The Sermon of St. John Chrysostom
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If anyone is devout and loves God,
let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant feast.
If anyone is a grateful servant,
let him enter rejoicing into the joy of his Lord.
If anyone has wearied themselves in fasting,
let them now receive their fair reward.
If anyone has laboured from the first hour,
let him today receive his just compensation.
If anyone has come at the third hour,
let him with thanksgiving keep the feast.
If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour,
let them have no misgivings; for they shall not be deprived.
If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour,
let them draw near without hesitation.
If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour,
let them not fear on account of their tardiness.
For the Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first;
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
just as to him who has laboured from the first.
He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first;
to the one He gives, and to the other He is gracious.
He both honours the work and praises the intention.
Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of your Lord, and,
whether first or last, receive your reward.
O rich and poor, together, dance for joy!
O you sober and you negligent, celebrate the day!
You who have fasted
and you who have disregarded the fast, rejoice today!
The table is rich-laden: feast royally, all of you!
The calf is fatted: let no one go away hungry!
Let all partake of the feast of faith.
Let all receive the riches of His goodness.
Let no one lament their poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn their transgressions,
for pardon has shone forth from the grave.
Let no one fear death,
for the Saviour's death has set us free.
He that was taken prisoner by death has destroyed it!
He descended into Hades and took Hades captive!
He embittered it when it tasted His flesh!
And foretelling this, Isaiah exclaimed:
"Hades was filled with bitterness when it encountered You in the lower regions".
It was filled with bitterness, for it was abolished!
It was filled with bitterness, for it was mocked!
It was filled with bitterness, for it was purged!
It was filled with bitterness, for it was plundered!
It was filled with bitterness, for it was bound in chains!
It took a body and met God face to face!
It took earth and encountered Heaven!
It took what was seen, but fell upon what was unseen!
O death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave!
For Christ, being raised from the dead,
has become the first-fruits of them that have fallen asleep.
To Him be glory and might unto the ages of ages. Amen.
.
If anyone is devout and loves God,
let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant feast.
If anyone is a grateful servant,
let him enter rejoicing into the joy of his Lord.
If anyone has wearied themselves in fasting,
let them now receive their fair reward.
If anyone has laboured from the first hour,
let him today receive his just compensation.
If anyone has come at the third hour,
let him with thanksgiving keep the feast.
If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour,
let them have no misgivings; for they shall not be deprived.
If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour,
let them draw near without hesitation.
If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour,
let them not fear on account of their tardiness.
For the Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first;
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
just as to him who has laboured from the first.
He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first;
to the one He gives, and to the other He is gracious.
He both honours the work and praises the intention.
Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of your Lord, and,
whether first or last, receive your reward.
O rich and poor, together, dance for joy!
O you sober and you negligent, celebrate the day!
You who have fasted
and you who have disregarded the fast, rejoice today!
The table is rich-laden: feast royally, all of you!
The calf is fatted: let no one go away hungry!
Let all partake of the feast of faith.
Let all receive the riches of His goodness.
Let no one lament their poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn their transgressions,
for pardon has shone forth from the grave.
Let no one fear death,
for the Saviour's death has set us free.
He that was taken prisoner by death has destroyed it!
He descended into Hades and took Hades captive!
He embittered it when it tasted His flesh!
And foretelling this, Isaiah exclaimed:
"Hades was filled with bitterness when it encountered You in the lower regions".
It was filled with bitterness, for it was abolished!
It was filled with bitterness, for it was mocked!
It was filled with bitterness, for it was purged!
It was filled with bitterness, for it was plundered!
It was filled with bitterness, for it was bound in chains!
It took a body and met God face to face!
It took earth and encountered Heaven!
It took what was seen, but fell upon what was unseen!
O death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave!
For Christ, being raised from the dead,
has become the first-fruits of them that have fallen asleep.
To Him be glory and might unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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