As our friends in the West celebrate Holy Week, the Crucifixion, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Vice-President Fr Anthony Mourad has shared a few words of reflection with us:
Christ is risen! Truly he is risen!
The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ is considered the Feast of Feasts, the glorious and life-giving victory of our King over death. Having completed the journey of Great Lent and the solemn days of Holy Week, we now stand in the joy of Pascha to behold the risen Christ.
There is a reason why the Feast of the Resurrection is often called the greatest of all feasts. The Cross is indeed the symbol of Christianity, yet the Resurrection is its joy. The Cross reveals the love of God, but the Resurrection proclaims His victory. Indeed, the hope of our faith rests in the Resurrection. We proclaim with Paul “But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)
Throughout Christian history we have heard of holy people who, by the power of God, have raised the dead. Yet only Christ possessed within Himself the power to defeat death personally. Death, which had long held humanity in bondage, has been overthrown by the One who is Life (John 14:6). For this reason, many Christian traditions will sing the anthem of the resurrection, saying “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.”
This hymn expresses the joy for which we have fasted and prayed. It is the fulfillment of our Lenten struggle and the radiant outcome of our Paschal celebration. It is the long-awaited crown of the Paschal season.
The Early Church Fathers speak of Christ’s victory in a most beautiful manner. St. Gregory of Nazianzus teaches that humanity required a God who would become incarnate—a God who would share in our humanity, suffer death, and rise again so that we might have life more abundantly (John 10:10). He reminds us that Christ descended to our lowliness so that we might be lifted up; Christ endured dishonor so that we might be glorified; He died so that we may live; and He ascended so that we might be drawn up to Him.
St. Gregory summarizes all the events that lead up to the Resurrection by saying “A few drops of Blood recreate the whole of creation!”
Likewise, St. John Chrysostom echoes St. Paul and proclaims:
“O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown.
Christ is risen, and life reigns.”
In this victorious and wonderful season of the resurrection, Christians traditionally will greet one another with joy, saying: Christ is risen! And we answer with unwavering faith: Truly He is risen! A bold and joyful proclamation that we believe in the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Beloved brothers and sisters, this is the faith we proclaim: that through His sacrifice and glorious Resurrection, the Lord has renewed all things. Humans were once moving toward death, but Christ has opened for us the path to life. Through His plan of salvation, and specifically through His glorious Resurrection, our humanity has been renewed and restored.
May the risen Christ, in his victory over death and sin, always be the source of your peace and joy in your hearts and homes. Christ is risen!
Fr Anthony Mourad
Vice-President
The Canadian Council of Churches