The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom
The Rev. Paddy Cavanaugh, Easter Vigil, Year B
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, amen.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church there is one sermon preached at the Easter Vigil and that is the paschal homily of St. John Chrysostom, written in 4th century. And as far as I’m concerned, it is the best sermon ever written. So when I sat down this week to write my own paschal homily, I swiftly realized that there is no point in trying to imitate perfection, when perfection is already before us. So I’d like for us to be Orthodox for the next ten minutes and I’ll preach it for you. Chrysostom captures so perfectly the theology of Easter, which is the theology of Christ Jesus himself. And the theology of Easter is that Christ, through his death and glorious resurrection conquered once and for all any power which sin and evil holds over us. Christ conquered death and we are free. Full stop.
Christ liberated life by breaking down the doors of hell and freeing its captives. There’s a magnificent image of this scene, known as the Harrowing of Hell, on the front cover of your bulletin. You’ll notice one the delightful detail in the bottom left corner of a little devil scampering away as Christ the victor breaks down hell’s doors.
You see, in our Western Church, we tend to think of hell as a place of fire and brimstone and eternal torment, but that’s actually a more recent, medieval invention. In the Eastern Churches, hell, or hades as it is called, is more like a temporary abode for the dead. And according to one theological tradition in orthodoxy, hell very much exists, but hell is empty. Christ liberated it.
And Christ, through his death and resurrection continues to liberate us from any and all alienation from God, forever. Whether you were born in church or whether this is the first time you’ve heard the name of Jesus, you can rejoice that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed.
So. Chrysostom. As I preach his sermon I’m going to need your help. Because this sermon is not just to be preached, it’s a dialogue. For the Orthodox there is traditional audience participation that I’ll explain. When I say certain key words, I need you to respond with certain key actions, and I need you to respond as if Christ is truly risen. Because he is. There are three things I’ll call on you to do.
First, whenever I say the word risen, as in Christ is risen, I need you to repeat risen. Let’s give it a try: Christ is Risen (Risen!) Again, like you mean it!
Next, when I say the word ‘embittered,’ as in death was embittered, I need you to repeat embittered. Let’s practice this. Death was Embittered. (Embittered!)
And finally, every time I say death, I need you to stomp your feet just like this (stomp), just like Jesus trampling down the doors in the picture. Let’s give it a go. Ready? Death where is thy sting? Alright I think we’re ready for resurrection. Let’s start from the top.
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In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, amen.
Are there any who are devout lovers of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Are there any who are grateful servants?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!
Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
if any have come after the third hour,
let them with gratitude join in the Feast!
And the one that arrived after the sixth hour,
let them not doubt; for they too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let them not hesitate; but let them come too.
And the one who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let them not be afraid by reason of their delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one he gives, and upon another he bestows.
He accepts the works as he greets the endeavor.
The deed he honors and the intention he commends.
Wherefore, you all, enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry.
Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of his goodness!
Let no one bewail their poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn if they have fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the death of our Savior has set us free.
He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it.
By descending into hell, he made hell captive.
He embittered it, even as it tasted of his flesh.
And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry:
“You, O Hell, have been embittered by encountering him below.”
Hell was embittered, because it was done away with.
It was embittered, because it is mocked.
It was embittered, for it is destroyed.
It is embittered, for it is annihilated.
It is embittered, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting? O Hell, where is thy 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 triumphed over death, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!