not yet understand who He is, or what is going on. However, the mention of the gardener is significant. In Genesis, humanity was created by God in a garden, Eden, and given the task of tending it (Gen 2:15). The Resurrection also takes place in a garden, showing us that Christ is the second Adam. Whilst the first Adam brought death to humanity by a tree, Jesus, the Second Adam, has brought life to the world by the tree of the Cross. Humanity falls because of a tree, and because of a tree we are offered eternal life in Christ. 

It was on the first day of the week, that Creation began, and now on the first day of the week we see a New Creation. Christ has risen from the dead, and conquered Death and Hell. Our Lord is a gardener, and the plants he tends are human beings. We believe in a God who loves us, who cares for us, and who longs to see us grow and flourish.

Jesus greets Mary Magdalen by name, and suddenly she recognises Him. She understands. She believes. Then Christ talks of His Ascension, as though forty days of Easter have condensed into a single moment. Mary now knows what she must do:

‘Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.’

‘Mair Magdalen i gyhoeddi’r newydd i’r disgyblion. “Yr wyf wedi gweld yr Arglwydd.” meddai, ac eglurodd ei fod wedi dweud y geiriau hyn wrthi’ (Jn 20:18)

Mary shares the Good News, just as Peter and Paul do in the first and second readings this morning. As Christians we are called to do likewise: to tell others that God loves us, all of us, that He died for us, and that He rose again to offer us eternal life with Him. This is the message of Easter. Good News! Christ has triumphed over Death and Hell, and humanity is healed and restored through Him.

So, my brothers and sisters in Christ, ‘Pasg hapus i chi gyd!’ ‘A Happy Easter to you all!’ May you, and those you love, be filled with Resurrection joy and strength, on this Easter Day and always. Amen.

Fra Angelico (Italian, ca. 1395–1455), “Noli me tangere,” 1440–42. Fresco from the convent of San Marco, Florence, Italy. http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/a/angelico/index.html
Posted on by atfurse

An Easter Homily ascribed to St John Chrysostom [PG 59: 721-4]

Εἴ τις εὐσεβὴς καὶ φιλόθεος, ἀπολαυέτω τῆς καλῆς ταύτης πανηγύρεως· εἴ τις δοῦλος εὐγνώμων, εἰσελθέτω χαίρων εἰς τὴν χαρὰν τοῦ Κυρίου αὐτοῦ· εἴ τις ἔκαμενηστεύων, ἀπολαβέτω νῦν τὸ δηνάριον· εἴ τις ἀπὸ πρώτης ὥρας εἰργάσατο, δεχέσθω σήμερον τὸ δίκαιον ὄφλημα· εἴ τις μετὰ τὴν τρίτην ἦλθεν, εὐχαριστῶν ἑορτάσῃ· εἴ τις μετὰ τὴν ἕκτην ἔφθασε, μηδὲν ἀμφιβαλλέτω· καὶ γὰρ οὐδὲν ζημιοῦται· εἴ τις ὑστέρησεν εἰς τὴν ἐννάτην, προσελθέτω μηδὲν ἐνδοιάζων· εἴ τις εἰς μόνην ἔφθασε τὴν ἑνδεκάτην, μὴ φοβηθῇ τὴν βραδυτῆτα. Φιλότιμος γὰρ ὢν ὁ Δεσπότης δέχεται τὸν ἔσχατον, καθάπερ καὶ τὸν πρῶτον· ἀναπαύει τὸν τῆς ἑνδεκάτης,ὡς τὸν ἐργασάμενον ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης· καὶ τὸν ὕστερον ἐλεεῖ, καὶ τὸν πρῶτον θεραπεύει· κἀκείνῳ δίδωσι, καὶ τούτῳ χαρίζεται. Καὶ τὴν πρᾶξιν τιμᾷ, καὶ τὴν πρόθεσιν ἐπαινεῖ. Οὐκοῦν εἰσέλθητε πάντες εἰς τὴν χαρὰν τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, καὶ πρῶτοι καὶ δεύτεροι τὸν μισθὸν ἀπολάβετε, πλούσιοι καὶ πένητες μετὰ ἀλλήλων χορεύσατε, ἐγκρατεῖς καὶ ῥᾴθυμοι τὴν ἡμέραν τιμήσατε, νηστεύσαντες καὶ μὴ νηστεύσαντες εὐφράνθητε σήμερον. Ἡ τράπεζα γέμει, τρυφήσατε πάντες· ὁ μόσχος πολὺς, μηδεὶς ἐξέλθοι πεινῶν. Πάντες ἀπολαύσατε τοῦ πλούτου τῆς χρηστότητος. Μηδεὶς θρηνείτω πενίαν· ἐφάνη γὰρ ἡ κοινὴ βασιλεία· μηδεὶς ὀδυρέσθω τὰ πταίσματα· συγγνώμη γὰρ ἐκ τοῦ τάφου ἀνέτειλε· μηδεὶς φοβείσθω τὸν θάνατον· ἠλευθέρωσε γὰρ ἡμᾶς ὁ τοῦ Σωτῆρος θάνατος· ἔσβεσεν αὐτὸν ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ κατεχόμενος· ἐκόλασε τὸν ᾅδην κατελθὼν εἰς τὸν ᾅδην· ἐπίκρανεν αὐτὸν γευσάμενον τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ. Καὶ τοῦτο προλαβὼν Ἡσαΐας ἐβόησεν· Ὁ ᾅδης, φησὶν, ἐπικράνθη. Συναντήσας σοι κάτω ἐπικράνθη· καὶ γὰρ καθῃρέθη· ἐπικράνθη· καὶ γὰρ ἐνεπαίχθη. Ἔλαβε σῶμα, καὶ Θεῷ περιέτυχεν· ἔλαβε γῆν, καὶ συνήντησεν οὐρανῷ· ἔλαβεν ὅπερ ἔβλεπε, καὶ πέπτωκεν ὅθεν οὐκ ἔβλεπε. Ποῦ σου, θάνατε, τὸ κέντρον; ποῦ σου, ᾅδη, τὸ νῖκος; Ἀνέστη Χριστὸς, καὶ σὺ καταβέβλησαι· ἀνέστη Χριστὸς, καὶ πεπτώκασι δαίμονες· ἀνέστη Χριστὸς, καὶ χαίρουσιν ἄγγελοι· ἀνέστη Χριστὸς, καὶ νεκρὸς οὐδεὶς ἐπὶ μνήματος. Χριστὸς γὰρ ἐγερθεὶς ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἀπαρχὴ τῶν κεκοιμημένων ἐγένετο· αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

If anyone is a devout lover of God, let them rejoice in this beautiful radiant feast. If anyone is a faithful servant, let them gladly enter into the joy of their Lord. If any are wearied with fasting, let them now reap their reward. If any have laboured since the first hour, let them receive today their just reward. If any have come after the third hour, let them celebrate the feast with thankfulness. If any have arrived after the sixth hour, let them not doubt, for they will sustain no loss. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let them not hesitate but draw near. If any have arrived at the eleventh hour, let them not fear their lateness. For the Master is gracious and welcomes the last no less than the first. He gives rest to those who come at the eleventh hour just as kindly as those who have laboured since the first hour. The first he fills to overflowing: on the last he has compassion. To the one he grants his favour, to the other pardon. He does not look only at the work: he looks into the intention of the heart. Enter then, all of you, into the joy of your Master. First and Last, receive alike your reward. Rich and poor dance together. You who have fasted and you who have not, rejoice today. The table is fully laden: let all enjoy it. The fatted calf is served: let no-one go away hungry. Come all of you, share in the banquet of faith: draw on the wealth of his mercy. Let no-one lament their poverty; for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no-one weep for their sins; for the light of the forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no-one fear death; for the death of the Saviour has set us free. He has destroyed death by undergoing hell. He has despoiled hell by descending into hell. Hell was filled with bitterness when it tasted his flesh, as Isaiah foretold: ‘Hell was filled with bitterness when it met you 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 destroyed; filled with bitterness, for it was put in chains. It received a body, and encountered God. It received earth, and confronted heaven. It received what it saw, and was overpowered by what it did not see. O death, where is your sting? O hell, where is your victory? Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns in freedom. Christ is risen, and the grave is emptied of the dead. For Christ being raised from the dead has become the first-fruits of those who sleep. To him be glory and dominion to the ages of ages. Amen.