Again, St. Paul teaches, “We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life ….. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin” (Romans 6:4.6, Epistle of the Paschal Vigil Liturgy).

Humanistic political solutions will not save us, for God is truly the “ground of all being,” and only a humble acceptance of this truth can open us to the grace of his life. Nor should those who try to justify themselves on the self-righteousness of a “fundamental faith” be complacent, for we greeted the resurrection gospel of the Paschal Vigil, “God stands in the divine assembly. In the midst of the gods (the rich and powerful of this world) he gives judgment. ‘How long will you judge unjustly and favor the cause of the wicked? Do justice for the weak and the orphan, defend the afflicted and the needy. Rescue the weak and the poor; set them free from the hand of the wicked …. Arise, O God, and judge the earth, for you rule all the nations” (Psalm 81:1-4.8).

Today, God pours out life from the tomb in Jerusalem on the holy places of Europe, on the plains of America, in the bustling cities of the world, in the deserts of Arabia, in the mountains of Tibet, in the jungles of Africa, in the rain forests of Brazil, in every corner of the world – sacred and secular.

Today we must all encounter the living Christ who said, “I am the way,” “I am the truth,” I am the life. (John 14:6)”

CHRIST IS RISEN ! – INDEED HE IS RISEN !
!المسيح قام! حقا قام (al-Masī qām! aqqan qām!)
Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!
Христосъ воскресе! Вои́стинꙋ воскре́се!
Föltamádt Krisztus! Valoban Föltamádt!
Cristo ha resucitado! Verdademente ha resucitado
Christus ist auferstanden! Wahrlich er ist auferstanden!
Cristo è risorto! Veramento è risorto!
Le Christ est réssuscité! vraiment réessuscité!

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras