Saturday, March 31, 2018

Reenacting Creation


A Sermon preached on March 31st 2018, Great Vigil of Easter, at St. Augustine’s, Wiesbaden



Let’s talk about traditions. This is the last of the Triduum or three holy days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Day. Yes, I know it’s still Saturday, but in the Jewish tradition we started a new day at sundown. At each service we reenacted an event in that last week: The Last Supper in both the synoptic, i.e. focusing on the meal and Johannine traditions, i.e. with the foot washing at the center. The Crucifixion followed by a day of emptiness. And tonight – well tonight we reenact nothing less than creation! The first light is here – we lit the Paschal candle and from it all your candles. But it is still dark, there are still shadows. We have just heard six lessons about God’s mighty acts, starting with the story of creation, and through many acts of salvation. Soon, in the second half of the service we will hear – in the Gospel – of the mighty act of Christ’s resurrection – our new creation and there will be even more light as we celebrate the light of the world.

In the early Church, this was the traditional service for Baptism at the end of a long period of preparation during the season of Lent. We don’t have a Baptism tonight, but instead we will renew our Baptismal vows. Baptism is a symbolic death. As we will hear in just a moment in his letter to the Romans (6:3) , Paul writes: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” But Baptism is also an act of renewal and a reminder of the new and life that Jesus promises and of which his own resurrection is what we call a first fruit or foretaste. And so immediately following the renewal of vows we will hear the Easter Proclamation and there will be light and a joyful sound! For tonight we celebrate God’s mightiest work, the beginning of a new creation in the resurrection of Christ Jesus. 

As part of that celebration, and in keeping with another tradition, of the Eastern Orthodox churches, I am going to read the Easter sermon of John Chrysostom (circa 400 AD). He wasn’t called golden tongue for nothing! 

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 him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his 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.
Let us 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 grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has 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 has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, 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 risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

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