By: Alexander Schmemann
My belief in Christ does not come from the opportunity given to me to participate since earliest childhood in the paschal celebration. Rather, Pascha is made possible, that unique night fills with light and joy and such victorious power in the greeting "Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!" because my faith itself was born from experience of the living Christ. How and when was it born? I don’t know, I don’t remember. I only know that every time I open the gospel and read about Christ, read his words, read his teaching, I consciously repeat, with all my heart and being, what was said by those who were sent to arrest Christ but who returned to the Pharisees without him: "No man ever spoke like this man" (Jn. 7:46).
Therefore what I know first of all is that Christ’s teaching is alive, and that nothing on earth can be compared with it. And this teaching is about him, about eternal life, about victory over death, about a love that conquers and overcomes death. I know as well that in a life where everything seems so difficult and tiresome, the one constant that never changes and never leaves is this inner awareness that Christ is with me. "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to You" (Jn. 14:18).
And he does come and give the feeling of his presence through prayer, through a thrill of soul, through a joy so incomprehensible, yet so very alive, through his mysterious, but again so certain, presence in church during services and in sacraments. This living experience is always growing, this knowledge, this awareness which becomes so obvious that Christ is here and that his word has been fulfilled: whoever loves Me, "I will love him and manifest myself to him Jn. 14:21).
And whether I am in a crowd or alone, this certitude of his presence, this power of his word, this joy of faith in him remains with me. This is the only answer and the only proof.
By H.G. Bishop Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United StatesThe first page of the infinite chapter of eternal life begins with the Glorious Feast of the Holy Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He arrived into the world at night, the darkness where humanity dwelt, but arose at the break of dawn to deliver us to the light of the resurrection in Him. A new dawn on the first day of a new week, His empty tomb affirmed the angel's proclamation, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matthew 28:5-6). Heavenly participation at His holy birth and heavenly participation at His holy resurrection heralded reconciliation between heaven and earth, resonating with the greatest heavenly joy—salvation of humanity. Indeed, Christ is risen and has conquered.
"Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified" (Matthew 28:5). Words of comfort from an angel instructed the frightened women and reminded them that the Lord said that He would rise. Why then were they alarmed? God had delivered on every promise. Never had it happened that one arose from the dead without the intercessions of another. No one interceded for Him and only a few received Him at His hour of death. Christ is God—Holy, Mighty, and Immortal. He accepted death so that we can have life. We must learn to abolish fear from our hearts since we know that Christ demolished the gates of brass which had ensnared humanity as bound captives. "Christ came that He might slay sin, render death null and void, and give life to men. The Word of God was made flesh in order that He might destroy death and bring us to life, for we are tied and bound to sin" (St. Irenaeus). Fear has no power, no place, and no use for the faithful in Christ the Lord. Death is but a stepping stone to eternal life. The crucified Jesus Christ is our glory. "My spirit is given over to the humble service of the Cross, which is a stumbling block to unbelievers, but to us salvation and eternal life" (St. Ignatius of Antioch).
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